History of Kamala Harris in Timeline

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, marking her as the first female, African-American, and Asian-American to hold the office. Previously, she was a United States Senator representing California from 2017 to 2021, and the Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017. A prominent figure in 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's parents

In 1938, both Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and her father, Donald J. Harris, were born. Shyamala was born in India, while Donald was born in Jamaica.

1958: Kamala's mother arrives in the US

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

1961: Kamala's father arrives in the US

In 1961, Donald J. Harris, Kamala Harris's father, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica and enrolled at UC Berkeley to study development economics.

1962: Kamala's parents meet

In 1962, Kamala Harris's parents, Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, met each other.

1963: Kamala's parents married

In 1963, Kamala Harris's parents, Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, got married.

October 20, 1964: Kamala Harris's birth

On October 20, 1964, Kamala Devi Harris was born. She is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States.

1968: Comparison to Hubert Humphrey's Nomination

In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first nominee who did not participate in the primaries since Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968.

1980: Willie Brown Speaker of the California Assembly

Willie Brown was Speaker of the California Assembly (1980–1995).

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 Speaker of the California Assembly

Willie Brown was Speaker of the California Assembly (1980–1995).

1996: Willie Brown Mayor of San Francisco

Willie Brown Mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004).

February 1998: Joins San Francisco District Attorney's Office

In February 1998, Kamala Harris was recruited by San Francisco district attorney Terence Hallinan as an assistant district attorney.

August 2000: Joins San Francisco City Hall

In August 2000, Kamala Harris took a job at San Francisco City Hall, working for city attorney Louise Renne in the Family and Children's Services Division.

2001: Harris Dates Montel Williams

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

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2002: Elected District Attorney of San Francisco

In 2002, Kamala Harris was elected district attorney of San Francisco, becoming the first person of color to hold the position.

2004: Created San Francisco Reentry Division

In 2004, Kamala Harris created the San Francisco Reentry Division to reduce recidivism.

2004: Did not seek the death penalty in the case of Isaac Espinoza

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

2004: Willie Brown Mayor of San Francisco

Willie Brown Mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004).

2005: Created Environmental Crimes Unit

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

2006: 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: Re-elected as District Attorney

In 2007, Kamala Harris ran unopposed and was re-elected for a second term as district attorney of San Francisco.

2007: Truancy down from 2006

In 2007, the number of habitual or chronic truants in elementary schools in San Francisco was down from 2,856 in 2006.

2008: Prosecuted parents for student truancy

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

April 2009: Truancy down 23% from 2008

By April 2009, the number of habitual or chronic truants in elementary schools in San Francisco was down 23% from 2008.

2009: Did not seek death penalty in the case of Edwin Ramos

In 2009, Kamala Harris kept her campaign pledge never to seek the death penalty, even in the case of Edwin Ramos, an illegal immigrant accused of murdering a man and his two sons.

2009: Death of Kamala's mother

In 2009, Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, passed away. She was a biologist known for her research on the progesterone receptor gene and its impact on breast cancer research.

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 of California and received endorsements from 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

On January 3, 2011, Kamala Harris took office as the Attorney General of California.

2011: Became Attorney General of California

In 2011, Kamala Harris became the Attorney General of California.

2013: Harris Meets 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: Harris's Actions Regarding Prop 8

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 marriages immediately and officiated at the wedding of the plaintiffs.

August 22, 2014: Harris Marries Doug Emhoff

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

2014: Harris reelected as Attorney General

In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected as Attorney General, defeating Republican nominee Ronald Gold.

2014: Re-elected as Attorney General of California

In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected as the Attorney General of California.

January 13, 2015: Boxer announced retirement

On January 13, 2015, Senator Barbara Boxer announced she would not run for reelection in 2016 after more than 20 years as a U.S. senator from California.

2015: EMILY's List Endorses Harris

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

2015: Criticism for Blocking Gender-Affirming Medical Care

In 2015, Kamala Harris faced criticism for a federal court motion she filed to block gender-affirming medical care for a transgender inmate, after a court ruling that denying treatment violated the 8th Amendment.

2015: Donated Trump's contribution to nonprofit

In 2015, after securing re-election, Kamala Harris donated the $6,000 contribution she received from Donald Trump to a nonprofit organization 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, allowing her campaign to receive financial support from the party.

November 2016: Elected to the Senate

In November 2016, Kamala Harris defeated Loretta Sanchez and was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the second Black woman and first South Asian American senator in history.

2016: Announced candidacy for Senate seat

In 2016, Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for the Senate seat vacated by Barbara Boxer.

January 3, 2017: Resigned as Attorney General

On January 3, 2017, Kamala Harris resigned from her position as Attorney General of California to take her seat in the United States Senate.

August 2017: The KHive was founded

In August 2017, the term "K-Hive" was first used by Joy Reid in a tweet, marking the beginning of an online informal organization supporting Kamala Harris's candidacy and defending her against attacks.

2017: Became a U.S. Senator

In 2017, Kamala Harris began serving as a United States senator representing California.

July 2018: Harris Introduces 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 effectiveness of gay and trans panic defenses.

October 2018: Target of mail bombing attempt

In October 2018, Kamala Harris was a target of the United States mail bombing attempts.

December 2018: Harris Votes for First Step Act

In December 2018, Kamala Harris voted for the First Step Act, aimed at reducing recidivism rates among federal prisoners through job training and sentencing reforms.

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 presidential election.

March 2019: Called for William Barr to testify before Congress

In March 2019, Kamala Harris called for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to testify before Congress regarding the Mueller report on Russian interference in the 2016 election.

April 2019: Urged Trump not to cut aid to Central America

In April 2019, Kamala Harris, along with other Senate Democrats and independents, wrote a letter to President Trump urging him not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

May 1, 2019: Barr testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee

On May 1, 2019, Kamala Harris questioned Attorney General Barr during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She inquired whether he had reviewed the evidence before deciding not to charge Trump with obstruction of justice, and Barr admitted that he had not. Harris subsequently called for Barr's resignation.

May 5, 2019: Harris comments on voter suppression in Georgia and Florida

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

May 2019: Congressional Black Caucus members endorse a Biden-Harris ticket

In May 2019, senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus endorsed the idea of a potential Biden-Harris ticket for the upcoming election.

June 2019: Harris scolds Biden during the first Democratic presidential debate

During the first Democratic presidential debate in June 2019, Kamala Harris criticized Joe Biden for his remarks about senators who opposed integration efforts. Following the debate, Harris saw a rise in her poll numbers.

October 2019: Harris Participates in Town Hall on LGBTQ Rights

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: Harris withdraws from the presidential race

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

January 16, 2020: Harris delivers remarks before Trump impeachment trial

On January 16, 2020, prior to the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris delivered remarks on the Senate floor regarding the integrity of the American justice system. She later voted to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

March 2020: Harris Signs Letter on COVID-19 in Prisons

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

April 17, 2020: Harris responds to speculation of being Biden's running mate

On April 17, 2020, Kamala Harris responded to media speculation and stated that she "would be honored" to be Joe Biden's running mate in the upcoming presidential election.

June 2020: Harris Supports LAPD Budget Cuts

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

August 11, 2020: Biden Announces Harris as Running Mate

On August 11, 2020, Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate for the 2020 presidential election. She was the first African American, the first Indian American, and the 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 became the Vice President-elect

In 2020, Kamala Harris became the vice president-elect after Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.

2020: Harris Supports Minnesota Freedom Fund

In 2020, Kamala Harris tweeted in support of donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a bail fund assisting those arrested in the George Floyd protests.

2020: Comparison point for the 2024 presidential election

In 2024, All 50 states and DC trended rightward compared to the 2020 presidential election.

January 18, 2021: Harris resigned from her Senate seat

On January 18, 2021, Kamala Harris resigned from her Senate seat as she prepared to take office as Vice President of the United States on January 20.

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.

March 24, 2021: Harris assigned to address migration with Mexico and Northern Triangle nations

On March 24, 2021, Kamala Harris was assigned by President Biden to work with Mexico and the Northern Triangle nations to address irregular migration to the U.S. border. This led to the creation of the Root Causes Strategy (RCS).

April 2021: Harris on Biden's decision to remove 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, praising his courage in making the decision.

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 her visit, she issued an appeal to potential migrants: "Do not come."

November 2021: Harris met with French President Emmanuel Macron

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

November 19, 2021: Harris served as acting president during Biden's colonoscopy

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 as acting president of the United States.

2021: Served as Vice President

In 2021, Kamala Harris began serving as the 49th Vice President of the United States under President Joe Biden.

2021: Economic factors impacting Harris Loss

The loss of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election was in part due to the 2021-2023 inflation surge.

August 2022: Harris's Low Approval Ratings

In August 2022, Kamala Harris had a record low approval rating of 34.8% among Americans.

November 2022: Harris met with French President Emmanuel Macron again

In November 2022, Kamala Harris held another meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the U.S., resulting in an agreement to strengthen U.S.–France space cooperation.

April 2023: Harris visits Goddard Space Flight Center with South Korean President

In April 2023, Kamala Harris visited Goddard Space Flight Center 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 Joe Biden announced his reelection campaign, with Kamala Harris as his running mate, making them the presumptive nominees after the Democratic primaries.

November 2023: Harris Pledges Unconditional 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.

December 5, 2023: Harris broke the record for most 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.

2023: Viral Video Clip of Harris

In 2024, a video clip from 2023 went viral 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.

2023: Economic factors impacting Harris Loss

The loss of Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election was in part due to the 2021-2023 inflation surge.

March 2024: Harris Criticizes Israel's Actions in Gaza

In March 2024, Kamala Harris criticized Israel's actions during the Israel–Hamas war, advocating for an immediate ceasefire of at least six weeks to facilitate hostage release and aid delivery.

July 2024: Launched presidential campaign

In July 2024, Kamala Harris launched her own presidential campaign after Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy.

July 2024: Harris's Approval Ratings Rise

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

July 2024: House Resolution mentions Harris as "border czar"

In July 2024, a House resolution referred to Kamala Harris as "border czar," despite her not holding that title or having authority over the border, tying her to the Mexico-United States border crisis.

July 21, 2024: Biden Endorses Harris for President

On July 21, 2024, Joe Biden suspended his reelection campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris for president. Her campaign raised $81 million in the first 24 hours. Had she won, Harris would have been the first female and first Asian-American president.

August 2024: Harris's Estimated Net Worth

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

September 10, 2024: Presidential Debate between Harris and Trump

On September 10, 2024, ABC News hosted the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in Philadelphia. Analysts declared Harris the winner, highlighting her abortion rights stance and strong performance. Taylor Swift endorsed her afterwards.

2024: Trump contributed to reelection

Donald Trump, who became Kamala Harris's opponent in the 2024 United States presidential election, had contributed a total of $6,000 to her 2014 re-election campaign.

2024: Nominee in the 2024 presidential election

In 2024, Kamala Harris became the Democratic Party's nominee in the presidential election.

2024: Harris Loses Presidential Election to Trump

In 2024, Kamala Harris lost the United States presidential election to Donald Trump, with losses in key states contributing to her defeat. The loss was influenced by a global backlash against incumbent parties and the 2021-2023 inflation surge.

2024: Biden-Harris Ticket Confirmed

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

2024: Harris Remarks Become Viral Memes

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

January 6, 2025: Harris Certifies Trump's Election 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 as Vice President, succeeded by JD Vance. She and her husband moved to Los Angeles, assisting with food distribution 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.

February 22, 2025: Harris Receives NAACP Chairman's Prize

On February 22, 2025, Kamala Harris received the Chairman's prize at the 56th NAACP Image Awards.

March 21, 2025: Trump Revokes Harris's Security Clearance

On March 21, 2025, President Trump revoked Kamala Harris's security clearance, a courtesy normally extended to former vice presidents.

2025: End of VP term

In 2025, Kamala Harris's term as the 49th vice president of the United States came to an end.

2026: Speculation on Harris's Future Political Ambitions

As of 2025, Kamala Harris has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2026 California gubernatorial election.

2028: Speculation on Harris's Future Political Ambitions

As of 2025, Kamala Harris has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2028 United States presidential election.

2030: Co-sponsor of Green New Deal

Kamala 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.