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, making history as the first female, first African American, and first Asian American to hold the office. Prior to becoming Vice President, she represented California in the U.S. Senate (2017-2021) and served as California's Attorney General (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

1938: Birth of Kamala Harris's Parents

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

1958: Shyamala Gopalan Arrived in the United States

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

1961: Donald J. Harris Immigrated to the United States

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

1962: Kamala Harris's Parents Met

In 1962, Kamala Harris's parents, Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, met at UC Berkeley.

1963: Kamala Harris's Parents Married

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

October 20, 1964: Kamala Devi Harris's Birth in Oakland, California

On October 20, 1964, Kamala Devi Harris was born in Oakland, California, to Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris.

October 20, 1964: Kamala Harris's Birth

On October 20, 1964, Kamala Devi Harris was born. She would later become an American politician and attorney, and the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025.

1966: Family Moved from Berkeley and Maya was born

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

1970: Marriage began to falter

By 1970, Kamala Harris's parents' marriage had begun to falter, leading Shyamala to move back to Berkeley with her daughters.

1972: Donald Harris accepted position at Stanford

In 1972, Donald Harris accepted a position at Stanford University. Kamala and Maya spent weekends at their father's house in Palo Alto and lived at their mother's house in Berkeley during the week.

1976: Family moved to Montreal

In 1976, Shyamala Harris accepted a research position at 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 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law with a Juris Doctor degree.

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 and running the Family and Children's Services Division.

2001: Brief Relationship with 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 the election with 56% of the vote.

2003: Elected District Attorney of San Francisco

In 2003, Kamala Harris was elected as the District Attorney of San Francisco. This marked an important step in her early legal career.

2004: Created the San Francisco Reentry Division

In 2004, Kamala Harris created the San Francisco Reentry Division, which reduced recidivism rates among drug offenders.

2004: Refused to Seek Death Penalty in Officer's Murder Case

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

2005: Created Environmental Crimes Unit

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

2006: Led Effort to Combat Truancy

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

2007: Truancy at 2,517 students

In 2007, Kamala Harris addressed truancy in the city. 2,517 students were marked as truant in that year.

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 for Student Truancy

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

April 2009: Truancy Rates Decreased

By April 2009, 1,330 elementary school students were habitual or chronic truants, down 23% from 1,730 in 2008, and from 2,517 in 2007 and 2,856 in 2006.

2009: Refused to Seek Death Penalty in Murder Case

In 2009, Kamala Harris kept to her 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 Harris's Mother

In 2009, Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, passed away after a career as a biologist and researcher.

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 Democrats, leading to her victory in the general election.

2010: Elected Attorney General of California

In 2010, Kamala Harris was elected as the Attorney General of California, marking a historic achievement.

January 3, 2011: Took Office as Attorney General of California

On January 3, 2011, Kamala Harris took office as the 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 role she held until 2017. During her tenure, she oversaw legal matters for the state.

2013: Meeting 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 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 the wedding of the plaintiffs, Kris Perry and Sandy Stier.

August 22, 2014: Marriage to Doug Emhoff

On August 22, 2014, Kamala Harris married attorney Doug Emhoff in Santa Barbara, California, becoming stepmother to his two children.

2014: Reelected as Attorney General of California

In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected as Attorney General of California, securing a second term in the office.

2014: Harris reelected as attorney general

In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected as attorney general, defeating Ronald Gold with 58% of the vote.

January 13, 2015: 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 Endorsement

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

2015: Donated Trump's Contribution to Nonprofit

In 2015, Kamala Harris donated Donald Trump's contribution to her reelection campaign to a nonprofit that advocates for civil and human rights for Central Americans.

2015: Controversy Over Blocking Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Inmate

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

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: Elected to the U.S. Senate

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

2016: Ran for the Senate seat

In 2016, Kamala Harris ran for the Senate seat after Barbara Boxer announced she would not run for reelection.

2016: Won the 2016 Senate Election

In 2016, Kamala Harris won the Senate election in California, leading to her service as a U.S. Senator from 2017 to 2021.

January 3, 2017: Resigned as Attorney General of California

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 his role in the firing of James Comey. Her questioning led to interruptions from Senators John McCain and Richard Burr.

August 2017: KHive Formation

In August 2017, Joy Reid first used the term KHive in a tweet, marking the initial formation of an online informal organization using the hashtag #KHive to support Kamala Harris's candidacy.

2017: Began Serving as U.S. Senator from California

In 2017, Kamala Harris became the junior U.S. Senator from California, a role she held until 2021. She advocated for various policies and reforms during her tenure.

2017: Began Representing California in the U.S. Senate

In 2017, Kamala Harris began representing California in the U.S. Senate, a position she held until 2021. During her tenure, she advocated for various reforms and policies.

July 2018: Introducing the 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 targeting the so-called gay and trans panic defenses.

October 2018: Target of Mail Bombing Attempts

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

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 and equitably punishing drug offenders.

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 regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election, in the interest of transparency after special counsel Robert Mueller submitted his report.

April 2019: Urged Trump not to Cut Aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras

In April 2019, Kamala Harris joined 33 other Senate Democrats and independents in writing a letter urging President Trump not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, arguing that such cuts would damage national security.

May 1, 2019: Barr Testified Before the Senate Judiciary Committee

On May 1, 2019, U.S. attorney general William Barr testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee where Kamala Harris questioned him about the Mueller report. Barr admitted that neither he, Rod Rosenstein, nor anyone in his office had reviewed the underlying evidence before making the charging decision regarding President Trump and obstruction of justice.

May 5, 2019: Harris Alleges Voter Suppression in Georgia and Florida Elections

On May 5, 2019, Kamala Harris stated 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 Endorsed Biden-Harris Ticket

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

June 2019: Scolded Joe Biden at 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 and mandatory school bussing.

October 2019: Participation in CNN/Human Rights Campaign 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 addressing the epidemic of hate crimes against Black trans women.

December 3, 2019: Withdrew from 2020 Presidential Election

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

2019: Sought Democratic Presidential Nomination but Withdrew

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

January 16, 2020: Delivered Remarks on the Integrity of the American Justice System

On January 16, 2020, before the opening of the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate, affirming her views on the American justice system. She also voted to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

March 2020: Letter on COVID-19 Strategy in Prisons

In March 2020, Kamala Harris joined 14 other senators in signing a letter requesting information on the strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic in federal and private prisons.

April 17, 2020: Expressed Interest in 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 presidential election.

June 2020: Support for Los Angeles Police Department Budget Cuts

In June 2020, after a campaign by community groups, 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 Announced Harris as Running Mate

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

2020: Ratings from Advocacy Groups

As of 2020, Kamala Harris had a 100% rating from the abortion rights advocacy group Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and a 0% rating from the anti-abortion group National Right to Life Committee.

2020: Harris Became 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, a bail fund assisting those arrested in the George Floyd protests.

2020: Selected as Vice Presidential Running Mate

In 2020, Kamala Harris was selected by Joe Biden as his running mate for the presidential election. Their ticket went on to defeat the incumbent president and vice president.

January 18, 2021: Resigned from Senate Seat

On January 18, 2021, Kamala Harris resigned from her seat in the Senate, before taking office as Vice President 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, becoming the first woman, the first African-American, and the first Asian-American to hold the office.

March 24, 2021: Assigned to Work on Migration Issues

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: Expressed Support for Afghanistan Withdrawal

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, supporting the decision.

June 2021: First International Trip as Vice President

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 Emmanuel Macron

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

November 19, 2021: Served as Acting President

On November 19, 2021, Kamala Harris served as acting president from 10:10 to 11:35 am EST while President Biden underwent a colonoscopy, becoming the first woman to assume the powers and duties of the presidency.

2021: Became Vice President of the United States

In 2021, Kamala Harris became the 49th Vice President of the United States, serving until 2025. She was the first female, first African American, and first Asian American to hold the office.

2021: End of Term as U.S. Senator

In 2021, Kamala Harris's term as the junior U.S. Senator from California ended, after she had served since 2017.

2021: Cast Tie-Breaking Votes in the Senate

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 of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act.

February 2022: Diplomatic Role After Russian Invasion of Ukraine

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

In August 2022, Kamala Harris had one of the lowest approval ratings of any vice president, with a record low of 34.8% of Americans having a favorable view of her.

April 2023: Strengthening the U.S. and South Korea Space Alliance

In April 2023, Kamala Harris visited Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, where they agreed to strengthen the space alliance between the United States and South Korea.

April 2023: Biden Announces Reelection Campaign with Harris as Running Mate

In April 2023, President Joe Biden announced his reelection campaign, choosing Kamala Harris as his running mate for the upcoming election.

November 2023: Pledging 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: Broke 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: "Coconut Tree" Remark

In 2023, Kamala Harris made a remark "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: Tasked with AI Policy Leadership

In 2023, Kamala Harris was tasked with AI policy leadership within the Biden administration.

March 2024: Criticizing Israel's Actions in Gaza

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

July 2024: Launched Presidential Campaign

In July 2024, Kamala Harris launched her own presidential campaign after Biden withdrew his candidacy. She eventually lost the election to Donald Trump.

July 2024: Rising Approval Ratings

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

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 prominent figures and raising $81 million in small-dollar donations in the first 24 hours of her candidacy.

August 2024: 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 between Harris and Trump

On September 10, 2024, ABC News hosted the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in Philadelphia. Harris was declared the winner by several analysts, receiving a celebrity endorsement from Taylor Swift. However, polls showed difficulties in conveying that she could represent a "change".

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 and losing both the Electoral College vote (312 to 226) and the popular vote (48.3% to 49.8%).

2024: Trump's Contribution to Harris's Reelection Campaign

In 2014, Donald Trump, her future opponent in the 2024 United States presidential election, contributed $6,000 to Kamala Harris's reelection campaign.

2024: Nominee in the 2024 Presidential Election

In 2024, Kamala Harris was the Democratic Party's nominee in the presidential election. She ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees.

2024: Public Image and Memes

Since the launch of her 2024 presidential campaign, Kamala Harris remarks, including a 2023 video clip, have been widely shared as memes, resulting in press coverage of her public image.

2024: Biden and Harris as Presumptive Nominees

Throughout 2024, Joe Biden's age and health were under scrutiny, especially after his debate performance, while he and Kamala Harris became the Democratic Party's presumptive nominees.

January 6, 2025: Certification of Trump and Vance as Election Winners

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 with her husband to help 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 pursue 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, former President Trump revoked Kamala Harris's security clearance, a courtesy normally extended to former vice presidents.

2025: Decision on Future Candidacies

In 2025, Kamala Harris is rumored to make a decision about potentially running for the 2026 California gubernatorial election or the 2028 United States presidential election by late summer.

2025: End of Vice Presidency

In 2025, Kamala Harris's term as the 49th Vice President of the United States came to an end. During her time in office, she made history as the first female, first African American, and first Asian American to hold the position.

2030: Target year to generate 100% renewable electricity

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.