History of Kamala Harris in Timeline
Kamala Devi Harris is an American politician and attorney, notable as the 49th Vice President of the United States (2021-2025) under President Joe Biden. She is the first female, African American, and Asian American to hold this office, making her the highest-ranking woman and Asian American in U.S. history. Prior to becoming Vice President, Harris served as a U.S. Senator representing California (2017-2021) and as the Attorney General of California (2011-2017). A member of the Democratic Party, she was the party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election.
1938: Birth of Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris
In 1938, both Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and her father, Donald J. Harris, were born.
1958: Shyamala Gopalan arrived to the US
In 1958, Shyamala Gopalan, Kamala Harris's mother, arrived in the United States from India.
1961: Donald J. Harris arrived to the US
In 1961, Donald J. Harris, Kamala Harris's father, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica.
1962: Parents met
In 1962, Kamala Harris's parents, Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, met at UC Berkeley.
1963: Parents married
In 1963, Kamala Harris's parents, Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, married.
October 20, 1964: Kamala Harris's Birth
On October 20, 1964, Kamala Devi Harris was born in Oakland, California, to Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris.
1966: Moved from Berkeley and Maya Harris was born
In 1966, the Harris family moved from Berkeley around Kamala's second birthday, and her sister Maya was born in Urbana, Illinois.
1968: Reference to Hubert Humphrey
In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first nominee who did not participate in the primaries since Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968.
1970: Parents Moved back to Berkeley
By 1970, Kamala Harris's parents' marriage had faltered, and her mother, Shyamala, moved back to Berkeley with her two daughters.
1972: Donald Harris accepted position at Stanford University
In 1972, Donald Harris accepted a position at Stanford University; Kamala and Maya spent weekends at his house in Palo Alto.
1976: Moved to Montreal
In 1976, Kamala Harris moved with her mother and sister to Montreal, Quebec, after her mother accepted a research position at McGill University School of Medicine.
1980: Willie Brown's Career
In the 1990s, Harris dated Willie Brown, Speaker of the California Assembly (1980–1995) and then mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004).
1981: Attended Vanier College
In 1981, Kamala Harris attended Vanier College in Montreal.
1981: Graduated Westmount High School
In 1981, Kamala Harris graduated from Westmount High School on Montreal Island.
1982: Attended Vanier College
In 1982, Kamala Harris attended Vanier College in Montreal.
1986: Graduated from Howard University
In 1986, Kamala Harris graduated from Howard University with a degree in political science and economics.
1989: Graduated from University of California, Hastings College of the Law
In 1989, Kamala Harris graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
1990: Hired as Deputy District Attorney
In 1990, Kamala Harris was hired as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California.
1994: Appointed to State Boards
In 1994, Willie Brown appointed Kamala Harris to the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and later to the California Medical Assistance Commission.
1995: Willie Brown's Career
In the 1990s, Harris dated Willie Brown, Speaker of the California Assembly (1980–1995) and then mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004).
1996: Willie Brown's Career
In the 1990s, Harris dated Willie Brown, Speaker of the California Assembly (1980–1995) and then mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004).
February 1998: Recruited as Assistant District Attorney
In February 1998, Kamala Harris was recruited as an assistant district attorney in San Francisco, becoming the chief of the Career Criminal Division.
August 2000: Joined San Francisco City Hall
In August 2000, Kamala Harris took a job at San Francisco City Hall, working for city attorney Louise Renne and running the Family and Children's Services Division.
2001: Harris Briefly Dates Montel Williams
In 2001, Kamala Harris briefly dated talk show host Montel Williams.
2002: Ran for District Attorney of San Francisco
In 2002, Kamala Harris ran for district attorney of San Francisco and won with 56% of the vote, becoming the first person of color elected to the position.
2003: Elected District Attorney of San Francisco
In 2003, Kamala Harris was elected district attorney of San Francisco.
2004: Created San Francisco Reentry Division
In 2004, Kamala Harris created the San Francisco Reentry Division to reduce recidivism.
2004: Declined to Seek Death Penalty in Officer's Murder Case
In 2004, Kamala Harris declined to seek the death penalty in the case of Isaac Espinoza, a San Francisco Police Department officer who was shot and killed.
2004: Reference to John Kerry's Loss
In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first Democratic nominee since John Kerry in 2004 to lose the popular vote.
2004: Willie Brown's Career
In the 1990s, Harris dated Willie Brown, Speaker of the California Assembly (1980–1995) and then mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004).
2005: Created Environmental Crimes Unit
In 2005, Kamala Harris created an environmental crimes unit as district attorney.
2006: Led Effort to Combat Truancy
In 2006, Kamala Harris led a citywide effort to combat truancy for at-risk elementary school youth in San Francisco.
2007: Ran unopposed for a second term
In 2007, Kamala Harris ran unopposed for a second term as district attorney of San Francisco.
2007: Chronic truancy rates in san francisco
In 2007, chronic truancy was 2,517 in San Francisco.
2008: Prosecuted Parents for Student Truancy
In 2008, Kamala Harris issued citations against six parents for their children's truancy, marking the first time San Francisco prosecuted adults for student truancy.
April 2009: Truancy Rates Reduced
By April 2009, as a result of Kamala Harris's efforts to combat truancy, the number of habitual or chronic truants in elementary schools in San Francisco was down 23% from 2008.
2009: Declined to Seek Death Penalty in Murder Case
In 2009, Kamala Harris declined to seek the death penalty in the case of Edwin Ramos, who was accused of murdering a man and his two sons.
2009: Death of Shyamala Gopalan
In 2009, Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, passed away.
2009: Harris Criticizes Liberals in Her Book
In her 2009 book, Kamala Harris criticized liberals for what she called "biases against law enforcement".
2010: Announced Candidacy for Attorney General
In 2010, Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for attorney general and was endorsed by prominent California Democrats.
2010: Elected Attorney General of California
In 2010, Kamala Harris was elected attorney general of California.
January 3, 2011: Took Office as Attorney General of California
On January 3, 2011, Kamala Harris took office as attorney general of California, becoming the first woman, African American, and South Asian American to hold the office.
2011: Attorney General of California
In 2011, Kamala Harris became the attorney general of California, serving until 2017.
2013: Harris Meets Doug Emhoff
In 2013, Kamala Harris met her husband, Doug Emhoff, through a blind date set up by a mutual friend.
2013: Harris Orders Marriages to Start Immediately After Prop 8 Ruling
In 2013, after Prop 8 was struck down in Hollingsworth v. Perry, Kamala Harris, as California attorney general, ordered the Los Angeles County Clerk's office to "start the marriages immediately" and officiated at the wedding of the plaintiffs.
August 22, 2014: Harris Marries Doug Emhoff
On August 22, 2014, Kamala Harris married Doug Emhoff in Santa Barbara, California.
2014: Defended California's death penalty
In 2014, Kamala Harris defended California's death penalty in court while she was California's attorney general, a position that later drew criticism during her presidential campaign.
2014: Re-elected as Attorney General
In 2014, Kamala Harris was re-elected as attorney general of California.
January 13, 2015: Barbara Boxer announced she would not run for reelection
On January 13, 2015, Senator Barbara Boxer announced that she would not run for reelection in 2016.
2015: EMILY's List Endorses Harris
In 2015, EMILY's List endorsed Kamala Harris during her senatorial campaign.
2015: Donated Trump's Contributions
In 2015, Kamala Harris donated Donald Trump's contributions to a "nonprofit that advocates for civil and human rights for Central Americans."
2015: Criticism for Blocking Gender-Affirming Medical Care
Kamala Harris has been criticized for a 2015 federal court motion she filed to block gender-affirming medical care for a transgender inmate while she was California attorney general.
February 27, 2016: Won California Democratic Party Vote
On February 27, 2016, Kamala Harris won 78% of the California Democratic Party vote at the party convention, enabling her campaign to receive financial support from the party.
November 2016: Elected to the US Senate
In November 2016, Kamala Harris defeated Loretta Sanchez to be elected to the US Senate, becoming the second Black woman and first South Asian American senator in history.
2016: Sanders donation record
In 2016, Bernie Sanders set a donation record tied by Kamala Harris.
2016: Announced Senate Candidacy
In 2016, Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for the Senate seat after Barbara Boxer announced she would not run for reelection.
2016: Won Senate election
In 2016, Kamala Harris won the Senate election becoming the second Black woman and first South Asian American U.S. senator.
2016: Russian interference in US elections
In 2016, Russia interfered in the US elections, an event which prompted Kamala Harris, in March 2019 after the Mueller report, to call for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to testify before Congress.
January 3, 2017: Resigned as Attorney General
On January 3, 2017, Kamala Harris resigned as attorney general of California to take her seat in the United States Senate.
May 2017: Questioning of Rod Rosenstein
In May 2017, Kamala Harris garnered media attention for her questioning of Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, over the firing of James Comey. Her questioning style led to interruptions and claims of sexism.
August 2017: Origin of the term KHive
In August 2017, Joy Reid tweeted the term KHive which was used by an online informal organization using the hashtag #KHive formed to support Harris's candidacy and defend her from racist and sexist attacks.
2017: U.S. Senator from California
From 2017, Kamala Harris served as the junior U.S. senator from California.
2017: Represented California in the U.S. Senate
In 2017, Kamala Harris began representing California in the U.S. Senate, a position she held until 2021.
2017: Fiscal Year 2017
Kamala Harris and other senators referred to Fiscal Year 2017 in their letter.
June 2018: Considered running for president
In June 2018, Kamala Harris stated that she was "not ruling out" running for president in 2020.
July 2018: Harris Introduces Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2018
In July 2018, Kamala Harris led her colleagues in introducing the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2018, a nationwide bill that would curtail the effectiveness of the so-called gay and trans panic defenses.
July 2018: Announcement of memoir
In July 2018, it was announced that Kamala Harris would publish a memoir, signaling a possible run for president.
October 2018: Target of mail bombing attempts
In October 2018, Kamala Harris was a target of the United States mail bombing attempts.
December 2018: Harris Votes for the First Step Act
In December 2018, Kamala Harris voted for the First Step Act, legislation aimed at reducing recidivism rates among federal prisoners.
2018: Gubernatorial elections in Georgia and Florida
In 2018, Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum lost the gubernatorial elections in Georgia and Florida, leading Kamala Harris to allege voter suppression as the cause during May 5, 2019.
2018: Fiscal Year 2018
Kamala Harris and other senators referred to Fiscal Year 2018 in their letter.
January 21, 2019: Announced Candidacy for President
On January 21, 2019, Kamala Harris officially announced her candidacy for President of the United States in the 2020 presidential election.
March 2019: Called for Barr to testify before Congress
In March 2019, Kamala Harris called for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to testify before Congress after Robert Mueller submitted his report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, emphasizing the importance of transparency.
April 2019: Urged Trump not to cut aid to Central American countries
In April 2019, Kamala Harris, along with 33 other Senate Democrats and independents, co-signed a letter urging President Trump not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
May 1, 2019: Barr testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee
On May 1, 2019, William Barr testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the Mueller report. During the hearing, Kamala Harris questioned Barr, leading her to later call for his resignation, accusing him of misleading the public and potentially committing perjury.
May 5, 2019: Accusations of voter suppression
On May 5, 2019, Kamala Harris stated that voter suppression was the reason Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum lost the 2018 gubernatorial elections in Georgia and Florida.
May 2019: Biden-Harris ticket suggestion
In May 2019, senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus endorsed the idea of a Biden–Harris ticket.
June 2019: Clash with Joe Biden in debate
During the first Democratic presidential debate in June 2019, Kamala Harris confronted Joe Biden over his remarks about senators who opposed integration efforts, which led to a temporary rise in her poll numbers.
October 2019: Harris Participates in CNN/Human Rights Campaign Town Hall
In October 2019, Kamala Harris participated in a CNN/Human Rights Campaign town hall on LGBTQ rights and pledged her support for "all of the folks who are fighting for equality".
December 3, 2019: Withdrew from 2020 presidential election
On December 3, 2019, Kamala Harris withdrew from the 2020 presidential election due to a shortage of funds.
2019: Sought Democratic Presidential Nomination
In 2019, Kamala Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but withdrew before the primaries.
January 16, 2020: Remarks on American Justice System
On January 16, 2020, before the opening of Donald Trump's impeachment trial, Kamala Harris delivered remarks on the Senate floor, emphasizing the integrity of the American justice system. She also voted to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
February 2020: Biden won South Carolina primary
In late February 2020, Joe Biden won a landslide victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary, setting the stage for future considerations of Kamala Harris as a running mate.
March 2020: Harris Signs Letter Regarding COVID-19 in Prisons
In March 2020, Kamala Harris was one of 15 senators to sign a letter requesting information on strategies to address the COVID-19 pandemic in prisons.
April 17, 2020: Responded to speculation of being Biden's running mate
On April 17, 2020, Kamala Harris responded to media speculation and said she "would be honored" to be Biden's running mate.
June 2020: Harris Supports LAPD Budget Cuts
In June 2020, after community groups advocated for it, Kamala Harris supported Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's decision to cut the Los Angeles Police Department budget by $150 million.
August 11, 2020: Chosen as Vice-Presidential Nominee
On August 11, 2020, Joe Biden announced that he had chosen Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first African American, first Indian American, and third woman to be a vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket.
2020: Harris's Ratings from Advocacy Groups
As of 2020, Kamala Harris had a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood Action Fund and a 0% rating from the National Right to Life Committee.
2020: Harris Tweets Support for Minnesota Freedom Fund
In 2020, Kamala Harris tweeted in support of donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which assisted those arrested in the George Floyd protests, though she did not donate herself.
2020: Elected Vice President of the United States
In 2020, Kamala Harris was elected Vice President of the United States alongside President Joe Biden, defeating incumbents Donald Trump and Mike Pence.
2020: Reference to 2020 Presidential Election
In 2024, All 50 states and DC trended rightward compared to the 2020 presidential election.
2020: Won presidential election
Kamala Harris became the vice president–elect after Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
January 18, 2021: Resigned from Senate Seat
On January 18, 2021, Kamala Harris resigned from her Senate seat before taking office as Vice President, and was replaced by Alex Padilla.
January 20, 2021: Sworn in as Vice President
On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President, becoming the first woman, first African-American, and first Asian-American to hold the office.
April 2021: Biden decides to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan
In April 2021, Kamala Harris said she was the last person in the room before Biden decided to remove all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, adding that Biden had "an extraordinary amount of courage" and "make[s] decisions based on what he truly believes ... is the right thing to do".
November 2021: Met with French president
In November 2021, Kamala Harris met with French president Emmanuel Macron to strengthen ties after a contentious cancellation of a submarine program.
November 19, 2021: Served as Acting President
On November 19, 2021, Kamala Harris served as acting president while Joe Biden underwent a colonoscopy, becoming the first woman to assume the powers and duties of the presidency.
December 2021: Pivotal role in the Biden administration
As early as December 2021, Kamala Harris was identified as playing a pivotal role in the Biden administration owing to her tie-breaking vote in the evenly divided Senate as well as her being the presumed front-runner in 2024 if Biden did not seek reelection.
2021: Became Vice President of the United States
In 2021, Kamala Harris became the 49th Vice President of the United States, serving under President Joe Biden. This marked her as the first female, first African American, and first Asian American to hold the position.
2021: End of Senate Term
In 2021, Kamala Harris's term as U.S. Senator from California concluded.
2021: Tie-Breaking Votes as Vice President
In 2021, as Vice President, Kamala Harris presided over an evenly split U.S. Senate and cast 33 tie-breaking votes, including those for the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
2021: Reference to Inflation Surge
Kamala Harris's loss in 2024 was part of a global backlash against incumbent parties, partly due to the 2021 inflation surge.
August 2022: Low Approval Ratings
According to a RealClear Politics polling average, in August 2022 Kamala Harris had a record low approval rating, with only 34.8% of Americans having a favorable view of her.
November 2022: Macron visit to the U.S.
In November 2022, Kamala Harris and Emmanuel Macron agreed to strengthen U.S.–France space cooperation across civil, commercial, and national security sectors, during Macron's visit to the U.S.
April 2023: Visited Goddard Space Flight Center
In April 2023, Kamala Harris visited Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland with South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and agreed to strengthen the space alliance between the U.S. and South Korea.
April 2023: Biden Announces Reelection Campaign with Harris as Running Mate
In April 2023, President Biden announced his reelection campaign, with Kamala Harris expected to remain his running mate for the 2024 presidential election.
December 5, 2023: Broke record for tie-breaking votes
On December 5, 2023, Kamala Harris broke the record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a vice president, exceeding John C. Calhoun's record.
2023: Video Clip Goes Viral
In 2024, a video clip from 2023 of Kamala Harris saying "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you" at a White House event went viral.
2023: Reference to Inflation Surge
Kamala Harris's loss in 2024 was part of a global backlash against incumbent parties, partly due to the 2023 inflation surge.
March 2024: Harris Criticizes Israel's Actions in Gaza
In March 2024, Kamala Harris criticized Israel's actions during the Gaza war, calling for an immediate ceasefire for at least six weeks to allow for hostage release and aid delivery.
July 2024: Approval Ratings Rise After Nomination
After Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in July 2024, her approval ratings rose rapidly.
July 2024: Mentioned in House Resolution
Despite Kamala Harris not having authority over the border itself, in July 2024 a House resolution tied Harris to the Mexico-United States border crisis.
July 2024: Launched Presidential Campaign
In July 2024, Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign after Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy. Ultimately, she lost the election.
July 21, 2024: Biden Endorses Harris for President After Suspending Campaign
On July 21, 2024, Joe Biden suspended his reelection campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris for president, receiving endorsements from prominent figures and raising $81 million in the first 24 hours of her candidacy.
August 2024: Estimated Net Worth of Harris and Emhoff
As of August 2024, Kamala Harris and her husband had an estimated net worth of $8 million.
September 10, 2024: Harris Participates in Presidential Debate Against Trump
On September 10, 2024, Kamala Harris debated Donald Trump in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, addressing abortion rights and being declared the winner by several political analysts. After the debate, Taylor Swift endorsed Harris.
November 5, 2024: Harris Loses Presidential Election to Trump
On November 5, 2024, Kamala Harris lost the United States presidential election to Donald Trump, conceding the race the next day at Howard University.
2024: Donald Trump as future Opponent
In 2014, Donald Trump was her future opponent in the 2024 United States presidential election
2024: Democratic Nominee in the Presidential Election
In 2024, Kamala Harris was the Democratic Party's nominee in the presidential election.
2024: Biden and Harris Become Presumptive Nominees
In 2024, after the Democratic primaries, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris became the Democratic party's presumptive nominees for the presidential election.
2024: Presumed front-runner
In December 2021, Kamala Harris was identified as being the presumed front-runner in 2024 if Biden did not seek reelection.
2024: Publication of Memoir Detailing 2024 Campaign
In September 23, 2025, Kamala Harris published a memoir, "107 Days", detailing her 2024 presidential campaign and embarked on an international tour to promote the book.
2024: Remarks Shared as Memes
Since the launch of her 2024 presidential campaign, Kamala Harris's remarks have been widely shared as memes, resulting in press coverage of her public image.
January 6, 2025: Harris Certifies Trump and Vance's Election Victory
On January 6, 2025, in her role as president of the Senate, Kamala Harris oversaw the certification of Donald Trump and JD Vance as the winners of the election.
January 20, 2025: Harris Leaves Office
On January 20, 2025, Kamala Harris left office as Vice President, succeeded by JD Vance, and moved to Los Angeles where she helped distribute food to victims of the Palisades Fire.
February 18, 2025: Harris Signs with Creative Artists Agency
On February 18, 2025, Kamala Harris signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to focus on speaking and publishing opportunities.
March 21, 2025: Trump Revokes Harris's Security Clearance
On March 21, 2025, President Trump revoked a courtesy normally extended to former vice presidents by revoking Kamala Harris's security clearance.
April 30, 2025: Harris Delivers Remarks at Emerge America Gala
On April 30, 2025, Kamala Harris criticized the Trump administration's handling of the economy and social issues at a gala for the 20th anniversary of Emerge America.
July 2025: Harris Announces She Will Not Run for Governor
In July 2025, Kamala Harris announced she would not run in the 2026 California gubernatorial election.
July 21, 2025: Expiration of Secret Service Protection
Under federal law, former vice presidents receive six months of Secret Service protection. Kamala Harris's protection would have normally expired on July 21, 2025, but President Biden had extended it for an additional year.
August 28, 2025: Trump Cancels Harris's Secret Service Protection
On August 28, 2025, President Trump signed a memorandum canceling Kamala Harris's Secret Service protection as of September 1.
September 23, 2025: Harris Publishes Memoir Detailing 2024 Campaign
On September 23, 2025, Kamala Harris published a memoir, "107 Days", detailing her 2024 presidential campaign and embarked on an international tour to promote the book.
2025: End of term as Vice President
In 2025, Kamala Harris's term as the 49th Vice President of the United States ended.
2026: Speculation About California Gubernatorial Election
In July 2025, Kamala Harris announced she would not run in the 2026 California gubernatorial election.
2028: Potential Candidate in 2028 Presidential Election
In 2025, Kamala Harris is mentioned as a potential candidate in the 2028 United States presidential election.
2030: Co-sponsor of Green New Deal
Harris was an early co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, a plan to transition the country towards generating 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030.
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