Table of Contents
Kamala Harris is the first woman, African-American, South Asian and person of Indian origin to hold the office of US Vice President. Kamala Harris has come a long way from being a student leader to presently being the Democratic presidential nominee.
Born on October 20, 1964 in California's Oakland, Kamala Devi Harris majored in political science and economics at Howard University, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree. She then went to UC Hastings College of the Law, where she graduated in 1989 with a Juris Doctor.
Kamla Harris: Legal And Political Career
She began her legal career as a prosecutor at the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. She focused on violent crime cases here, especially those involving child abuse and sexual assault. She was elected as the District Attorney of San Francisco in 2003. She implemented a number of progressive reforms during her time in office, such as a re-entry program designed to lower recidivism and improve chances for convicts to reintegrate into society. Harris was elected as California's Attorney General in 2011.
Harris was elected as the US Senator from California in 2016. Her time in the Senate gained attracted widespread attention during high-profile hearings, she questioned key figures like then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
During her time in the Senate, she worked on important topics such as civil rights, criminal justice reform, healthcare reform, and immigration reform.
Harris began running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2019. Harris became the first woman of South Asian and African American heritage to be nominated for vice president by a major political party when she was selected by Joe Biden as his running mate in August 2020.
Harris became the highest-ranking female politician in US history when she was sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021. She stood out as a key figure in the Biden administration's attempts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and revive the economy.
Currently, she is in the head-to-head race against Republican candidate Donald Trump for the 2024 US Presidential elections.
Kamala Harris: Awards And Recognitions
In her successful career, Harris has been recognized with many awards for her contributions in the social justice and public service space. She was featured in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People numerous times.
She was recognized by organizations including the National Women's Hall of Fame, the political action organization EMILY's List, and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) for her contributions to public policy, women's empowerment, and civil rights.
Additionally, Harris has also received honorary doctorates from the University of Southern California and Howard University for her accomplishments.
Kamala Harris: Net Worth
Harris's net worth is approximately $8 million, combined with the assets of her husband Douglas Emhoff, as per Forbes. This amount is around 20 times the median net worth of Americans in their age group and reflects an increase from $7 million in 2021.
Additionally, Harris has written two books that have helped her financial standing: "Smart on Crime," which reflects her view of criminal justice, and "The Truths We Hold," which is a memoir that details her life experiences and political journey.