Meet the Emhoff-Harris family

Leave a CommentMeet the Emhoff-Harris familyFood for Thought, Way of Life

Dad

Donald Jasper Harris, OM is a Jamaican and American economist and professor emeritus at Stanford University, known for applying post-Keynesian ideas to development economics. He is the father of the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris, as well as of her sister, lawyer and political commentator Maya Harris. 

Harris taught at the University of Illinois and Northwestern University briefly, then became an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before moving to California and securing a job as a Professor of Economics at Stanford University. Now, after retiring in the late 1990s, he holds the title of emeritus professor.

He spent many years at Stanford University. He and Kamala’s mother met at Berkeley during the Civil Rights movement and divorced when Kamala was seven years old.

Mom

Shyamala Gopalan Harris immigrated to the United States from India in 1958. Born in Madras (now Chennai), India, Gopalan was just 19 years old when she left India alone. Having graduated from Delhi University, she went to study at the University of California, Berkeley, where she received her doctorate in nutrition and endocrinology, and met and married Harris. After receiving her PhD, Gopalan stayed at UC Berkeley and became a breast cancer researcher.

Her success in this field took her to universities around the world, where she continued conducting research and teaching. She worked at the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin, spent time in France and Italy, and then received tenure at McGill University in Montreal.

Gopalan brought her two daughters with her to Canada. Kamala lived there from age 12 until high school graduation. Gopalan and Harris divorced in the early 1970s but Gopalan continued fighting for racial equality. Ever the activist, she mentored students of color, counseled African-American women battling breast cancer, and instilled political activism in her daughters. She died in 2009, aged 70

Husband

Douglas Craig Emhoff is an American lawyer of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. As the first husband of a vice president, Emhoff is the first second gentleman in American federal history. He is also the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president. Emhoff began his career as an entertainment lawyer. The recent relaxation of the Hollywood “Dembargo” on donations to the presidential race is seen in part due to the fact he “is very well-liked and respected” in the industry.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will become America’s first first gentleman if Vice President Kamala Harris becomes the Democratic presidential nominee and wins in November, or replaces Biden in the next few months.

The big picture: Emhoff’s policy focuses since his wife became VP have included combating antisemitism and promoting pro bono legal aid. As a Jew he presents an interesting conundrum for the potential nominee (there’s still a DNC convention to decide the final nominee) who is shying away from the Democrats usual pro-Israel stance as the Islamic votes of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin are all valuable assets the Democrat party is counting upon.

The White House website says this:

As the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president, Mr. Emhoff has been honored to share his Jewish heritage and culture—from celebrating Passover in the White House to affixing Mezuzahson the doorposts of the Vice President’s Residence. 

As the first Second Gentleman, married to the first woman vice president, Mr. Emhoff knows the power and importance of having women in leadership positions. He has seen what it has meant to young girls and boys to look up to Vice President Kamala Harris and is a champion for gender equality. Mr. Emhoff has met with gender ministers in both Japan and France and has hosted roundtable discussions with women and young girls around the world to discuss the importance of equity in the workplace, equal pay, and protecting reproductive rights and health care.

In January 2020, Mr. Emhoff began teaching law courses at the Georgetown University Law Center and is enjoying the opportunity to mentor the next generation of lawyers.

Step-daughter – weird af

Ella Rose Emhoff is an American model, artist, and fashion designer. Named after Ella Fitzgerald she grew up in California with her older brother, Cole. Her parents divorced in 2008.

In January 2021, Emhoff was signed with IMG Models worldwide, an international modelling agency based in New York City. She has gained attention from the BBC and the New York Times for having tattoos and not shaving her armpit hair.

While her father is a proud Jew, Emhoff was not raised as a Jew nor does she identify with the religion. In fact, she raised money for a relief group allegedly tied to the Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel.