Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kamala Harris

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Kamala Harris made an impact.

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.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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: 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."

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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: 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.

March 24, 2021: Assigned to address migration issues

On March 24, 2021, Joe Biden assigned Kamala Harris to work with Mexico and Northern Triangle nations to address irregular migration to the Mexico–United States border.

June 2021: First international trip

In June 2021, Kamala Harris made her first international trip as Vice President, visiting Guatemala and Mexico to address the root causes of migration from Central America to the United States.

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.

February 2022: Diplomatic Role in Ukraine Crisis

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kamala Harris was dispatched to Germany and Poland to rally support for arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.

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.

November 2023: Harris Pledges No Conditions on Aid to Israel

In November 2023, Kamala Harris pledged that the Biden administration would place no conditions on U.S. aid to Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.