Kamala Harris, former U.S. senator from California and the first woman to serve as vice president of the United States, is gearing up for the political fight of her life ahead of the November 2024 elections.
Harris’s allies have been engaged in a behind-the-scenes effort to make sure she moves to the top of the ticket if incumbent President Joe Biden steps aside (as many Democrats are asking him to do, due to his age and health), in which case she’ll be left to face Republican nominee Donald Trump and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance head-on.
As the polarizing race dominates the news, there has also been a renewed interest in Harris’s political record and personal life. In particular, curiosity abounds in regard to Douglas Emhoff, her husband and the nation’s first second gentleman.
When Biden and Harris won the last presidential election, in November 2020, Emhoff reacted with a heartfelt photo posted on X (formerly Twitter), in which he is seen embracing his wife. “So proud of you,” he wrote.
Below, we’ve rounded up some facts about Emhoff and his relationship with Harris.
He confirmed his title of second gentleman by launching a social media account.
Emhoff set the precedent as the first second gentleman of the United States with a big gesture.
Emhoff launched his second-gentleman Twitter account (@SecondGentleman) shortly after the 2020 election, confirming his new title. As of July 2024, his bio reads: “Second Gentleman of the United States. Devoted dad. Proud husband to @VP Kamala Harris.”
He’s a lawyer.
Emhoff was a partner at law firm DLA Piper, where he represented “large domestic and international corporations and some of today’s highest profile individuals and influencers in complex business, real estate and intellectual property litigation disputes,” according to his now-deleted biography on the firm’s website.
His experience in the courtroom includes defending “a group of production companies in an insurance coverage dispute over a highly publicized aviation accident on a recent major motion picture,” and representing “more than 50 commercial producers in an entertainment industry-wide wage and hour class-action lawsuit and various subsequent individual litigation matters,” according to the bio.
After Biden and Harris were elected,Emhoff decided to permanently leave the firm and transitioned into teaching. The second gentleman joined the faculty at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., where he served as a distinguished visitor from practice and taught a class on entertainment law disputes. He also served as a distinguished fellow at Georgetown Law’s Institute for Technology Law & Policy.
He and Kamala met on a blind date.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Emhoff and Harris met after PR consultant Chrisette Hudlin set them up on a blind date in 2013, when Harris was attorney general of California. Just a year later, the two were married.
They married at the Santa Barbara courthouse on August 22, 2014.
The ceremony was small and intimate. SFGate reported all the notable details: Emhoff and Harris honored each other’s heritage (he by wearing a flower garland, a tribute to Harris’s Indian heritage through her mother; she by breaking a glass, a nod to his Jewish heritage), Harris’s niece read Maya Angelou’s poem “Touched by an Angel,” Harris wore a golden dress by a California designer, and the couple’s first dance was set to Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Like a Star.”
He has two adult children from a previous marriage.
Emhoff’s son and daughter, Cole and Ella, call Harris “Momala,” according to a 2019 essay the former senator wrote for Elle.
He supported Harris’s bid for the presidency.
From taking selfies in front of her TV appearances to sporting her campaign swag, Emhoff’s enthusiasm run never seemed to dwindle while Harris was vying to become the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, before Biden won and asked her to be his VP.
He generally likes posting about her.
This is probably unsurprising coming from a guy whose X bio literally says “proud husband,” but the man really loves posting about his wife. See below for evidence.
He was ecstatic about her VP nomination.
Emhoff was eager to show his excitement after Biden announced Harris as his VP pick. The attorney tweeted, “America, let’s do this!” with a photo of Biden and Harris smiling at each other.
He also shared a warm exchange with future first lady Dr. Jill Biden. “Ready to work! Let’s go @DrBiden!” he wrote.
He cheered on Kamala before the 2020 VP debate.
Before Harris debated Vice President Mike Pence in October 2020, Emhoff posted a sweet pic of himself with his spouse. “I’ve got you, and you’ve got this. So proud of you. Love, Dougie,” he wrote.
He has actively supported her on the campaign trail.
In 2020, Emhoff often took to Instagram to share snaps from Biden–Harris campaign stops across the country. He also spoke at campaign rallies himself.
And in the four years since, his support has never wavered. This year, Emhoff has proudly stood by and fought for his wife as she and Biden again face off against Trump.
“For the past three years, I’ve seen @POTUS and @VP fight for the American people – and they’re not done yet,” he wrote on X on July 12, alongside a photo of Biden and Harris.
