he explained, which honestly, we can absolutely hear her saying. It's like the honeymoon phase forever. All rights reserved. The move was likely also for ethical reasons Emhoff is not a lobbyist, but his law firm does lobby the federal government on behalf of clients. The two created a blended family, got married in a small ceremony, and still look at each other like they're the only person in the world that matters. This is Kamala Harris's moment. "I'm her husband. Harris greeted supporters outside the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. Commitment might scare some people, especially early on in a relationship. I have no inside information about her, but my impression is that she would have continued to lead a full, joyful, and amazing life if she stayed single. As Emhoff revealed to Marie Claire, he and Kamala Harris were set up on, you guessed it, a blind date by their mutual friend, Chrisette Hudlin. "I'm too old to play games or hide the ball," he revealed (via People). I do not owe him a thing. "That's how it should be.". Where is Vice President Kamala Harris from? Brooklyn-born, New Jersey-raised, and living in California from 11th grade, Emhoff had married his first wife, Kerstin, in 1992. But given Brown had been separated from his wifefor more than a decade,the claim is misleading. Emhoff was there to support his wife and hold the Bibles at her swearing-in during the Inauguration Ceremony. It was really something to see, and we can only imagine just how proud Emhoff was of Harris. But Harris ultimately decided, that after garnering poorer primary performances than expected, to drop out of the presidential race and Doug Emhoff was right by her side as she did so. In November 2021, Emhoff's ex-wife, Kerstin, wrote on Twitter that "he's doing great" as the first second gentleman of the United States. He and Karen became evangelicals together. Emhoff came with her to vote at the Kenter Canyon Elementary Charter School Auditorium in Brentwood, California, in 2016. The term stepmom soon evolved into momala - a play on her name, and also the Yiddish term mamaleh, meaning little mama. Kamala Harris clearly wanted to know what she was getting into, because she revealed while being interviewed on CBS Sunday Morning that she Googled Doug Emhoff before she met him, much to his surprise. Sen. Kamala Harris, her husband Douglas Emhoff, and former Vice President Joe Biden. She is feeling good and is working from home.". "We're all so proud. The other belonged to Regina Nelson, a family friend who was something of a second mother to Harris in her youth. Through it all, no matter what, she is ALWAYS there for me and our family without hesitation.". "She made that decision, and I would have supported whatever she decided," Emhoff told Marie Claire in an interview. Although Brown was technically still married during the time period that he dated Harris, he had been estranged from his wife Blanche Brown for more than a decade. He would later repeat the action at the 2020 inauguration when his wife was sworn in as the first female vice president of the United States. Love to see it. Were not interested in that. Doug Emhoff hugs Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. They loved how much he made me laugh. I've had a lot of titles in my career, the California senator said. Emhoff continued by sharing that he'd always seen himself as a progressive and very open-minded person, but his marriage to Harris allowed him to open his eyes to aspects of his privilege that he hadn't identified. With apologies to readers who are tired of hearing about my favorite statistic, a Pew survey of solo single people conducted in 2019 found that 50 percent were not interested in a romantic relationship or even a date. | JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images "I did! "He wants to protect her. In his capacity as speaker, Brown appointed Harris to two political positions. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. She is, without question, a force to be reckoned with. After President-elect Biden and Harris were officially declared the winners of the 2020 presidential election, Emhoff showed his support to his wife on Instagram. In his capacity as speaker, Brown appointed her to two political posts first to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, and then to the Medical Assistance Commission. And it's family, it's his work ". Good thing Emhoff made his intentions known right off the bat. June 2019: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff show their pride, August 2019: Doug Emhoff is Kamala Harris' biggest fan, December 2019: Doug Emhoff vows to "love" and "help" Kamala Harris after she ends her presidential bid, August 2020: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff make history. Harris and Emhoff had been living in Blair House across from the White House while the historic home underwent repairs. Michael Roberts, Fashion Editor and Renaissance Man, Has Died at 75, MVFWs Second Season Rewards Gamification and Giveaways, 9 Skin-Care Tips from Emily Ratajkowksis Go-to Facialist, 17 Thoughts I Had About the New Trailer for Greta Gerwigs, Stormy Daniels on the Trump Indictment and What Really Happened in That Nevada Hotel Room. This material may not be reproduced without permission. By that time, Harris was a two-term attorney general for a state that is. And I certainly helped with her first race for district attorney in San Francisco. "Doug and Kamala together are like almost vomit-inducingly cute and coupley," Cole Emhoff recently told the New York Times . Emhoff said that as soon as Hudlin mentioned Harris' name, he remembered she was the attorney general and responded: "Oh my god, she's hot.". "Let us remember always, that Jewish history is American history," he said. Brown did appoint Harris to two political posts in 1994 while he served as Speaker of the California Assembly, but that was years before Harris won her first election in 2003. "I can say one thing with certainty, my heart wouldnt be whole, nor my life full, without them. "When [Doug and Kamala] first started dating and [Kamala] was [attorney general of California], I just thought, 'Wow, that's cool. Its the kind of marriage that women in my mothers generation didnt know could exist. Emhoff also enjoyed a local delicacy at the Iowa State Fair. ", Ella added, "It's so insane. Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff met on a blind date and married on August 22, 2014. ", Harris also told PEOPLE it helps that "Dougie," as she calls Emhoff, is patient and laughs easily. Harris team did not respond to Reuters request for comment. Cole and Ella could not have been more welcoming, she told Elle. According to 2019 data from the Current Population Survey, reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, about 16 percent of Americans got to their late 40s without ever having married. Harris wrote in Elle that she and Emhoff's children didn't like the term "stepmom," so they began calling her "Momala.". In one of the most notorious stories ever published about single women, Newsweek claimed that 40-year-old women who had never married were more likely to get killed by a terrorist than to ever get married. SF Weekly. She has written for read more. Before she was a candidate in the Democratic presidential primary, Kamala Harris was a no-fuss senator from California. On Dec. 26, 1995, reporter Herb Caen wrote in his daily column that the couple had split, adding the "news came as a shock to many, including those who found Kamala Harris attractive,. Snopes readers asked about articles and memes circulating on social media stating that years prior, Harris had an "extramarital" affair with former San Francisco Mayor and California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, with some claiming that Harris' political success was achieved by being Brown's so-called mistress. This includes the Jewish and the pro-Israel community . Harris was serving as California's Attorney General. According to media reports, Kamala Harris got her first taste of the limelight back in 2001 when she briefly dated popular talk show host Montel Williams. Whether you agree or disagree with the system, I did the work. They had two children - Cole, now 26, and Ella, now 21, named for jazz greats John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald. The original photo,forwhich the Washington Examiner does notprovideasource,date, or location,features twootherpeople on the left side of the frame. "And me!" "Hey @VP, hopefully we can at least agree on what snacks to eat tonight," Emhoff wrote. "He was complimenting her, and at the same time he was admiring her, and I liked that.". Life is stressful. Harris became their stepmom in August 2014 when she married Emhoff. It was more than 20 years ago.. She is the Vice President-elect of the United States, and as the New York Times noted, Her victory represents a handful of firsts: She will be the first woman, the first Black woman, the first Indian-American woman, and the first daughter of immigrants to be sworn in as vice president.. Imagine being set up on a date. Harris. He's just fully authentic and clear about the things he cares about. They are really a unit, like a three-person parenting squad. For their eight-year anniversary, Emhoff praised his wife on Twitter, posting a photo of the two smiling and hugging in the White House. On March 27, 2014, he got down on one knee, and Harris said yes to his diamond and platinum engagement ring. In a nation where the median age for a woman to get married is about 28, Vice President Harris is an incredibly exciting outlier. And that's important to me, to keep that stability," she said. Harris wrote in her memoir, The Truths We Hold, that she really didn't know what was happening until Emhoff said, "I want to spend my life with you," and immediately started crying. When Kerstin learned that Emhoff was dating Harris, who was the California attorney general at the time, she said in 2020, "I just thought, 'Wow, that's cool. Emhoff told PEOPLE, "It's a lot of planning. "Hence the whispering and pointing among my team, who had heard rumors of his existence but hadn't seen him with their own eyes. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. In fact, she did not meet the man who would become her husband until she was 49. But who would be standing there with her? From their blind first date to their courthouse wedding, here is a complete timeline of Vice President Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's relationship. "No one should fear going to a nightclub for fear that a terrorist might try to take them down," Harris said at the event, which was also the sixth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. When Karen introduced Mike at CPAC, she said her job is to keep him humble. I mean I guess we should have been happy that she didnt say her job was ironing, but we got the idea: Wives were charming accessories, supporting actresses in their own lives. Brb, crying. For people like me who are single at heart and love being single, the answer is simple: The likelihood that we will marry is about zero. Their relationship, which ended in 1995, was not a secret. According to NBC News, Emhoff remembered being "freaked out" by the large crowd when Harris made her announcement. He first met Harris in 1994, when she was an assistant district attorney in Alameda County. Since that very first date, Emhoff has been right by Harris' side throughout her political campaigns, her time as a senator, her campaign for president, her nomination for the vice-presidential office, and, of course, her inauguration as the first female, first Black person, and first person of South Asian descent to become vice president of the United States. The two were set up on a blind date by Harris' friend Chrisette Hudlin, who met Emhoff through work. May 2019: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff embrace their modern family, May 2019: Kamala Harris is nicknamed "Momala" after marrying Doug Emhoff. And so my role was to be there for her, to love her, to have her back, to talk it through, to help her.". ", "Happy birthday to my amazing wife and the love of my life," Emhoff wrote on Twitter. Vice President Kamala Harris has tested positive for COVID-19, the White House announced Tuesday. Though their marriage ended in 2008, they have striven to be supportive exes. Theclaim Harrishad an affairwith a married manistechnically true. "I left this ridiculous voicemail, which she has saved and plays back to me on our anniversary every year," Emhoff said. At the time of her first run for office for San Francisco district attorney, SF Weekly quoted Harris distancing herself from Brown: I refuse to design my campaign around criticizing Willie Brown for the sake of appearing to be independent when I have no doubt that I am independent of him and that he would probably right now express some fright about the fact that he cannot control me. Although it's true that Brown was married at that time, the relationship was no secret, since Brown had long been separated from his wife. The event was attended by 20,000 people. Vice President Mike Pence and Harris faced off in person in the first and only 2020 vice presidential debate on Oct. 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah. "It's like, holy 'F,'" he said. And so my role was to be there for her, to love her, to have her back, to talk it through, to help her.". The convention was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. She expressed her love and gratitude to Emhoff and her family in her remarks during her victory speech. So what do these two do to relieve the pressures of their careers? 2023 Cond Nast. You just have to flow and know what's really important.". Emhoff's kids, and Harris' step kids, Cole and Ella. "We thought there'd be 5,000 people there" but more than 20,000 attended the event in Oakland, California, as reported by NBC News. ", "Attending a speech about the ills of truancy isn't exactly what most people think of as a romantic date, but the event was Doug's coming out the first time I'd invited him to join me at a professional gathering," she wrote. It was a well-rehearsed line, but it was one which worked. All the essentials: top fashion stories, editors picks, and celebrity style. The only thing that would be a better message for young girls is if that woman had the most powerful job in the country. But it's through his social media activity that Emhoff's dedication to his wife really shines, and we're absolutely here for it. According to a profile of Emhoff by Marie Claire, he proposed during a "decidedly unromantic conversation (she was deliberating between chicken or shrimp pad thai)" less than a year after they met. In 2013, Harris, then-Attorney General of California, and Emhoff, a Los Angeles entertainment lawyer, were set up on a blind date by Harris' friend, Chrisette Hudlin. ", "So, yes, my best friend set us up on a blind date," Harris explained. "No one should fear loving who they love.". WASHINGTON Republicans have sharpened their attacks against Kamala Harris since Joe Biden announced his reelection bid Tuesday in a push to make the 2024 election as much about the vice president as the president. All that stuff that doesn't stop, and we still need to do it. But I'm not her political adviser. So ladies, run for office, and men, support your ambitious partners. Honestly, there's something really lovely about such an honest proposal, taking place during a packing frenzy and while trying to figure out what to order for dinner (Harris didn't know if she wanted shrimp or chicken pad thai). Two decades later, they recanted. Editorial: Death penalty's retreat is excruciatingly slow. So what?(here). "Kamala Harris Dated Willie Brown Decades Ago and Her Critics Claim It Matters." Whos who in Vice President Kamala Harris family? 'Mr Vice President, I'm speaking': Harris stops Pence interrupting her at debate, Theres no one Id rather be with on this journey, says Harris, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Meet Kamala Harris husband, the first Second Gentleman of the US. From a Google search, Harris learned that Emhoff was a prominent entertainment lawyer in Southern California, and it's safe to assume that he didn't have to Google her to find out who she was. I did!" Its hard to write about the first female vice presidents marriage without taking a moment to reflect that one of the things that derailed Geraldine Ferraro, the first female vice-presidential candidate in a general election, in 1984, was her marriage. Harris broke the tie to approve the nomination. 24 June 1996. Perhaps, as the number of lifelong single people continues to grow, we will start to see changes like that. Harris is such a steadfast politician, but we can only imagine how heavy the decision was to make. He shared a photo of himself while in the Las Vegas, Nevada airport holding up a Timemagazine cover with Harris on it, with the caption, "Look who I ran into at the airport." But despite the impossibility of understanding how a couple behaves behind closed doors, from the standpoint of feminist representation, its powerful to see a career woman, in such a public role, with a different kind of love story. "It's too much a part of our family life. A girl on Twitter posted the video with a caption about how the perfect man is out there, and that got me thinking about what a profoundly modern marriage Vice President Kamala Harris has. Los Angeles. They would later refer to that era as A.D. 'After Doug.' Every couple will experience conflict in their relationship and that's not a bad thing. A tawdry headline from Teaparty.org story read, "Flashback: Kamala Harris Launched Her Political Career In Bedroom As Mistress Of Married Mayor Willie Brown.". AlthoughBrown was legally married at the time, he hadreportedlybeen estranged from his wife,Blanche Brown,since 1981,according to People magazine(here). But I'll always remember generations of women have served in this role before meoften without much accolade or acknowledgment. I know Kamala feels that way," said Johnson-Batiste. We've all been told this: don't Google the person you're meeting for a date. Bella DePaulo, Ph.D., an expert on single people, is the author of Singled Out and other books. Can't? Jan. 2, 2023. Bethania Palma is a journalist from the Los Angeles area who started her career as a daily newspaper reporter and has covered everything from crime to government to national politics. Mike had a set of rules to avoid any infidelity temptations, or even rumors of impropriety. It was the kind of marriage that would have seemed old-fashioned in the 1950s. Vogue may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. And I wondered about all the other people she loves who have been in her life for decades. And she certainly brought that fire to the campaign and the debate stage, scoring a standout moment when she went toe-to-toe with none other than Joe Biden over the issue of school busing. Earlier in the week, Emhoff lit the National Menorah to celebrate the start of Hanukkah. "She made that decision, and I would have supported whatever she decided," Emhoff told Marie Claire in 2020. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC. And yet, as one of the leading candidates, she is attracting much more attention than before. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. In a 2003 interview during her campaign forSan Franciscodistrict attorney, Harris told SF Weekly that she refused to design my campaign around criticizing Willie Brown for the sake of appearing to be independent when I have no doubt that I am independent of him and that he would probably right now express some fright about the fact that he cannot control me. (here), On Jan. 26, 2019, Brown published a short op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle with the headline Sure, I dated Kamala Harris. (Photo: Instagram/@douglasemhoff) They have been married for six years now, and been together for longer than that, but US vice president-elect Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff have been learning new things about each other, and sharing the same with the world. "No, I'm talking about snorting and grunting, with mascara smudging my face." Harris would become the first female vice president, and Emhoff would become the first second gentleman. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Clearly the two shared something special early on, because it worked. In one post, Emhoff shared the sweetest photo of him and Kamala, his arms wrapped around her shoulders with the caption, "So proud of you," just after the results of the 2020 presidential race had been confirmed. In addition to dancing at the event, the pair also shared a kiss. For the first time in U.S. history, the White House menorah lighting ceremony in December 2021 was a family affair, with Second Gentleman Emhoff, whom is Jewish, leading the celebration. The hilarious moment went viral, racking up nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube in two days. Los Angeles Magazine reported in 2019: Willie Brown was a fixture in California politics for years, serving as speaker of the state assembly for 15 years, and known as something of an unofficial deal-maker and influencer. Kamala Harris was sworn into office as California's senator in 2017 by none other than then-Vice-President Joe Biden, with her husband, Doug Emhoff, in attendance. So What?" January 21, 2021: Doug Emhoff is "honored" to be the first second gentleman after Kamala Harris is elected vice president, November 2021: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff head to Paris on her first European trip as vice president, November 2021: Doug Emhoff learns about wallpaper in his supporting role to Vice President Kamala Harris, October 20, 2021: Doug Emhoff shares selfie for Kamala Harris' birthday, November 2021: Doug Emhoff's ex-wife says he's a better husband to Kamala Harris, November 2021: Kamala Harris' longtime friend remembers her "gorgeous" wedding to Doug Emhoff, December 2021: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff make history with White House menorah lighting ceremony, January 2022: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff cheer for opposing NFL teams, April 2022: Doug Emhoff shares Kamala Harris' work-from-home setup after COVID diagnosis, June 2022: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff make historic Pride appearance with 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winner, August 22, 2022: Doug Emhoff marks eight-year anniversary with Kamala Harris, In a Rare Move, Biden and Harris and Their Spouses Will All Attend the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Everything to Know About Ella Emhoff, Kamala Harris' Fashion Model Stepdaughter, Second Gentleman Celebrates Wedding Anniversary with Vice President Kamala Harris: 'What an Adventure', Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Hosts Bipartisan Charity Breakfast for Senate Spouses: 'Really Meaningful to Me', On Vice President Kamala Harris' 58th Birthday, Second Gentleman Vows to 'Always' Be by Her Side, Kamala Harris Posts Cheerful Pic with Doug Emhoff on His 58th Birthday: 'Love You, Dougie', Doug Emhoff Opens Up About His Jewish Faith and Historic Role: 'I Would Have Said, "There's No Way" ', Doug Emhoff Is 'Learning About Wallpaper' and Says Karen Pence Has Been 'Very Gracious in Giving Advice', Doug Emhoff Jokes About How His Life Has Changed During Shakespearean Mock Trial, First Look: Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff Speaks on Toxic Masculinity and Being Kamala's Cheerleader, Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff Make Historic Pride Appearance with'RuPaul's Drag Race'Winner Symone, Doug Emhoff Shares Kamala Harris' Work From Home Setup Amid COVID Diagnosis: 'Feeling Good', Get to Know Kamala Harris' Husband Doug Emhoff, Americas First Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff's Ex-Wife, Who Remains a Friend, Was 'So Excited' to Attend Biden-Harris Inauguration, Doug Emhoff's Friendly Ex-Wife Says He's Doing 'Great' in D.C., Reflects on How He's Better Husband to Kamala, Doug Emhoff Shares Selfie in Honor of Kamala Harris' Birthday: 'So Much Joy', Googled her future husband before she met him, first sitting vice president to appear at a Pride event, sixth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. The New York Times. When Biden announced Harris as his running mate, the couple made history. In 2016, he joined her while she was campaigning to become senator of California, with the two casting their votes together. How sweet! ", Ella told The New York Times in 2021 of her mother's dynamic with Emhoff and Harris, "They have good communication between the three of them. "I'm not overly political," Emhoff later told Marie Claire. It's never been a secret Harris dated Brown in the mid-1990s, although it may not be well known outside political circles in California. In her reply, Harris joked, "As long as you're not too salty about the @49ers heading back to the Super Bowl.". Glossip is set to die for the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese, owner of the Best Budget Inn in Oklahoma City. Harris wrote in her memoir, The Truths We Hold, that the morning after their very first date, she woke up to an email from Emhoff, listing the upcoming dates and times that he'd be available. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Mike called his wife mother and refused to dine alone with other women. They married in a courthouse ceremony in Santa Barbara on Aug. 22, 2014. Emhoff described meeting Harris as "love at first sight" in an Instagram post for her birthday. He started things off with a text message, then the two messaged back and forth about basketball for a second, and the next morning, he called her. The idea that you could marry for the first time in your late 40s was something unimaginable to my mothers generation. November 7, 2020: Kamala Harris thanks Doug Emhoff and her family after winning the election, Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, January 17, 2021: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's relationship is like a "honeymoon phase forever". Don't mess this up!'" Most of them, I have not returned. she explained. May 16, 2022 at 3:25 p.m. EDT. "The thing about Doug is that he is exactly who he is. "It is such an honor to be here tonight as the first second gentleman of the United States and as our nation's first Jewish second gentleman of the United States," he said in a speech. Hakim, Danny, et al. She is an Academic Affiliate in Psychological & Brain Sciences, UCSB. '", Emhoff said he has tried to "listen more" than talk since his first marriage ended in an interview with TIME. She says she has been strongly influenced by her maternal grandfather P. V. Gopalan, . "It's so insane. The former attorney general of California and one of the state's two senators, Harris made a name for herself as a tough questioner who didn't shy away from a confrontation. "And I went to some, you know, lunches and events.". The pair divorced after 16 years, but remain close. 9 August 2020. Imagine being set up on a blind date. He wrote, "Blind date, love at first sight, marriage, family, and an incredible life together. We've been making it work ever since.". Like, the rest of the world gets to see it on social media, but we live that.". "This is a reveal!" Yes, I may have influenced her career by appointing her to two state commissions when I was Assembly speaker. Emhoff's ex-wife, Kerstin, has a great relationship with Harris, with the vice president revealing in an essay for Elle, "Kerstin and I hit it off ourselves and are dear friends. "And certainly, vice president will be great. It's pretty clear to anyone remotely paying attention that Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff only have eyes for each other. 4 tips to help a partner put their empathy into words. By signing up you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. The verbal barrage signals scrutiny to come for Harris, who Biden has made clear will . It seems like just about everyone knew who Kamala Harris was even before she became the 2020 Democratic nominee for vice president.
