Kamala Harris

Kamala Devi Harris (born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who is the 49th vice president of the United States. She is the first female vice president, the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, and the first African American and first Asian American vice president. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as a U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021 and as the attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017.

Early Life and Education

Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California, to Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian biologist specializing in cancer research, and Donald Harris, a Jamaican-American professor of economics. She grew up in Berkeley, California, and attended both Black Baptist and Hindu services. Harris graduated from Howard University in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1989.

Early Career

Harris began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, where she focused on prosecuting child sexual assault cases. She then served as managing attorney of the Career Criminal Unit in the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and later became chief of the Community and Neighborhood Division in the San Francisco City Attorney's Office.

District Attorney of San Francisco

In 2003, Harris was elected as the District Attorney of San Francisco. During her tenure, she created a special Hate Crimes Unit, focused on crimes against LGBT children and teens in schools, and started the Back on Track program, which provided first-time drug offenders with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and find employment.

Attorney General of California

In 2010, Harris was elected as California's attorney general, becoming the first woman, the first African American, and the first South Asian to hold the office. She was re-elected in 2014. As attorney general, Harris worked on issues including foreclosure settlements, criminal justice reform, and protecting consumers. She also led initiatives against human trafficking and helped to establish the Bureau of Children's Justice.

U.S. Senator

Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016, succeeding Barbara Boxer. As a senator, she served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Budget. Harris gained a reputation for her pointed questioning of Trump administration officials during Senate hearings. She advocated for healthcare reform, federal descheduling of cannabis, a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and progressive tax reform.

Vice Presidency

In August 2020, Joe Biden selected Harris as his running mate in the 2020 presidential election. They won the election in November 2020, and Harris was inaugurated as vice president on January 20, 2021. As vice president, Harris has focused on addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, expanding voting rights, and leading efforts on COVID-19 vaccination.

Personal Life

Harris married attorney Doug Emhoff in 2014, becoming the stepmother to his two children from a previous marriage. She is known for her advocacy on behalf of women and children and her efforts to reform the criminal justice system.

Publications

Harris has authored several books, including her memoir, "The Truths We Hold: An American Journey," published in 2019, and a children’s book, "Superheroes Are Everywhere," also published in 2019.

Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Harris has received numerous awards and honors for her work as a public servant and advocate for justice, including being named to Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world multiple times.

Related Questions

1. Who is Kamala Harris?

Kamala Devi Harris is the 49th vice president of the United States. She is the first female vice president, the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, and the first African American and first Asian American vice president.

2. When and where was Kamala Harris born?

Kamala Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California.

3. What is Kamala Harris's educational background?

Harris graduated from Howard University in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1989.

4. What positions has Kamala Harris held in her career?

Harris has served as District Attorney of San Francisco (2004-2011), Attorney General of California (2011-2017), U.S. Senator from California (2017-2021), and Vice President of the United States (2021-present).

5. What are some significant achievements of Kamala Harris as District Attorney of San Francisco?

As District Attorney, Harris created a special Hate Crimes Unit, initiated the Back on Track program for first-time drug offenders, and focused on crimes against LGBT children and teens.

6. What did Kamala Harris accomplish as Attorney General of California?

As Attorney General, Harris worked on foreclosure settlements, criminal justice reform, and consumer protection. She led initiatives against human trafficking and helped establish the Bureau of Children's Justice.

7. What committees did Kamala Harris serve on as a U.S. Senator?

Harris served on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Intelligence Committee, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Budget.