Kamala Harris, with an estimated net worth of $7 million and aged 59, is the 49th Vice President of the United States, having assumed office on January 20, 2021. She is the first female, African-American, and Asian-American vice president, making her the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history. Harris, a member of the Democratic Party, has had a distinguished career as a politician and attorney, previously serving as the Attorney General of California and as a U.S. Senator from California.
What Are Kamala Harris’s Early Life and Educational Background?
Kamala Devi Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, to Shyamala Gopalan, a Tamil Indian biologist, and Donald J. Harris, a Jamaican-American professor of economics. She spent her early childhood in Berkeley, California, where she attended Thousand Oaks Elementary School as part of a desegregation busing program. Later, she moved with her mother and sister to Montreal, Quebec, where she attended high school at Westmount High School.
Harris pursued higher education at Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, D.C., where she earned a degree in political science and economics. She then returned to California to attend the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor in 1989.
How Did Kamala Harris Begin Her Legal Career?
Kamala Harris began her legal career in 1990 as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California, where she prosecuted cases involving gang violence, drug trafficking, and sexual assault. In 1998, she was recruited by San Francisco District Attorney Terence Hallinan to serve as an assistant district attorney. She later became the chief of the Career Criminal Division, supervising cases of homicide, burglary, robbery, and sexual assault.
What Were Harris’s Key Achievements as San Francisco District Attorney?
In 2003, Kamala Harris was elected as the District Attorney of San Francisco, defeating the incumbent Terence Hallinan. She became the first person of color to hold this position. During her tenure, she established a reputation for being tough on crime while also advocating for criminal justice reform. Notably, she created the Back on Track initiative, a reentry program aimed at reducing recidivism among first-time nonviolent offenders. This program received national recognition and significantly reduced reoffending rates.
How Did Kamala Harris Serve as Attorney General of California?
Kamala Harris was elected as the Attorney General of California in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. She was the first woman, the first African-American, and the first South Asian to hold this position. As Attorney General, she focused on various issues, including consumer protection, environmental justice, and criminal justice reform. Harris secured significant settlements for California homeowners affected by the foreclosure crisis and implemented the California Homeowner Bill of Rights.
What Impact Did Harris Have as a U.S. Senator?
Elected as a U.S. Senator from California in 2016, Kamala Harris served until 2021. During her time in the Senate, she was known for her sharp questioning during Senate hearings, particularly those involving Trump administration officials. Harris advocated for healthcare reform, cannabis decriminalization, and immigration reform. She also played a crucial role in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she was vocal about civil rights and social justice issues.
How Did Kamala Harris Become Vice President?
Kamala Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but withdrew from the race before the primaries. Joe Biden selected her as his running mate, and the Biden-Harris ticket won the 2020 presidential election, defeating incumbent President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Harris was inaugurated as Vice President on January 20, 2021, making history as the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history.
What Are Kamala Harris’s Responsibilities as Vice President?
As Vice President, Kamala Harris has been tasked with various responsibilities, including addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, leading efforts on voting rights, and overseeing the administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also been a crucial tie-breaking vote in the Senate, given the 50-50 split between Democrats and Republicans. Harris continues to play a significant role in shaping and advocating for the Biden administration’s policies.
What Is Kamala Harris’s Personal Life Like?
Kamala Harris married attorney Doug Emhoff in 2014, and she is a stepmother to his two children from a previous marriage. The family resides at the Number One Observatory Circle, the official residence of the Vice President. Harris remains connected to her roots, frequently acknowledging the influence of her Indian and Jamaican heritage on her life and career.
