History of Kamala Harris in Timeline
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.
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.
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, then dating Kamala Harris, appointed her 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 and became the chief of the Career Criminal Division.
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 and won the election for district attorney of San Francisco, becoming the first person of color elected to that position.
2003: Elected District Attorney of San Francisco
In 2003, Kamala Harris was elected as the District Attorney of San Francisco.
2004: Created San Francisco Reentry Division
In 2004, Kamala Harris created the San Francisco Reentry Division, which reduced recidivism among program graduates.
2004: Stood by Pledge Never to Seek the Death Penalty
In 2004, Kamala Harris kept 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: 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 and was reelected for a second term as district attorney of San Francisco.
2007: Chronic truancy rate
In 2007, chronic truancy rate for elementary school students was at 2,517 in San Francisco.
2008: Issued Citations Against Parents for 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: Decline in Elementary School Truancy
By April 2009, due to Harris' efforts to combat truancy, 1,330 elementary school students were habitual or chronic truants, down 23% from 1,730 in 2008.
2009: Declined to Seek the Death Penalty
In 2009, Kamala Harris declined to seek the death penalty in the case of Edwin Ramos, who was 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.
2009: Criticism of Liberals in Book
In her 2009 book, Kamala Harris criticized liberals for biases against law enforcement.
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 as the Attorney General of California.
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.
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.
2014: Harris Defends California's Death Penalty
In 2014, Kamala Harris defended California's death penalty in court while serving as California's Attorney General.
2014: Re-elected as Attorney General of California
In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected as the Attorney General of California.
2014: Reelected as Attorney General
In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected as the Attorney General of California.
2014: Harris was reelected
In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected defeating Republican nominee Ronald Gold.
January 13, 2015: Barbara Boxer Announced Retirement
On January 13, 2015, Senator Barbara Boxer announced she would not run for reelection in 2016.
2015: Endorsement from EMILY's List
In 2015, EMILY's List endorsed Kamala Harris during her senatorial campaign.
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.
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.
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 as U.S. Senator
In November 2016, Kamala Harris defeated Loretta Sanchez in the election to become a U.S. Senator for California.
2016: Bernie Sanders' Donation Record
In 2016, Bernie Sanders set a donation record.
2016: Announced Senate Candidacy
In 2016, Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for the Senate seat.
2016: Won the Senate election
In 2016, Kamala Harris won the Senate election and became the junior U.S. Senator from California.
2016: Russian interference in the 2016 election
In 2016, there was Russian interference in the election which was investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller.
January 3, 2017: Resigned to take seat in the United States Senate
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. Her questioning led to interruptions from Senators John McCain and Richard Burr, who requested she be more respectful of the witness.
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.
2017: Became U.S. Senator
In 2017, Kamala Harris became a U.S. Senator representing California.
2017: Became U.S. Senator from California
In 2017, Kamala Harris became the junior U.S. Senator from California.
2017: Reference to Fiscal Year 2017 National Security Funding
Reference to Fiscal Year 2017 National Security Funding
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.
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 among federal prisoners.
2018: Georgia and Florida Gubernatorial Elections
In 2018, Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum lost the gubernatorial elections in Georgia and Florida, respectively.
2018: Reference to Fiscal Year 2018 National Security Funding
Reference to Fiscal Year 2018 National Security Funding
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.
March 2019: Harris calls for Barr to testify before Congress and questions his summary of the Mueller Report
In March 2019, Kamala Harris called for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to testify before Congress following the submission of the Mueller report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. She also questioned Barr's summary of the report, suggesting it deliberately mischaracterized the findings and called for an investigation into whether Barr's summary of the Mueller report and his statements at a news conference were misleading.
April 2019: Harris Urges President Trump Not to Cut Aid to Central American Countries
In April 2019, Kamala Harris joined 33 other Senate Democrats and independents in writing a letter to President Trump, urging him not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, arguing that such cuts would damage national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America.
May 1, 2019: Barr Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee; Harris Calls for Resignation
On May 1, 2019, William Barr testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the Mueller report. During the hearing, Kamala Harris questioned Barr about his decision not to charge Trump with obstruction of justice. Following Barr's testimony, Harris called for his resignation, accusing him of misleading the public.
May 5, 2019: Harris Alleges Voter Suppression in Georgia and Florida Gubernatorial Elections
On May 5, 2019, Kamala Harris claimed 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 Biden-Harris Ticket
In May 2019, senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus endorsed the idea of a Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ticket for the upcoming election.
June 2019: Harris Criticizes Biden at Democratic Presidential Debate
During the first Democratic presidential debate in June 2019, Kamala Harris criticized Joe Biden for past remarks regarding senators who opposed integration efforts and mandatory school bussing. Her poll numbers rose following this debate.
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.
December 3, 2019: Harris Withdraws from 2020 Presidential Election
On December 3, 2019, Kamala Harris withdrew from the 2020 presidential election due to a shortage of funds.
2019: Sought the Democratic presidential nomination
In 2019, Kamala Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, but withdrew from the race before the primaries.
January 16, 2020: Harris Delivers Remarks on Integrity of Justice System Before Trump Impeachment Trial
On January 16, 2020, before the opening of Donald Trump's impeachment trial, Kamala Harris delivered remarks on the Senate floor about the integrity of the American justice system. She emphasized that no one, including the president, is above the law.
February 2020: Biden Wins South Carolina Primary with Clyburn's Endorsement
In late February 2020, Joe Biden achieved a significant victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary after receiving the endorsement of House Whip Jim Clyburn.
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: Won the presidential election
In 2020, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden won the presidential election, defeating the incumbent president and vice president, Donald Trump and Mike Pence.
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.
2020: Harris as potential front-runner for president
Kamala Harris had been considered a top contender and potential front-runner for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president.
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.
March 24, 2021: Harris Assigned to Address Migration from Central America
On March 24, 2021, President Biden assigned Kamala Harris to work with Mexico and Northern Triangle nations to address irregular migration to the U.S. border and its root causes, leading to the development of The Root Causes Strategy (RCS).
April 2021: Harris States She Was Last Person in Room Before Biden Decided to Withdraw 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, praising Biden's 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 a press conference in Guatemala, she urged potential migrants not to come to the U.S.
November 2021: Harris Meets with Macron to Strengthen Ties
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: 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.
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.
2021: End of Senate Term
In 2021, Kamala Harris's term as U.S. Senator from California ended.
2021: Presided over the evenly split U.S. Senate
In 2021, Kamala Harris, as Vice President, presided over an evenly split U.S. Senate and cast tie-breaking votes, including votes to pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act.
February 2022: Harris Assumes Key Diplomatic Role After Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In February 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kamala Harris took on a key diplomatic role in the Biden administration, traveling 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 a record low approval rating of 34.8%, according to a RealClear Politics polling average.
November 2022: Harris Meets Macron Again During His Visit to the U.S.
In November 2022, Kamala Harris and Emmanuel Macron met again during Macron's visit to the U.S., leading to an agreement to strengthen U.S.-France space cooperation across civil, commercial, and national security sectors.
April 2023: Harris Visits Goddard Space Flight Center with South Korean President, Strengthening Space Alliance
In April 2023, Kamala Harris visited Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, agreeing to strengthen the space alliance between the U.S. and South Korea.
April 2023: Biden Announces Reelection Campaign
In April 2023, President Biden announced his reelection campaign with Kamala Harris as his expected running mate.
December 5, 2023: Harris Breaks Record for Most Tie-Breaking Votes by a 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 of 31 votes.
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 2024: Harris as "border czar"
In July 2024, there was a House resolution to tie Kamala Harris to the Mexico-United States border crisis, despite her having no authority over the border itself.
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: Donald Trump as Future Opponent
In 2024, Donald Trump would become Kamala Harris's future opponent in the United States presidential election.
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: Democratic Presidential Nominee
In 2024, Kamala Harris was the Democratic Party's nominee in the presidential election.
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.
2024: Harris as potential front-runner for president
Kamala Harris was identified to be the front-runner in 2024 if Biden did not seek re-election.
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.
2025: End of Vice Presidential Term
In 2025, Kamala Harris's term as the 49th vice president of the United States came to an end.
2030: Green New Deal
By 2030, the Green New Deal aims to transition the country toward generating 100 percent renewable electricity. Kamala Harris was an early co-sponsor.
Mentioned in this timeline
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe second only...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater...
India officially the Republic of India is located in South...
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr is an American politician who served...
Trending
46 minutes ago PlaqueBoyMax leaves FaZe Clan, Announces New Chapter; Stable Ronaldo shows support.
2 months ago Chernobyl Plans Post-War Tourism Hub: Education & Economic Renewal in Ukraine
47 minutes ago Babe Ruth 14u teams across US compete, fundraising for World Series journey.
Karrion Kross born Kevin Robert Kesar is an American professional wrestler currently signed with WWE performing on the Raw brand...
12 days ago DC Council Compromise on Tipped Wages Sparks Anger and Debate Among Advocates.
2 hours ago Joe Biden criticized for complicity in Gaza starvation and downplaying atrocities by US officials.
Popular
Jeff Bezos is an American businessman renowned as the founder...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Elizabeth Warren is a prominent American politician and the senior...
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...
Ken Paxton is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...
Chuck Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New...