History of Kamala Harris in Timeline
Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney, notable as the 49th Vice President of the United States (2021-2025) under President Joe Biden. She holds the distinction of being the first female, African American, and Asian American to hold the office. Previously, she served as a U.S. Senator representing California (2017-2021) and as the Attorney General of California (2011-2017). A member of the Democratic Party, Harris was the party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election.
1938: Mother Shyamala Gopalan Born
In 1938, Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born. She later became a biologist.
1958: 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: Father Immigrated to the US
In 1961, Kamala Harris's father, Donald J. Harris, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica and also enrolled in UC Berkeley.
1962: Parents Met
In 1962, Kamala Harris's parents, Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, met at UC Berkeley.
1963: Parents Married
In 1963, Kamala Harris's parents, Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, were married.
October 20, 1964: Kamala Harris Born
On October 20, 1964, Kamala Devi Harris was born. She would later become an American politician and attorney.
1966: Family Moved from Berkeley
In 1966, the Harris family moved from Berkeley around Kamala's second birthday.
1970: Parents' Marriage Started to Falte
By 1970, Kamala Harris's parents' marriage had begun to falter, leading Shyamala to move back to Berkeley with her daughters.
1972: Father Accepted Position at Stanford University
In 1972, Donald Harris accepted a position at Stanford University, and Kamala and her sister spent weekends at their father's house.
1976: Moved to Montreal
In 1976, Kamala Harris moved with her mother and sister to Montreal, Quebec, after her mother accepted a research position at McGill University School of Medicine.
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 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, Kamala Harris was appointed to the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the California Medical Assistance Commission.
1996: Willie Brown Mayor of San Francisco
In 1996, Willie Brown, who Kamala Harris dated in the 1990s, was the Mayor of San Francisco. He served until 2004.
February 1998: Assistant District Attorney
In February 1998, Kamala Harris was recruited as an assistant district attorney for San Francisco.
August 2000: Job at San Francisco City Hall
In August 2000, Kamala Harris began working at San Francisco City Hall for city attorney Louise Renne, running the Family and Children's Services Division.
2001: Briefly Dated 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, becoming the first person of color elected to the position.
2003: Elected District Attorney of San Francisco
In 2003, Kamala Harris was elected district attorney of San Francisco.
2004: Created San Francisco Reentry Division
In 2004, Kamala Harris created the San Francisco Reentry Division as District Attorney.
2004: Did not Seek Death Penalty
In 2004, Kamala Harris did not seek the death penalty in the case of Isaac Espinoza, a San Francisco Police Department officer who was shot and killed.
2004: End of Willie Brown's Mayorship
In 2004, Willie Brown, who Kamala Harris dated in the 1990s, was the Mayor of San Francisco, his mayorship ended that year.
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 Second Term
In 2007, Kamala Harris ran unopposed for a second term as district attorney.
2007: Chronic Truancy in Elementary School Students
In 2007, the number of chronic truancy cases reported at 2,517 cases in elementary school students.
2008: Issued Citations 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.
April 2009: Chronic Truancy Reduced
By April 2009, there was a 23% reduction in habitual or chronic truants in elementary schools, down from 1,730 in 2008.
2009: Did not Seek Death Penalty
In 2009, Kamala Harris did not seek the death penalty for Edwin Ramos, accused of murdering a man and his two sons.
2009: Mother Shyamala Gopalan Died
In 2009, Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, passed away.
2009: Publication of Harris's 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, receiving endorsements from prominent Democrats and winning the election.
2010: Elected Attorney General of California
In 2010, Kamala Harris was elected as the attorney general of California, becoming the first woman, African American, and South Asian American to hold the office.
January 3, 2011: Took Office as Attorney General of California
On January 3, 2011, Kamala Harris took office as the attorney general of California.
2011: Attorney General of California
In 2011, Kamala Harris served as the attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017.
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 in the case.
August 22, 2014: Harris Marries Doug Emhoff
On August 22, 2014, Kamala Harris married Doug Emhoff in Santa Barbara, California, becoming stepmother to his two children.
2014: Reelected Attorney General
In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected as attorney general of California.
2014: Reelected Attorney General of California
In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected as attorney general of California.
2014: Harris Reelected
In 2014, Kamala Harris was reelected, defeating Republican nominee Ronald Gold with 58% of the vote.
January 13, 2015: Boxer Retirement Announcement
On January 13, 2015, Senator Barbara Boxer announced she would not run for reelection in 2016, creating an opportunity for Kamala Harris to run for the Senate seat.
2015: EMILY's List Endorsement
In 2015, EMILY's List endorsed Kamala Harris during her senatorial campaign.
2015: Donated Contributions to Non-profit
In 2015, Kamala Harris donated Donald Trump's contributions to a "nonprofit that advocates for civil and human rights for Central Americans."
2015: Criticism for Blocking Gender-Affirming Care
In 2015, Kamala Harris was criticized for a federal court motion she filed to block gender-affirming medical care for a transgender inmate, after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that denying that treatment violated the 8th Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.
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, receiving financial support from the party.
November 2016: Defeated Loretta Sanchez
In November 2016, Kamala Harris defeated Loretta Sanchez with over 60% of the vote, becoming the second Black woman and first South Asian American senator in history.
2016: Harris Announced Candidacy
In 2016, Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for the Senate seat.
2016: Won Senate Election
In 2016, Kamala Harris won the Senate election to represent California.
January 3, 2017: Resigned as Attorney General
On January 3, 2017, Kamala Harris resigned as attorney general 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 and accusations of being disrespectful.
2017: U.S. Senator from California
In 2017, Kamala Harris began her service as the junior U.S. senator from California.
July 2018: Harris Introduces Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act
In July 2018, Kamala Harris led her colleagues in introducing the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2018, a nationwide bill to curtail the effectiveness of the 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: Harris Votes for First Step Act
In December 2018, Kamala Harris voted for the First Step Act, legislation aimed at reducing recidivism rates among federal prisoners through job training and sentencing reform.
January 21, 2019: Announced candidacy for president of the United States in the 2020 presidential election
On January 21, 2019, Kamala Harris officially announced her candidacy for president of the United States in the 2020 presidential election. Her announcement tied a record for most donations raised in the day after an announcement.
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. She advocated for transparency after Robert Mueller submitted his report on Russian interference in the 2016 election.
April 2019: Urged 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 urging President Trump not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, arguing that such cuts would damage national security and aggravate conditions in Central America.
May 1, 2019: Called for Barr's resignation after his testimony
On May 1, 2019, Kamala Harris called for Attorney General William Barr to resign after his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She accused him of misrepresenting the Mueller report and refusing to answer her questions truthfully.
May 5, 2019: Accused of voter suppression in Georgia and Florida gubernatorial elections
On May 5, 2019, Kamala Harris claimed that "voter suppression" was the reason Democrats Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum lost the 2018 gubernatorial elections in Georgia and Florida. This claim was disputed by election law expert Richard L. Hasen.
June 2019: Scolded Joe Biden at Democratic presidential debate
During the first Democratic presidential debate in June 2019, Kamala Harris criticized former Vice President Joe Biden for remarks he made about working with senators who opposed integration efforts, which led to a rise in her poll numbers afterward.
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 and pledged support for equality and drew attention to hate crimes against Black trans women.
December 3, 2019: Withdrew from the 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
In 2019, Kamala Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but withdrew before the primaries.
January 16, 2020: Remarks on integrity of the justice system and the impeachment trial of Donald Trump
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 and the principle that no one is above the law. She later voted to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
March 2020: Harris Requests Information on COVID-19 Strategy in Prisons
In March 2020, Kamala Harris was one of 15 senators to sign a letter requesting information on the COVID-19 strategy from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and private prison companies, emphasizing the need to prevent the virus's spread among incarcerated individuals and staff.
April 17, 2020: Expressed interest in being Biden's running mate
On April 17, 2020, Kamala Harris responded to media speculation by saying she "would be honored" to be Joe Biden's running mate.
June 2020: Harris Supports Los Angeles Police Department Budget Cuts
In June 2020, after a campaign by a coalition of community groups, including Black Lives Matter, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Los Angeles Police Department budget cuts of $150 million, a decision that Kamala Harris supported.
August 11, 2020: Announced as Biden's running mate
On August 11, 2020, Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate. She was the first African American, the first Indian American, and the third woman to be the vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket.
2020: Planned Parenthood Action Fund Rating
As of 2020, Kamala Harris had a 100% rating from the abortion rights advocacy group Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
2020: Vice Presidential Candidate
In 2020, Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris as his running mate. They won the 2020 presidential election, defeating Donald Trump and Mike Pence.
2020: Became Vice President-elect
In 2020, Kamala Harris became the vice president–elect after Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
2020: Harris Supports Donations to 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, though she did not donate to the fund herself.
2020: Election of Kamala Harris
In 2020, the presidential election happened and compared to this election, all 50 states and DC trended rightward in the 2024 presidential election.
January 18, 2021: Resigned from the Senate
On January 18, 2021, Kamala Harris resigned from her seat in the Senate, before taking office as Vice President on January 20. She was replaced by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.
January 20, 2021: Sworn in as Vice President
On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice president, becoming the United States' first woman vice president, first African-American vice president, and first Asian-American vice president.
March 24, 2021: Assigned to address irregular migration to the Mexico-United States border
On March 24, 2021, Kamala Harris was assigned by President Biden to work with Mexico and Northern Triangle nations to address irregular migration to the Mexico–United States border and address the root causes of migration.
April 2021: Expressed support for Biden's decision 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, expressing her support for his decision.
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 while Biden underwent a colonoscopy
On November 19, 2021, Kamala Harris served as acting president from 10:10 to 11:35 am EST 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: Vice President of the United States
In 2021, Kamala Harris became the 49th vice president of the United States, serving until 2025 under President Joe Biden.
2021: End of Senate Term
In 2021, Kamala Harris's term as the U.S. senator from California ended.
2021: Start of Inflation Surge
In 2021, an inflation surge began, lasting through 2023, and was considered a key factor in the 2024 global backlash against incumbent parties.
2021: Tie-Breaking Votes as Vice President
In 2021, as Vice President, Kamala Harris cast 33 tie-breaking votes in the U.S. Senate, including those for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act.
August 2022: Low Approval Ratings
According to a RealClear Politics polling average, a record low of 34.8% of Americans had a favorable view of Kamala Harris in August 2022.
April 2023: Visited Goddard Space Flight Center with South Korean President
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, with Kamala Harris expected to remain his running mate.
December 5, 2023: Broke the record for the most tie-breaking votes cast 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. This exceeded John C. Calhoun's previous record.
2023: End of Inflation Surge
In 2023, the inflation surge that began in 2021 came to an end, and was considered a key factor in the 2024 global backlash against incumbent parties.
2023: "Fell Out of a Coconut Tree" Clip
In 2024, a video clip from 2023 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: Harris Criticizes 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 Ratings
In July 2024 Kamala Harris approval ratings rose rapidly after she became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
July 2024: Launched Presidential Campaign
In July 2024, Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign after Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy. She selected Tim Walz as her running mate but ultimately 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 immediately endorsed Kamala Harris for president, resulting in her campaign raising $81 million in the first 24 hours.
August 2024: Harris and Emhoff's 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: Harris and Trump Presidential Debate
On September 10, 2024, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump participated in a presidential debate hosted by ABC News in Philadelphia. Analysts declared Harris the winner, citing her strong performance, particularly on abortion rights. Shortly after, Taylor Swift endorsed Harris.
November 5, 2024: Harris Loses Presidential Election to Trump
On November 5, 2024, Kamala Harris lost the 2024 United States presidential election to Donald Trump, losing both the Electoral College vote (312 to 226) and the popular vote (48.3% to 49.8%).
2024: Trump as Opponent
In 2024, Donald Trump was her future opponent in the United States presidential election, Donald Trump.
2024: Democratic Presidential Nominee
In 2024, Kamala Harris was the Democratic Party's nominee in the presidential election.
2024: Harris and Biden Become Presumptive Nominees
In 2024, after the Democratic primaries, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden became the Democratic party's presumptive nominees in the 2024 presidential election.
2024: Viral Memes
Since the launch of her 2024 presidential campaign, Kamala Harris's remarks have been widely shared as memes, resulting in press coverage of her public image.
January 6, 2025: Harris Oversees Certification of 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 of the United States, succeeded by JD Vance. She 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 pursue speaking and publishing opportunities.
March 21, 2025: Trump Revokes Harris's Security Clearance
On March 21, 2025, President Trump revoked Kamala Harris's security clearance, reversing a courtesy typically extended to former vice presidents.
April 30, 2025: Harris Criticizes Trump Administration 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: Decision About Running for Governor
In 2025 Kamala Harris intends to make a decision about running for governor of California by late summer.
2025: End of Vice Presidency
In 2025, Kamala Harris's term as the 49th Vice President of the United States concluded, marking the end of her service under President Joe Biden.
2026: Possible Candidate for California Gubernatorial Election
In 2026 Kamala Harris has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the California gubernatorial election.
2028: Possible Candidate for United States Presidential Election
In 2028 Kamala Harris has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the United States presidential election.
2030: Green New Deal Co-sponsor
By 2030, Kamala Harris was an early co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, a plan to transition the country towards generating 100 percent renewable electricity.
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