Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kamala Harris

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

Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney. She served as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. Harris is the first female, first African American, and first Asian American U.S. vice president, marking a significant milestone in American political history. She previously represented California in the U.S. Senate from 2017 to 2021 and served as the state's attorney general from 2011 to 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 by San Francisco district attorney Terence Hallinan as an assistant district attorney.

August 2000: Took Job at San Francisco City Hall

In August 2000, Kamala Harris took a job at San Francisco City Hall, working for city attorney Louise Renne, where she ran 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 the election with 56% of the vote.

2003: Elected District Attorney of San Francisco

In 2003, Kamala Harris was elected district attorney of San Francisco.

2004: Created the San Francisco Reentry Division

In 2004, Kamala Harris created the San Francisco Reentry Division, which had a recidivism rate of less than 10% over six years for its graduates.

2004: Espinoza Case

In 2004, Kamala Harris kept to her pledge never to seek the death penalty in the case of Isaac Espinoza, a San Francisco Police Department officer who was shot and killed.

2005: Created Environmental Crimes Unit

In 2005, Kamala Harris created an environmental crimes unit as district attorney.

2006: Led Citywide Effort to Combat Truancy

In 2006, Kamala Harris led a citywide effort to combat truancy for at-risk elementary school youth in San Francisco as part of an initiative to reduce the city's homicide rate.

2007: Led Citywide Effort to Combat Truancy

In 2007, Kamala Harris led a citywide effort to combat truancy for at-risk elementary school youth in San Francisco as part of an initiative to reduce the city's homicide rate.

2007: Ran Unopposed for a Second Term

In 2007, Kamala Harris ran unopposed for a second term as district attorney of San Francisco.

2008: Issued Citations Against Parents of Truant Children

In 2008, Kamala Harris issued citations against six parents whose children missed at least 50 days of school, marking the first time San Francisco prosecuted adults for student truancy.

April 2009: Truancy Rates Decreased

By April 2009, the number of habitual or chronic truants in elementary schools in San Francisco had decreased by 23% from 2008, following interventions led by Kamala Harris.

2009: Edwin Ramos Case

In 2009, Kamala Harris kept to her pledge never to seek the death penalty in the case of Edwin Ramos, an illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member who was accused of murdering a man and his two sons.

2009: Publication of Book and Views on Law Enforcement

In 2009, Kamala Harris published a book in which she 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 of California and was endorsed by prominent California Democrats. She won the Democratic primary and narrowly defeated Republican nominee Steve Cooley in the general election.

2010: Elected Attorney General of California

In 2010, Kamala Harris was elected attorney general of California.

January 3, 2011: Took Office as Attorney General

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: Became Attorney General of California

In 2011, Kamala Harris became the attorney general of California, a position she held until 2017.

2013: Proposition 8 struck down

In 2013, after Proposition 8 was struck down in Hollingsworth v. Perry, as California attorney general, Kamala Harris ordered the Los Angeles County Clerk's office to "start the marriages immediately" and officiated at the wedding of the plaintiffs in the case.

2014: Reelected as Attorney General of California

In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected as attorney general of California.

2014: Harris reelected as Attorney General

In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected, defeating Republican nominee Ronald Gold with 58% of the vote.

2015: EMILY's List Endorsement

EMILY's List endorsed Kamala Harris in 2015 during her senatorial campaign.

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.

November 2016: Defeated Sanchez in Election

In November 2016, Kamala Harris defeated Loretta Sanchez in the election, carrying all but four counties.

2016: Won the 2016 Senate Election

In 2016, Kamala Harris won the Senate election and became the junior U.S. senator from California.

2016: Announced Candidacy for Senate Seat

The week after Barbara Boxer announced her retirement in 2016, Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for the Senate seat.

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 questioned Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, about the firing of James Comey, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Her questioning was interrupted by Senators John McCain and Richard Burr.

2017: Became U.S. Senator from California

In 2017, Kamala Harris became the junior U.S. senator from California. She advocated for stricter gun control laws, the DREAM Act, federal legalization of cannabis, and reforms to healthcare and taxation.

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.

July 2018: Introduction of Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act

In July 2018, Kamala Harris introduced the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2018, a nationwide bill that would curtail the effectiveness of the gay and trans panic defenses.

December 2018: Vote for the First Step Act

In December 2018, Kamala Harris voted for the First Step Act, which aimed to reduce 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 and Signed Letter Questioning Barr's Decision

In March 2019, Kamala Harris called for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to testify before Congress regarding the Mueller report. Later that month, she was among a group of Democratic senators who signed a letter questioning Barr's decision concerning obstruction of justice and called for an investigation into his summary of the Mueller report.

April 2019: Letter Urging Trump Not to Cut Aid to Central American Countries

In April 2019, Kamala Harris joined 34 Senate Democrats and independents in writing a letter to President Trump, urging him not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, arguing it would damage national security.

May 1, 2019: Barr Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee

On May 1, 2019, Kamala Harris questioned Attorney General Barr during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Mueller report. She questioned Barr about reviewing the underlying evidence before deciding not to charge Trump with obstruction of justice. She later called for Barr to resign and demanded an investigation into whether Barr acceded to pressure from the White House.

May 5, 2019: Harris Comments on Voter Suppression

On May 5, 2019, Kamala Harris stated that "voter suppression" prevented Democrats Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum from winning their respective 2018 gubernatorial elections in Georgia and Florida.

June 2019: Democratic Presidential Debate

During the first Democratic presidential debate in June 2019, Kamala Harris criticized Joe Biden for remarks he made about senators who opposed integration efforts. Her support rose in polls following the debate.

October 2019: Harris Participates in LGBTQ Rights Town Hall

In October 2019, Kamala Harris participated in a CNN/Human Rights Campaign town hall on LGBTQ rights, pledging support for equality and drawing attention to hate crimes against Black trans women.

December 3, 2019: Withdrawal from 2020 Presidential Election

On December 3, 2019, Kamala Harris withdrew from the 2020 presidential election, citing a shortage of funds.

2019: Sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination

In 2019, Kamala Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, but withdrew from the race before the primaries.

January 16, 2020: Remarks on Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump

On January 16, 2020, before the opening of the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate about the integrity of the American justice system. She later asked Senate Judiciary chairman Lindsey Graham to halt judicial nominations and voted to convict Trump.

March 2020: Letter Regarding COVID-19 in Prisons

In March 2020, Kamala Harris was one of 15 senators to sign a letter requesting information on the strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic in prisons.

April 17, 2020: Responded to speculation about 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: Support for Los Angeles Police Department Budget Cuts

In June 2020, Kamala Harris supported Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's decision to cut $150 million from the Los Angeles Police Department budget.

August 11, 2020: Biden Announced Harris as Running Mate

On August 11, 2020, Joe Biden announced that he had chosen Kamala Harris as his running mate for the 2020 presidential election.

2020: Selected as Vice Presidential Running Mate

In 2020, Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris as his running mate. Their ticket defeated the incumbent president and vice president, Donald Trump and Mike Pence, in the 2020 presidential election.

2020: 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.

January 18, 2021: Resignation from Senate Seat

On January 18, 2021, Kamala Harris resigned from her seat as a U.S. Senator, prior to her inauguration as Vice President of the United States on January 20.

January 20, 2021: Sworn in as Vice President

On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President of the United States. This historic event made her the first woman, first African-American, and first Asian-American to hold the office.

March 24, 2021: Biden Assigned Harris to Work on Migration

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

April 2021: Harris' Role in Decision to Remove Troops from Afghanistan

In April 2021, Kamala Harris stated that she was the last person in the room before President Biden decided to remove all U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

June 2021: First International Trip as Vice President

In June 2021, Kamala Harris conducted 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 Emmanuel Macron

In November 2021, Kamala Harris met with French president Emmanuel Macron to strengthen ties after the contentious cancellation of a submarine program.

November 19, 2021: Served as Acting President During Biden's Colonoscopy

On November 19, 2021, Kamala Harris served as acting president while President Biden underwent a colonoscopy. She was the first woman to assume the powers and duties of the presidency as acting president of the United States.

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 made her the first female, first African American, and first Asian American to hold the office.

2021: Tie-Breaking Vote in the U.S. Senate

In 2021, as Vice President, Kamala Harris presided over an evenly split U.S. Senate and cast 33 tie-breaking votes, including votes to pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act.

February 2022: Diplomatic role in response to Russian Invasion of Ukraine

In February 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kamala Harris assumed a key diplomatic role and was dispatched to Germany and Poland to rally support for arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.

November 2022: Meeting with Macron to Strengthen U.S. - France Space Cooperation

In November 2022, Kamala Harris and French president Emmanuel Macron held another meeting during Macron's visit to the U.S., resulting in an agreement to strengthen U.S.–France space cooperation across civil, commercial, and national security sectors.

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, and Kamala Harris was expected to remain his running mate.

December 5, 2023: Broke Record for Tie-Breaking Votes as Vice President

On December 5, 2023, Kamala Harris broke the record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a vice president, casting her 32nd vote, exceeding John C. Calhoun's record.

July 2024: Criticism over role in Mexico-United States border crisis.

In July 2024, Republicans and critics used the term 'border czar' to tie Kamala Harris to the Mexico-United States border crisis, despite her having no authority over the border itself.

July 2024: Launched Presidential Campaign

In July 2024, after Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy, Kamala Harris launched her own presidential campaign with his endorsement. She selected Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate but lost the election to Donald Trump and JD Vance.

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 to replace him as the party's presidential nominee. Kamala Harris received endorsements from numerous prominent figures and raised $81 million in the first 24 hours of her campaign.

September 10, 2024: Harris and Trump Debate

On September 10, 2024, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump participated in a presidential debate hosted by ABC News. Kamala Harris was declared the winner by several political analysts and received an endorsement from Taylor Swift after the debate. The debate took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

November 5, 2024: Harris Loses Presidential Election to Trump

On November 5, 2024, Kamala Harris lost the United States presidential election to Donald Trump, losing both the Electoral College vote and the popular vote.

2024: Donald Trump's Future Opponent

In 2014, Donald Trump was Kamala Harris's future opponent in the 2024 United States presidential election

2024: Nominee in the 2024 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, following the Democratic primaries, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris became the presumptive nominees for the presidential election. Concerns about Biden's age and health were persistent and became more pronounced after the first presidential debate on June 27.

2024: Campaign Details

Kamala Harris published a memoir titled "107 Days," detailing her 2024 presidential campaign.

January 6, 2025: Harris Certifies Trump's Victory

On January 6, 2025, 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 and was succeeded by JD Vance as the 50th Vice President of the United States. Kamala Harris and her husband moved to Los Angeles and assisted in distributing 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.

April 30, 2025: Harris Criticizes Trump Administration at Emerge America Gala

On April 30, 2025, Kamala Harris criticized the Trump administration's handling of the economy and social issues during a speech 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 '107 Days'

On September 23, 2025, Kamala Harris published a memoir titled "107 Days," detailing her 2024 presidential campaign. She has embarked on an international tour to promote the book.