Childhood and Education Journey of Kamala Harris in Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Kamala Harris. From birth to education, explore key events.

Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney notable for serving as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She holds the distinction of being the first female, African American, and Asian American to hold this office. Prior to becoming Vice President, Harris represented California in the U.S. Senate (2017-2021) and served as California's Attorney General (2011-2017). As a member of the Democratic Party, she was also the party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election.

Sections (6)

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

1938: Birth of Kamala Harris's parents

In 1938, Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and father, Donald J. Harris, were born.

1958: Kamala Harris's Mother Arrived in the US

In 1958, Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, arrived in the United States from India to enroll in graduate school at the University of California, Berkeley.

1961: Kamala Harris's Father Immigrated to the United States

In 1961, Kamala Harris's father, Donald J. Harris, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica to enroll in UC Berkeley.

1962: Kamala Harris's Parents Met

In 1962, Kamala Harris's parents met at UC Berkeley.

1963: Kamala Harris's Parents Married

In 1963, Kamala Harris's parents married.

October 20, 1964: Kamala Harris was born

On October 20, 1964, Kamala Devi Harris was born in Oakland, California.

1966: Harris Family Moved and Sister Maya was Born

In 1966, the Harris family moved from Berkeley, California, and Kamala's sister, Maya, was born in Urbana, Illinois.

1970: Parents' Marriage Falters

By 1970, the marriage of Kamala Harris's parents had faltered, and her mother moved back to Berkeley with her daughters.

1972: Father Accepted Position at Stanford University

In 1972, Kamala Harris's father, Donald Harris, accepted a position at Stanford University.

1976: Moved to Montreal

In 1976, Shyamala Harris accepted a research position at the McGill University School of Medicine, and moved with her daughters to Montreal, Quebec.

1981: Attended Vanier College

In 1981, Kamala Harris attended Vanier College in Montreal.

1981: Graduated from 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 with a Juris Doctor

In 1989, Kamala Harris graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

2001: Brief Relationship with Montel Williams

In 2001, Kamala Harris briefly dated talk show host Montel Williams.

2009: Death of Kamala Harris's Mother

In 2009, Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, passed away.

2009: Criticism of Liberals in Book

In her 2009 book, Kamala Harris criticized liberals for biases against law enforcement.

2013: First meeting with Doug Emhoff

In 2013, Kamala Harris met her husband, attorney Doug Emhoff, through a mutual friend who set them up on a blind date.

2013: Refusal to Defend Prop 8 and Order to Start Marriages

In 2013, as California attorney general, Kamala Harris refused to defend Prop 8 in federal court. After Prop 8 was struck down in Hollingsworth v. Perry, she ordered Los Angeles County Clerk's office to "start the marriages immediately".

August 22, 2014: Marriage to Doug Emhoff

On August 22, 2014, Kamala Harris married Doug Emhoff in Santa Barbara, California.

2015: Endorsement from EMILY's List

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

2015: Federal Court Motion Regarding Transgender Inmate Care

In 2015, Kamala Harris faced criticism for a federal court motion filed while California attorney general to block gender-affirming medical care for a transgender inmate.

2016: Russian interference in the 2016 election

In 2016, there was Russian interference in the election which was investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller.

August 2017: Origin of the #KHive Hashtag

In August 2017, Joy Reid first used the term "K-Hive" in a tweet, marking the beginning of the online informal organization supporting Kamala Harris.

June 2018: Harris Considers Running for President

In June 2018, Kamala Harris indicated that she was "not ruling out" a run for president in the upcoming election.

July 2018: Introduction of the 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 aimed at curtailing the use of gay and trans panic defenses.

July 2018: Harris to Publish Memoir

In July 2018, it was announced that Kamala Harris would publish a memoir, fueling speculation about a potential presidential run.

December 2018: Vote 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: Harris Announces Candidacy for President

On January 21, 2019, Kamala Harris officially announced her candidacy for President of the United States in the 2020 election. She tied a record for donations raised in the day after an announcement.

October 2019: Participation in CNN/Human Rights Campaign Town Hall

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

March 2020: Harris Endorses Joe Biden for President

In March 2020, Kamala Harris endorsed Joe Biden for president after withdrawing from the race herself.

March 2020: Letter Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic in Prisons

In March 2020, Kamala Harris was one of 15 senators who signed a letter requesting information on strategies to address the COVID-19 pandemic in federal and private prisons.

April 17, 2020: Harris Expresses Interest in Being Biden's Running Mate

On April 17, 2020, Kamala Harris responded to media speculation by stating that she "would be honored" to be Joe Biden's running mate.

June 2020: Support for Los Angeles Police Department Budget Cuts

In June 2020, Kamala Harris supported the Los Angeles Police Department budget cuts of $150 million, announced by Mayor Eric Garcetti after a campaign by community groups.

August 11, 2020: Biden Announces Harris as Running Mate

On August 11, 2020, Joe Biden announced that he had chosen Kamala Harris as his running mate for the 2020 election. This made her the first African American, the first Indian American, and the third woman to be a vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket.

2020: Rating from Abortion Rights 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 Becomes Vice President-Elect

In 2020, Kamala Harris became the Vice President-Elect after Joe Biden won 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: Harris Resigns from Senate Seat

On January 18, 2021, Kamala Harris resigned from her Senate seat in preparation for assuming the office of Vice President of the United States. She was replaced by Alex Padilla.

January 20, 2021: Harris Sworn in as Vice President

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

June 2021: Harris Visits Guatemala and Mexico to Address Migration

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. During a press conference in Guatemala, she urged potential migrants not to come to the U.S.

November 19, 2021: Harris Serves as Acting President

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

December 2021: Harris Identified as Pivotal in Biden Administration and Potential 2024 Front-Runner

As early as December 2021, Kamala Harris was identified as playing a pivotal role in the Biden administration because of her tie-breaking vote in the evenly divided Senate. She was also considered the presumed front-runner in 2024 if Biden did not seek re-election.

August 2022: Low Approval Ratings

In August 2022, Kamala Harris had a record low approval rating of 34.8%, according to a RealClear Politics polling average.

April 2023: Biden Announces Reelection Campaign

In April 2023, President Biden announced his reelection campaign with Kamala Harris as his expected running mate.

November 2023: Pledge on U.S. 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.

2023: Viral Video Clip

In 2023, a video clip 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.

March 2024: Criticism of Israel's Actions in Gaza

In March 2024, Kamala Harris criticized Israel's actions during the Gaza war, advocating for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate hostage release and aid delivery.

July 2024: Increased Approval Rating

In July 2024, Kamala Harris's approval ratings rose rapidly after she became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

July 21, 2024: Biden Endorses Harris for President

On July 21, 2024, Joe Biden suspended his reelection campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris for president, receiving endorsements from various prominent figures. Her campaign raised $81 million in the first 24 hours.

August 2024: Estimated Net Worth

As of August 2024, Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, had an estimated net worth of $8 million.

September 10, 2024: Presidential Debate

On September 10, 2024, Kamala Harris participated in a presidential debate against Donald Trump, hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia. After the debate, Taylor Swift gave Harris a prominent celebrity endorsement.

November 5, 2024: Loss in 2024 Presidential Election

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

2024: Democratic Nominees for Presidential Election

In 2024, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden became the presumptive nominees for the Democratic party in the presidential election. Concerns about Biden's age and health were ongoing.

2024: Widespread sharing of remarks as memes

In 2024, since the launch of her presidential campaign, remarks from Kamala Harris have been widely shared as memes, resulting in press coverage of her public image.

January 6, 2025: Certification of Trump and Vance's Victory

On January 6, 2025, Kamala Harris, in her role as president of the Senate, oversaw the certification of Donald Trump and JD Vance as the winners of the election.

January 20, 2025: Departure from Vice Presidency

On January 20, 2025, Kamala Harris left office as Vice President, succeeded by JD Vance. She and her husband moved to Los Angeles and assisted with food distribution to victims of the Palisades Fire.

February 18, 2025: Signing with Creative Artists Agency

On February 18, 2025, Kamala Harris signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to pursue speaking and publishing opportunities.

March 21, 2025: Revocation of Security Clearance

On March 21, 2025, President Trump revoked the security clearance typically extended to former vice presidents, impacting Kamala Harris.

April 30, 2025: Remarks at Emerge America Gala

On April 30, 2025, Kamala Harris delivered remarks at a gala for the 20th anniversary of Emerge America, criticizing the Trump administration's handling of the economy and social issues.

2025: Potential Decision on California Gubernatorial Election

In 2025, Kamala Harris may decide whether to run for governor of California by late summer. Top Democratic officials have not discouraged the idea of a third Harris presidential bid in 2028.