Kamala Harris
Born 1964 · Age 61
American politician and attorney; U.S. Senator (2017–2021); 49th Vice President of the United States (2021–2025); Democratic Party 2024 presidential nominee. First female, first African American, and first Asian American U.S. vice president.
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Life & Career Timeline
Parents meet at UC Berkeley
Donald J. Harris and Shyamala Gopalan meet as students at UC Berkeley.
Parents marry
Donald J. Harris and Shyamala Gopalan marry (parents of Kamala Harris).
Born in Oakland, California
Kamala Devi Harris is born in Oakland, California.
Family moves and sister born
Family lived in Berkeley until moving in 1966; sister Maya Harris is born (1966).
Parents divorce
Kamala's parents separate and later divorce; Kamala raised primarily by her mother.
Weekend visits to father's house
Father accepts position at Stanford; Kamala spends weekends in Palo Alto and weekdays in Berkeley.
Family relocates to Montreal
Mother accepts research position at McGill University; Kamala and sister move to Montreal with their mother.
Graduated Westmount High School (Montreal)
Kamala Harris graduates from Westmount High School on Montreal Island.
Attended Vanier College
Attends Vanier College in Montreal (1981–1982) before transferring to Howard University.
Enrolled at Howard University
Begins undergraduate studies at Howard University; active in debate team, student council, Alpha Kappa Alpha, internships (Alan Cranston, FTC).
Entered UC Hastings Law School
Enrolls at University of California, Hastings College of the Law; serves as president of Black Law Students Association chapter.
Graduated Howard University (B.A.)
Earns B.A. in political science and economics from Howard University.
Admitted to California Bar; hired as Deputy DA, Alameda County
Admitted to the bar and hired as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, specializing in prosecutions including sex crimes.
Appointed to state boards by Willie Brown
Appointed to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the California Medical Assistance Commission.
Trustee of San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Became a trustee of SF MOMA and started a student-mentor program (reported during mid-1990s public service).
Recruited to San Francisco DA's Office
Terence Hallinan recruits Harris as an assistant district attorney; she becomes chief of the Career Criminal Division supervising five attorneys.
Joined San Francisco City Attorney's Office
Takes job with city attorney Louise Renne, runs the Family and Children's Services Division handling child abuse/neglect cases.
Announced campaign for San Francisco District Attorney
Runs a forceful campaign differentiating herself from incumbent Terence Hallinan.
Elected District Attorney of San Francisco
Wins election (reported 56% of the vote), becoming the first person of color elected D.A. of San Francisco.
Cleared homicide backlog; created Reentry Division and Hate Crimes Unit
Within first six months cleared many backlogged homicide cases; created San Francisco Reentry Division and Hate Crimes Unit to focus on LGBT youth and other priorities.
Sworn in as San Francisco District Attorney
Takes office as District Attorney of San Francisco on January 8, 2004.
Established Environmental Crimes Unit
Created an environmental crimes unit in the DA's office to prosecute environmental violations.
Launched truancy initiative
Led a citywide effort to combat truancy among at-risk elementary students as a public safety initiative.
Re-elected (unopposed) as San Francisco DA
Ran unopposed for a second term as district attorney.
Actions against chronic truancy; parental citations
Declared chronic truancy a public safety issue and issued citations against parents of chronically absent students (first prosecutions for truancy in SF).
Announced candidacy for California Attorney General
Announces campaign for California Attorney General (later won in 2010).
Mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris dies
Kamala Harris's mother, a cancer researcher, dies of breast cancer in 2009; Harris has cited her as formative influence.
Co-authored 'Smart on Crime' (publication)
Coauthored Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor's Plan to Make Us Safer (2009) — a book on criminal justice reform.
Elected Attorney General of California
Wins the 2010 election for California Attorney General, narrowly defeating Republican Steve Cooley; becomes first woman, first African American, and first South Asian American to hold the office.
Takes office as California Attorney General
Sworn in as the 32nd Attorney General of California on January 3, 2011.
Delivered keynote at 2012 Democratic National Convention
Gave a memorable 2012 DNC address that raised her national profile (cited as a 'rising star').
Mortgage crisis homeowner settlements
As AG, led California's case against mortgage servicers, recovering a multi-billion dollar settlement for homeowners (reported >$18 billion total in related relief/judgments for homeowners across efforts).
Launched consumer protection & privacy units
Expanded consumer protection work, creating the Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit and securing settlements over data/privacy violations (e.g., Comcast, Houzz).
Re-elected California Attorney General
Wins reelection on November 4, 2014 with 58% of the vote.
Married Douglas Emhoff
Kamala Harris marries lawyer Doug Emhoff (2014); Emhoff becomes the first 'second gentleman' when Harris is later elected vice president.
Launched Division of Recidivism Reduction & Back on Track programs
As AG, created programs to reduce recidivism and provide education and job training for nonviolent offenders (Back on Track LA, etc.).
Donated Trump's contributions
Donated two contributions (totaling $6,000) made by Donald Trump to her 2014 reelection campaign to a nonprofit advocating civil and human rights for Central Americans.
Announced candidacy for U.S. Senate
After Senator Barbara Boxer announced retirement in January 2015, Harris announces her run for the open California U.S. Senate seat.
Wins California Democratic Party backing
Wins ~78% of the California Democratic Party vote at its convention, which allowed party financial support for her Senate campaign.
Gains plurality in California Senate primary
Finishes first in California's top-two primary with ~40% of the vote.
Elected U.S. Senator from California
Defeats Loretta Sanchez in the general election with over 60% of the vote; becomes second Black woman and first South Asian American U.S. senator.
First foreign Senate trip to Middle East
Visited California troops in Iraq and the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan (April 2017).
Questioned Administration officials (Sessions, Rosenstein)
Gained national attention in 2017 for aggressive questioning of Jeff Sessions, Rod Rosenstein, and others related to Russia/Justice Dept. matters.
Joined Senate Intelligence Committee
Became a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and used the committee to question witnesses regarding election security and Russia ties.
Voted against Neil Gorsuch confirmation
Voted against confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch (April 2017).
Sworn into U.S. Senate
Takes office as U.S. Senator (junior senator from California) on January 3, 2017.
Condemned Executive Order travel ban
Publicly condemned Trump's travel order and referred to it as a 'Muslim ban'; made an early, visible protest-action in the Senate.
Target of mail bombing attempts
Named as one of the targets of the October 2018 U.S. mail bombing attempts.
Appointed to Senate Judiciary Committee
Appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee after Senator Al Franken's resignation (January 2018).
Sponsored Justice for Victims of Lynching Act
Sponsored the Senate version of an anti-lynching bill (S.3178); the Senate passed it but it stalled/did not become final in the House in that form.
Questioned Brett Kavanaugh at confirmation hearings
Played a prominent role questioning nominee Brett Kavanaugh during the September–October 2018 confirmation hearings; voted against confirmation.
Published memoir 'The Truths We Hold'
Publishes The Truths We Hold: An American Journey (2019).
Published children's book 'Superheroes Are Everywhere'
Released the children's book Superheroes Are Everywhere (2019).
Announced 2020 presidential campaign
Formally announces candidacy for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination; campaign launch event reportedly drew >20,000 attendees in Oakland.
Withdrew from 2020 presidential race
Ends 2020 presidential campaign, citing funding shortfalls and campaign struggles.
Biden selects a Black woman as running mate (strategic milestone)
Her selection was widely seen as addressing calls for Biden to choose a Black woman as VP and became a pivotal political moment in 2020 campaign strategy.
First woman of color on major-party national ticket
As the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, became the first Black woman and first Indian American to be on a major-party national ticket for VP.
Endorsed Joe Biden for President
Endorsed Joe Biden's presidential campaign after withdrawing her own bid (March 2020).
Selected as Democratic vice-presidential nominee
Joe Biden selects Kamala Harris as his running mate (August 11, 2020); first Black woman and first Indian American to appear on a major-party national ticket.
Elected Vice President of the United States
Biden–Harris ticket defeats incumbent Trump–Pence in November 2020 election; Harris becomes Vice President-elect.
Launched Central America Forward public–private partnership
Helped coordinate Central America Forward; reported to have generated over $5.2 billion in private sector commitments to spur local job creation and investment.
Swore-in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor (inauguration detail)
Sworn in as vice president on January 20, 2021; reported detail: Justice Sonia Sotomayor administered the oath.
Presided over 50–50 Senate; began casting tie-breaking votes
As President of the Senate in a 50–50 chamber, she began casting tie-breaking votes, including for the American Rescue Plan Act (2021).
American Rescue Plan Act tie-break
Cast tie-breaking vote(s) to help pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Assigned immigration & border role
Tasked by the President to coordinate efforts addressing root causes of migration from Central America and lead related initiatives.
Oversaw White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
The administration established and she oversaw the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention to coordinate federal efforts on gun safety.
Advocated for reproductive rights after Dobbs
After the 2022 Dobbs decision curtailed federal abortion protections, Harris led national advocacy for reproductive rights and launched clinic visits and tours.
Resigned U.S. Senate seat
Officially resigns from the U.S. Senate on January 18, 2021 to prepare for vice presidential inauguration.
Sworn in as 49th Vice President
Sworn in as Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021 (ceremony noted heavy security following Jan 6 insurrection).
Cast tie-breaking votes for major legislation
Cast historic tie-breaking votes including to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (2022), among others.
Maternal health & consumer protections (administration achievements)
Led/advocated for maternal health measures (Blueprint for Addressing Maternal Health Crisis), expanded postpartum Medicaid, and administration actions on drug pricing and consumer protections.
Fundraising milestones in 2024 campaign
Reported fundraising: by Aug–Sep 2024 reports indicate Harris' campaign raised hundreds of millions in early months (BBC cited $671M in two months; Britannica cited >$1B by September 2024) — campaign funds not personal net worth.
Announced presidential campaign (after Biden withdrawal)
Launches her 2024 presidential campaign in July 2024 with the endorsement of outgoing President Biden.
Joe Biden withdraws; endorses Harris for president
Following Biden's withdrawal from 2024 race, he endorses Kamala Harris; she launches a presidential campaign with his backing.
Secures Democratic presidential nomination
By virtual delegate roll call in early August 2024, becomes the Democratic Party's official presidential nominee (first Black woman and first Asian American to win major-party nomination).
Selects Tim Walz as running mate; DNC certification
Announces Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate; DNC certifies her nomination on August 6, 2024.
Debate with Donald Trump
Participates in the nationally televised presidential debate vs. Donald Trump (September 2024).
Loses 2024 presidential election
Kamala Harris (Democratic nominee) loses the 2024 presidential election to former president Donald Trump and running mate J.D. Vance (Republican ticket).
Total tie-breaking votes record
By end of her vice-presidential term in January 2025 she had cast 33 tie-breaking votes — the most in U.S. history for a vice president (reported total).
Key Achievement Ages
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