History of Kamala Harris in Timeline
Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney. She served as the 49th U.S. Vice President from 2021-2025 under President Joe Biden, making her the first female, African-American, and Asian-American to hold the office. Previously, she served as a United States Senator representing California (2017-2021) and as California's Attorney General (2011-2017). A member of the Democratic Party, she was the party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election.
1938: Mother and Father Born
In 1938, both Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, and her father, Donald J. Harris, were born.
1958: Mother Arrived in the United States
In 1958, Kamala Harris's mother, Shyamala Gopalan, arrived in the United States from India to enroll in graduate school.
1961: Father Immigrated to the United States
In 1961, Kamala Harris's father, Donald J. Harris, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica.
1962: Parents Met
In 1962, Kamala Harris's parents, Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, met.
1963: Parents Married
In 1963, Kamala Harris's parents, Shyamala Gopalan and Donald J. Harris, got married.
October 20, 1964: Kamala Harris Born
On October 20, 1964, Kamala Devi Harris was born. Kamala later became the 49th Vice President of The United States.
1966: Family moved from Berkeley
In 1966, the Harris family moved from Berkeley around Kamala's second birthday and Kamala's sister, Maya, was born in Urbana, Illinois.
1968: Reference to Hubert Humphrey's campaign
In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first nominee who did not participate in the primaries since Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968.
1970: Marriage faltered
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
In 1972, Donald Harris, Kamala's father, accepted a position at Stanford University.
1976: Family moved to Montreal
In 1976, Shyamala Harris accepted a research position in Montreal, Quebec, and moved there with her daughters.
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 in Montreal, Quebec.
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 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, Kamala Harris was appointed 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 as an assistant district attorney in San Francisco.
August 2000: Worked for San Francisco City Attorney
In August 2000, Kamala Harris took a job at San Francisco City Hall, working for city attorney Louise Renne.
2001: Harris briefly dates 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 district attorney of San Francisco.
2004: Created San Francisco Reentry Division
In 2004, Kamala Harris created the San Francisco Reentry Division.
2004: Espinoza Case
In 2004, Kamala Harris kept her pledge against the death penalty in the case of Isaac Espinoza, a San Francisco Police Department officer.
2005: Created Environmental Crimes Unit
In 2005, as district attorney, Kamala Harris created an environmental crimes unit.
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 for a second term as District Attorney of San Francisco.
2007: Truancy numbers declined
In 2007, San Francisco saw a decline in habitual truants from 2,856 in 2006 to 2,517.
2008: Prosecuted Parents for Truancy
In 2008, Kamala Harris issued citations against six parents whose children missed at least 50 days of school.
April 2009: Truancy numbers decreased
By April 2009, 1,330 elementary school students were habitual or chronic truants, down 23% from 1,730 in 2008.
2009: Ramos Case
In 2009, Kamala Harris kept her pledge against the death penalty in the case of Edwin Ramos, an illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member.
2009: Harris criticized 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 key endorsements.
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 orders marriages to start immediately after Prop 8 ruling
In 2013, after Prop 8 was struck down, Kamala Harris, as California attorney general, ordered the Los Angeles County Clerk's office to "start the marriages immediately" and officiated at 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.
2014: Re-elected as Attorney General
In 2014, Kamala Harris was re-elected as Attorney General of California.
2014: Re-elected Attorney General of California
In 2014, Kamala Harris was re-elected as attorney general of California.
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: Criticism for federal court motion
In 2015, Kamala Harris was criticized for a federal court motion she filed 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.
November 2016: Elected to the Senate
In November 2016, Kamala Harris defeated Loretta Sanchez to be elected to the Senate.
2016: Senate Race
In 2016, Kamala Harris was a top contender for Barbara Boxer's senate seat.
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, leading to interruptions and claims of sexism.
August 2017: Origin of the #KHive
In August 2017, Joy Reid tweeted about creating the K-Hive.
2017: Became U.S. Senator
In 2017, Kamala Harris became a United States Senator representing California.
July 2018: Harris introduces 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.
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 the First Step Act
In December 2018, Kamala Harris voted for the First Step Act, aimed at reducing recidivism rates among federal prisoners.
January 21, 2019: Announcement of Candidacy for President
On January 21, 2019, Kamala Harris officially announced her candidacy for president of the United States in the 2020 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 to ensure transparency regarding the Mueller report on Russian interference.
April 2019: Urged Trump not to cut aid to Central America
In April 2019, Kamala Harris, along with other Senate Democrats and independents, signed a letter urging President Trump not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
May 1, 2019: Barr Testimony and Harris's Call for Resignation
On May 1, 2019, Kamala Harris questioned Attorney General Barr's handling of the Mueller report during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and subsequently called for his resignation.
May 5, 2019: Accusations of Voter Suppression in Georgia and Florida
On May 5, 2019, Kamala Harris suggested that voter suppression was responsible for the Democratic losses in the 2018 Georgia and Florida gubernatorial elections.
May 2019: Congressional Black Caucus Endorses Biden-Harris Ticket Idea
In May 2019, senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus endorsed the idea of a Biden–Harris ticket for the upcoming election.
June 2019: Clash with Biden at Democratic Debate
During the first Democratic presidential debate in June 2019, Kamala Harris confronted Joe Biden over his past remarks on senators who opposed integration efforts.
October 2019: Harris participates 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 and pledged her support for equality.
December 3, 2019: Withdrawal from Presidential Election
On December 3, 2019, Kamala Harris withdrew from the 2020 presidential election campaign, citing a shortage of funds.
2019: Sought Democratic Presidential Nomination
In 2019, Kamala Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination but withdrew from the race before the primaries.
January 16, 2020: Remarks on the Integrity of the Justice System
On January 16, 2020, Kamala Harris spoke on the Senate floor about the integrity of the American justice system prior to the impeachment trial of Donald Trump.
February 2020: Biden's South Carolina Primary Victory
In late February 2020, Joe Biden achieved a landslide victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary, bolstered by an endorsement from House whip Jim Clyburn.
March 2020: Harris signs a letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons
In March 2020, Kamala Harris was one of 15 senators to sign a letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons requesting information on their strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 17, 2020: Expresses 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.
June 2020: Harris supports Los Angeles Police Department 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: Announcement as Vice Presidential Nominee
On August 11, 2020, Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first African American, first Indian American, and third woman on a major-party ticket.
2020: Reference to the 2020 presidential election
All 50 states and DC trended rightward compared to the 2020 presidential election.
2020: Rating from Planned Parenthood Action Fund
As of 2020, Kamala Harris had a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
2020: Harris tweets in support of donations to the 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: Vice President-Elect
In 2020, Kamala Harris became the vice president-elect after Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
2020: Elected Vice President of the United States
In 2020, Kamala Harris was elected Vice President of the United States as Joe Biden's running mate, defeating incumbents Donald Trump and Mike Pence.
January 18, 2021: Resignation 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.
January 20, 2021: Sworn in as Vice President
On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris was sworn in as the Vice President of the United States, making history as the first woman, first African-American, and first Asian-American to hold the office.
March 24, 2021: Assigned to Address Migration from Central America
On March 24, 2021, Kamala Harris was assigned to work with Mexico and Northern Triangle nations to address irregular migration to the Mexico–United States border.
April 2021: Said she was the last person in the room before Biden decided to remove all 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.
November 2021: Met 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: Served as Acting President During Biden's Colonoscopy
On November 19, 2021, Kamala Harris served as acting president of the United States while President Biden underwent a colonoscopy.
December 2021: Identified as Pivotal in Biden Administration
As early as December 2021, Kamala Harris was identified as playing a pivotal role in the Biden administration.
2021: Became Vice President
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 the junior U.S. Senator from California concluded.
2021: American Rescue Plan Act
In 2021, as Vice President, Kamala Harris cast a tie-breaking vote for the American Rescue Plan Act.
2021: Reference to Inflation Surge
The text mentions the 2021-2023 inflation surge in connection to the losses in the 2024 election.
November 2022: Meeting During Macron's Visit to the U.S.
In November 2022, Kamala Harris and Emmanuel Macron held another meeting during Macron's visit to the U.S., which resulted in an agreement to strengthen U.S.–France space cooperation across civil, commercial, and national security sectors.
April 2023: Visit to Goddard Space Flight Center
In April 2023, Kamala Harris visited Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland with South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, and agreed to work 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, incumbent president Joe Biden announced his reelection campaign, with Kamala Harris as his running mate.
December 5, 2023: Breaks Tie-Breaking Vote Record
On December 5, 2023, Kamala Harris broke the record for most tie-breaking votes cast by a vice president, casting her 32nd vote.
2023: Reference to Inflation Surge
The text mentions the 2021-2023 inflation surge in connection to the losses in the 2024 election.
July 2024: Harris becomes presumptive Democratic presidential nominee
In July 2024, Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and had a rise in her favorable rating.
July 2024: Launched Presidential Campaign
In July 2024, after Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign with Biden's endorsement.
July 2024: House Resolution Tying Harris to Border Crisis
In July 2024, despite Harris having no authority over the border itself, Republicans and other critics began using the term "border czar" to tie Harris to the Mexico–United States border crisis, including in a July 2024 House resolution.
July 21, 2024: Biden endorses Harris for president
On July 21, 2024, Joe Biden suspended his reelection campaign and endorsed Kamala Harris for president, and she was also endorsed by several prominent political figures. Her campaign raised $81 million in the first 24 hours.
August 2024: Harris and Emhoff 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 participates in presidential debate
On September 10, 2024, Kamala Harris participated in a presidential debate against Donald Trump, where she defended abortion rights and was declared the winner by several political analysts.
2024: Speculation about future presidential run
According to USA Today, Kamala Harris intended to run in 2028 before Biden's withdrawal in 2024.
2024: Harris and Biden become presumptive nominees
After the Democratic primaries in 2024, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden became the Democratic Party's presumptive nominees in the 2024 presidential election.
2024: Presidential Nominee
In 2024, Kamala Harris was the Democratic Party's nominee in the presidential election.
2024: Harris Loses the presidential election
Kamala Harris lost the 2024 United States presidential election to Donald Trump, losing the electoral college 226 to 312, and the popular vote 48.3% to 49.8%.
2024: Harris remarks go viral as 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 win
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 2024 election.
January 20, 2025: Harris leaves office
On January 20, 2025, Kamala Harris left office as Vice President and was succeeded by JD Vance. She and her husband moved to Los Angeles.
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.
2025: End of Vice Presidency
In 2025, Kamala Harris's term as the 49th Vice President of the United States concluded.
2026: Consideration of running for governor of California
According to New York magazine, Kamala Harris is considering running for governor of California in 2026.
2028: Speculation about future presidential run
According to The New York Times and Politico, Kamala Harris may run for president again in 2028.
2030: Green New Deal
By 2030, Kamala Harris co-sponsored the Green New Deal, a plan to transition the country towards generating 100 percent renewable electricity.
