Kamala Harris facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kamala Harris
Official portrait, 2021
49th Vice President of the United States
In office January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Mike Pence
Succeeded by	JD Vance
United States Senator from California
In office January 3, 2017 – January 18, 2021
Preceded by	Barbara Boxer
Succeeded by	Alex Padilla
32nd Attorney General of California
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017
Governor	Jerry Brown
Preceded by	Jerry Brown
Succeeded by	Xavier Becerra
27th District Attorney of San Francisco
In office January 8, 2004 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Terence Hallinan
Succeeded by	George Gascón
Personal details
Born	Kamala Devi Harris (1964-10-20) October 20, 1964 (age 60) Oakland, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Doug Emhoff ​ (m. 2014)​
Parents	Donald J. Harris Shyamala Gopalan
Relatives	Harris family
Residence	Number One Observatory Circle
Education	Howard University (BA) University of California, Hastings College of the Law (JD)
Signature

Kamala Devi Harris (born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and lawyer. She served as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025. She was the first female U.S. vice president. This made her the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history. She was also the first African-American and the first Asian-American vice president.

Before becoming vice president, Harris was a U.S. senator for California. She served in the Senate from 2017 to 2021. She was also the Attorney General of California and the District Attorney of San Francisco.

In 2020, Joe Biden chose Harris as his running mate for the presidential election. They won, and she became vice president. In 2024, after President Biden decided not to run again, Harris became the main candidate for president for the Democratic Party. She chose Tim Walz as her running mate. However, she lost the election to Donald Trump.

Kamala Harris's Early Life and Education

Kamala Harris as a child

Kamala Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was from India. Her father, Donald Harris, was from Jamaica. He was an economics professor at Stanford University.

Her first name, Kamala, means "lotus" in Sanskrit. Her family lived in Berkeley, California. Harris grew up visiting both a Black Baptist Church and a Hindu temple. She has one younger sister named Maya Harris.

When Kamala was seven, her parents divorced. Her mother moved with the children to Montreal, Canada. There, her mother worked as a researcher and taught at McGill University.

After high school, Kamala went to Howard University in Washington, D.C. She studied political science and economics. Later, she earned her law degree (J.D.) from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in 1989.

Kamala Harris's Career in Law and Politics

In 1989, Harris became a lawyer. She started working in the District Attorney's office in Alameda, California in 1990. In 1998, she moved to the District Attorney’s office in San Francisco. By 2003, Harris became the District Attorney of San Francisco.

Kamala Harris as Attorney General of California

She then served as the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017. This is the state's top lawyer.

Becoming a U.S. Senator

In 2016, Harris decided to run for U.S. Senator for California. The previous senator, Barbara Boxer, was not running again. Harris won the election and became a senator on January 3, 2017.

As a senator, she supported many important issues. These included healthcare reform and a way for undocumented immigrants to become citizens. She also wanted to ban certain types of weapons. Harris believed in helping people who committed minor crimes get back on track.

Kamala Harris's Presidential Campaigns

2020 Presidential Campaign

On January 21, 2019, Harris announced she would run for President of the United States. She wanted to be the Democratic candidate in the 2020 United States presidential election. After several months, she decided to end her campaign on December 3, 2019.

However, on August 11, 2020, Joe Biden chose Harris to be his running mate. This meant she would run for Vice President alongside him. On November 7, the Biden-Harris team won the election. She made history as the first woman, first Asian-American, and first African-American Vice President.

Vice President (2021-2025)

Harris being sworn in as vice president on January 20, 2021

Kamala Harris became Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021. She was the first woman to hold this position. She was also the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president.

As Vice President, Harris had important duties. She sometimes cast tie-breaking votes in the United States Senate. For example, her votes helped pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This plan provided money to American citizens during a difficult time.

In 2021, President Biden asked Harris to work on the reasons why more people were immigrating from Central America. During a trip to Guatemala and Mexico, she told people not to make the dangerous journey to the U.S. border.

On November 19, 2021, Harris briefly served as Acting President of the United States. This happened while President Biden had a routine surgery. She was the first female vice president to act as president.

2024 Presidential Campaign

On July 21, 2024, President Joe Biden decided not to run for re-election. He supported Harris to become the Democratic presidential candidate. Many important figures, like Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Michelle Obama, also endorsed her.

Her campaign quickly raised a lot of money. If she had won, Harris would have been the first female and first Asian-American president. She would also have been the second African-American president after Barack Obama. By August 5, 2024, Harris officially became the Democratic nominee.

On August 6, 2024, Harris announced that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz would be her running mate. However, in the 2024 United States presidential election, Harris lost to Donald Trump.

Kamala Harris's Personal Life

Kamala Harris in 2017 signing the guestbook at Yad Vashem with her husband, Doug Emhoff

Kamala Harris is married to Douglas Emhoff, a lawyer from California. They got married on August 22, 2014.

Kamala and Douglas do not have children together. However, Harris is a stepmother to Douglas's two children from his previous marriage. They affectionately call her "Momala."

Her sister is Maya Harris, who is a political analyst. Her brother-in-law is Tony West, who works as a top lawyer for Uber.

Kamala Harris's Book: Superheroes Are Everywhere

Children's book written by Kamala Harris, "Superheroes Are Everywhere"

Superheroes Are Everywhere is a children's book written by Kamala Harris. It was published on January 8, 2019.

The book teaches young readers that real-life superheroes are all around us. These heroes can be family members, friends, or teachers. The book shares ideas based on Harris's own life experiences.

Kamala Harris's Inspiring Quotes

• “I’m speaking.”
• “When [my mother] came here from India at 19, she maybe didn’t quite imagine this moment. But she believed so deeply, and in America, where a moment like this is possible."
• “To everyone keeping up the fight, you are doing something."
• “Imperfect though we may be, I believe we are a great country.”
• "I’ve had a lot of titles over my career, and certainly ‘vice president’ will be great. But ‘Momala’ will always be the one that means the most.”

Interesting Facts About Kamala Harris

• She is the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica (her father) and India (her mother).
• Her name, Kamala, means "lotus" flower in Sanskrit.
• Kamala visited India when she was a child.
• She was the first woman, first Jamaican-American, and first Asian-American to become Attorney General of California.
• She is the first Jamaican-American woman to become a California Senator.
• Kamala was Joe Biden's running mate in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
• She is the first woman of color to be a running mate in a U.S. presidential election. She is the third woman overall, after Sarah Palin and Geraldine Ferraro.
• Her stepchildren call her "Momala" (a mix of "Mom" and "Kamala").
• She has written two non-fiction books and one children's book.
• She is the first Jamaican-American, first Asian-American, and first female Vice President.

Related pages

• Family of Kamala Harris

Images for kids

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  Harris's childhood home on Bancroft Way in Berkeley

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  Harris in 2004 with California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

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  Visiting Peterson Middle School (Santa Clara Unified School District) in 2010

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  Harris and LAPD chief Charlie Beck celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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  Harris formally announced her run for the Democratic nomination for president on January 27, 2019.

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  Harris arrives in Guatemala during her first foreign trip as vice president, June 2021

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  Harris and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, July 2021

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  Harris at Howard University in 2017

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  Vice presidential office portrait of Harris and her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, in 2021

See also

In Spanish: Kamala Harris para niños