Home > Topics > Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is an American politician, lawyer and the current Attorney General of California. She is a member of the Democratic Party and the 32nd Attorney General of California and she has been in this post since 2011. From 1990 to 1998, she worked as a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County, California and later from 1998 to 2000 she served as the Chief of the Community and Neighborhood Division in the San Francisco City Attorney’s office. She is the first female, first African-American, first Indian-American and the first Asian-American attorney general in California. On 8th November 2016, she became the first Indian-American and second African American female to serve in the United States Senate, defeating Loretta Sanchez in the 2016 election to replace outgoing Democratic senator Barbara Boxer.

Harris was born in California's East Bay. She is the daughter of a Tamil mother, Dr. Shyamala Harris, a breast cancer specialist who came to the United States from India in 1960 to study at the University of California at Berkeley, and a Jamaican American father, a Stanford University economics professor. Her parents divorced when Harris was a toddler; Dr. Shymala Harris raised her two daughters to embrace their African-American heritage amid Civil Rights era strife. Harris attended public schools through high school and then went on to pursue an undergraduate degree at Howard University in 1986, one of the nation's oldest historically black institutions of higher education.Harris later earned her law degree at UC Hastings College of Law, which she parlayed into a position in the Alameda County District Attorney's office. In 1990, she was promoted to Deputy Attorney for Alameda County. During her eight-year tenure as deputy she specialized in prosecuting cases involving child sexual assault and other violent crimes.She then became Managing Attorney for the Career Criminal Unit in the Office of San Francisco District Attorney. Louise Renne, City Attorney for San Francisco, hired Harris in 2000 as Chief of the Community and Neighborhood Division, overseeing civil code enforcement matters. Harris has served on a number of boards and committees, including the National Attorneys Association, California's Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Committee, the Democratic National Convention's Platform committee, the American Bar Association's Criminal Justice section and California's District Attorney's Association.In January 2015, Kamala Harris announced her bid for U.S. senate. If she wins a seat, she would be only the second woman of African or Asian descent to hold such a position. Both Carol Moseley Braun (D-Illinois) and MazieHirono (D-Hawaii) predated her. Braun was elected in 1993 and served until 1999, and Hirono was elected in 2013 and continues to serve.She is the first female, first African-American, first Indian-American and the first Asian-American attorney general in California. On 8th November 2016, she became the first Indian-American and second African American female to serve in the United States Senate, defeating Loretta Sanchez in the 2016 election to replace outgoing Democratic senator Barbara Boxer.

In her political career, Harris has also been in many controversies. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office found itself under fire in early 2010 when it came to light that Deborah Madden, a drug lab technician for the city police, confessed to removing cocaine from evidence samples. Her admission resulted in the police lab's testing unit closing and pending drug cases being dismissed. The police department also had to investigate cases already prosecuted due to Madden's admission of evidence tampering.During the scandal, it was asserted that the District Attorney's Office knew of Madden's evidence tampering. However, it remains unclear what information the district attorney knew about Madden and when Harris learned of the tech's improprieties. The San Francisco Examiner has alleged that the District Attorney's Office knew of the situation months before the public was told of the controversy and before the police chief himself learned of the news.

While she was an Alameda County Deputy District Attorney in the 1990s, she dated Willie Brown, the Speaker of the California State Assembly. They broke up shortly after he was elected Mayor of San Francisco. On April 7, 2014, Harris announced that she was engaged to be married to California attorney Douglas Emhoff the partner-in-charge at Venable LLP’s Los Angeles office. They married on August 22, 2014 in Santa Barbara, California. For her entire political career, she has been a recipient of many awards and recognition. Harris won endorsements from California's political elite while campaigning for attorney general, including Sen. Diane Feinstein, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. On the national stage, Harris had the backing of former U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Leaders in law enforcement endorsed Harris also, including the then police chiefs of San Diego and San Francisco.Harris has also won numerous honors, including being named one of California's top 75 women litigators by legal paper the Daily Journal and a "Woman of Power" by the National Urban League. Additionally, the National Black Prosecutors Association gave Harris the Thurgood Marshall Award and the Aspen Institute chose her to serve as a Rodel Fellow. Lastly, the California District Attorneys Association elected her to its board.

Kamala Harris Raises $23 Million Since US Presidential Bid Announcement
PTI | July 8, 2019 5:07 PM IST
Senator Kamala Harris, the first Indian-origin US Senator, has raised over USD 23 million since the ...
Kamala Harris Raises $23 Million Since US Presidential Bid Announcement
indiacom
2019-07-08T06:07:45+00:00
2019-07-08T06:07:45+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
2020 Democrats Debate: Joe Biden Slammed by Kamala Harris on Race Record
IANS | June 28, 2019 7:05 PM IST
Former US Vice-President and Democratic White House front-runner Joe Biden has been slammed by Senat...
2020 Democrats Debate: Joe Biden Slammed by Kamala Harris on Race Record
indiacom
2019-06-28T08:05:59+00:00
2019-06-28T08:05:59+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Indian American Senator Kamala Harris Kicks Off Campaign Today For Democratic Presidential Run in 2020
IANS | January 28, 2019 2:34 PM IST
Washington: Indian American Senator Kamala Harris has officially kicked off her campaign for the Dem...
Indian American Senator Kamala Harris Kicks Off Campaign Today For Democratic Presidential Run in 2020
indiacom
2019-01-28T03:34:23+00:00
2019-01-28T03:34:23+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Democratic Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris Says She is Capable of Unifying Country
India.com News Desk | January 27, 2019 10:12 PM IST
Oakland: Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said that she is capable of unifying the co...
Democratic Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris Says She is Capable of Unifying Country
indiacom
2019-01-27T11:12:09+00:00
2019-01-27T11:12:09+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
US: Kamala Harris to Run For President in 2020 Elections
India.com News Desk | January 21, 2019 11:06 PM IST
New York: Kamala Harris, a Senator of Indian descent, announced on Monday that she is running for Pr...
US: Kamala Harris to Run For President in 2020 Elections
indiacom
2019-01-21T12:06:48+00:00
2019-01-21T12:06:48+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Two Indian-American lawmakers asks Trump to end government shutdown
PTI Feeds | January 10, 2019 3:54 PM IST
Washington, Jan 10 (PTI) Two Indian-American lawmakers have criticised US President Donald Trump for...
Two Indian-American lawmakers asks Trump to end government shutdown
indiacom
2019-01-10T04:54:17+00:00
2019-01-10T04:54:17+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Kamala Harris, Indian-American Senator From California Tops Global Thinkers' List
India.com News Desk | December 5, 2017 12:06 AM IST
Washington, December 4: Indian-American Senator Kamala Harris from California has topped the prestig...
Kamala Harris, Indian-American Senator From California Tops Global Thinkers' List
indiacom
2017-12-04T13:06:05+00:00
2017-12-04T13:06:05+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Many California voters unaware of Senator Kamala Harris: Poll
IANS Feeds | March 23, 2017 1:41 PM IST
San Francisco, March 23 (IANS) Kamala Harris, first Indian-American to serve in the US Senate, remai...
Many California voters unaware of Senator Kamala Harris: Poll
indiacom
2017-03-23T02:41:14+00:00
2017-03-23T02:41:14+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Kamala Harris says suspicious of Donald Trump's immigration policies
Press Trust of India | November 18, 2016 9:54 AM IST
Washington, Nov 18 : Indian-American Kamala Harris, who scripted history by winning a Senate seat, h...
Kamala Harris says suspicious of Donald Trump's immigration policies
indiacom
2016-11-17T22:54:55+00:00
2016-11-17T22:54:55+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Kamala Harris has potential to be first woman US president: Report
Press Trust of India | November 12, 2016 11:44 AM IST
Washington, Nov 12 : Indian-origin California Attorney General Kamala Harris has potential to become...
Kamala Harris has potential to be first woman US president: Report
indiacom
2016-11-12T00:44:06+00:00
2016-11-12T00:44:06+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Indian-American Kamala Harris to take on Trump's immigration policies
Press Trust of India | November 11, 2016 2:30 PM IST
Washington, Nov 11 : Indian-American Kamala Harris, who scripted history by winning a Senate seat, h...
Indian-American Kamala Harris to take on Trump's immigration policies
indiacom
2016-11-11T03:30:20+00:00
2016-11-11T03:30:20+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
US Elections 2016: Record 5 Indian-Americans set to be elected to US Congress
Press Trust of India | November 9, 2016 12:50 PM IST
Washington, Nov 9: An unprecedented 'desi' wave hit the US general elections as a record number of f...
US Elections 2016: Record 5 Indian-Americans set to be elected to US Congress
indiacom
2016-11-09T01:50:43+00:00
2016-11-09T01:50:43+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
US Elections 2016: Indian-American Kamala Harris creates history, wins US Senate seat
Press Trust of India | November 9, 2016 10:57 AM IST
New York, Nov 9: California's Attorney General Kamala Harris today scripted history as she won the U...
US Elections 2016: Indian-American Kamala Harris creates history, wins US Senate seat
indiacom
2016-11-08T23:57:58+00:00
2016-11-09T00:19:13+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Indian-American Congress hopeful on cusp of making history in US Presidential Elections 2016
Press Trust of India | November 8, 2016 12:22 PM IST
Washington, Nov 8: Indian-Americans, comprising about one per cent of the country's population, appe...
Indian-American Congress hopeful on cusp of making history in US Presidential Elections 2016
indiacom
2016-11-08T01:22:47+00:00
2016-11-08T01:22:47+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Kamala Harris set to become 1st Indian-American US Senator
Press Trust of India | November 5, 2016 7:26 PM IST
Los Angeles, Nov 5 : Kamala Harris, California's Attorney General, is on the cusp of becoming the fi...
Kamala Harris set to become 1st Indian-American US Senator
indiacom
2016-11-05T08:26:21+00:00
2016-11-05T08:26:21+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Donald Trump unfit for holding public office: Kamala Harris
Press Trust of India | June 18, 2016 10:06 AM IST
Washington, Jun 18: In a blistering attack on Donald Trump, Indian-American California Attorney Gene...
Donald Trump unfit for holding public office: Kamala Harris
indiacom
2016-06-17T23:06:55+00:00
2016-06-18T04:36:55+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Kamala Harris, Ami Bera, Ro Khanna Win Primaries in California, Advance to November Elections
The American Bazaar | June 16, 2016 12:47 AM IST
By AB Wire As expected, California’s Attorney General Kamala Harris got the first place and her c...
Kamala Harris, Ami Bera, Ro Khanna Win Primaries in California, Advance to November Elections
indiacom
2016-06-15T13:47:30+00:00
2016-06-15T19:17:30+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Senate Hopeful Kamala Harris Explains Campaign Platform
India West | April 7, 2016 6:39 AM IST
[Photo Source: California Attorney General Kamala Harris, D-Calif. (second from right), seen here w...
Senate Hopeful Kamala Harris Explains Campaign Platform
indiacom
2016-04-06T19:39:35+00:00
2016-04-06T19:39:35+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
Why You Should Care About the 104 Women in Congress
Brown Girl Magazine | January 22, 2015 6:13 AM IST
By Rishika Reddy For the first time in American history there will be a total of 104 women in Congr...
Why You Should Care About the 104 Women in Congress
indiacom
2015-01-21T19:13:59+00:00
2015-01-21T19:13:59+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com
No Major Breakthroughs For The Indian Diaspora In 2014 Congressional Elections
The Indian Diaspora | November 15, 2014 2:41 AM IST
The only Indian member of the Congress, Democrat Ami Bera, lost this year's elections, which was swe...
No Major Breakthroughs For The Indian Diaspora In 2014 Congressional Elections
indiacom
2014-11-14T15:41:32+00:00
2014-11-14T15:41:44+00:00
Kamala Harris
India.com