Kamala Harris

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Kamala D. Harris
Image of Kamala D. Harris

Democratic Party

Candidate, President of the United States

Vice President of the United States
Tenure

2021 - Present

Term ends

2025

Years in position

3

Predecessor
Prior offices
Attorney General of California
U.S. Senate California
Successor: Alex Padilla
Predecessor: Barbara Boxer
Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 3, 2020

Next convention

August 7, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Howard University, 1986

Law

University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 1989

Personal
Religion
Christian: Baptist
Profession
Attorney
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Kamala Devi Harris (b. October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California) is the 49th vice president of the United States. She took office on January 20, 2021, alongside President Joe Biden (D). Harris is the first woman, Black person, and person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president.

Harris is running in the 2024 presidential election. She declared her candidacy on July 21, 2024. An Associated Press survey of Democratic delegates estimated Vice President Kamala Harris (D) had reached the majority delegate threshold necessary to become the Democratic presidential nominee on July 22, 2024, following Joe Biden's (D) withdrawal from the race.[1][2] Click here to read more about the Democratic Party's presidential convention nomination.

In an interview with The New York Times, Harris said, "There are certain opportunities that come only with a position like being vice president of the United States to uplift the voices of the people in a way that I think matters and makes a difference."[3] Harris chose to work in the area of voting reforms at the start of her tenure.[4] The Biden administration also tasked her with focusing on easing immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border and abortion access.[5][6][7] As vice president, Harris has served as the chairwoman of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment and the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse.[8][9]

As vice president, Harris serves as the president of the Senate. In this capacity, she casts the deciding vote when there is a tie in the Senate. In December 2023, Harris cast her 32nd tie-breaking vote, making her the vice president who has cast the most tie-breaking votes in U.S. history.

Harris ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, entering the race in January 2019.[10] She ended her presidential campaign in December 2019, and endorsed Biden in March 2020.[11][12] Biden announced Harris as his running mate on August 11, 2020.[13][14]

Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016, defeating Loretta Sanchez (D) 62% to 38%, and served in that role until 2021.[15] Before serving in the Senate, Harris served as the attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017. She was first elected to the position in 2010, defeating Steve Cooley (R) 46% to 45.5%.[16] From 2004 to 2011, Harris was San Francisco's district attorney.[17]

In the U.S. Senate, Harris served on the Select Intelligence, Budget, Environment and Public Works, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Judiciary Committees. As attorney general, Harris' noteworthy positions included defending the use of the death penalty in court, refusing to defend California's 2008 ballot measure eliminating legal same-sex marriage, and winning a $25 billion settlement for homeowners after the 2008 recession.[18]

Biography

Harris was born in Oakland, California, in 1964. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, is a biologist from India. Her father, Donald J. Harris, is an economist from Jamaica. From the age of twelve, Harris lived in Montreal, Quebec, with her mother and sister until she returned to the U.S. to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Howard in 1986. Harris attended law school at the University of California, Hastings, serving as president of the school's chapter of the Black Law Students Association. She graduated with a J.D. in 1989.[19][20]

After graduating from law school, Harris joined the office of the Alameda County district attorney, where she worked for eight years as a prosecutor. Then-state assemblyman Willie Brown (D) appointed Harris to positions on the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the Medical Assistance Commission in 1994.[21][22] In 1998, Harris was hired as managing attorney for the San Francisco District Attorney's Career Criminal Unit. She transferred to head the Division on Families and Children in 2000. In 2003, Harris was elected San Francisco District Attorney. She won re-election in 2007.[23]

In 2010, was elected California attorney general. She was re-elected in 2014. In 2016, Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Barbara Boxer (D). Harris was the first South Asian American to serve in the U.S. Senate.

In 2009, Harris authored Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor's Plan to Make Us Safer, where she discussed potential changes to the criminal justice system. She wrote The Truths We Hold: An American Journey, a memoir, and Superheroes Are Everywhere, a picture book, in 2018.[24]

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Harris' academic, professional, and political career:[25]

  • 2021-Present: Vice president of the United States
  • 2017-2021: U.S. senator from California
  • 2011-2016: Attorney general of California
  • 2004-2011: District attorney of San Francisco
  • 1990-1998: Deputy district attorney, Alameda County, Calif.
  • 1989: Graduated from the University of California, Hastings with a J.D.
  • 1986: Graduated from Howard University with a B.A.

Committee assignments

U.S. Senate

2019-2020

Harris was assigned to the following committees:[Source]

2017-2018

At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Harris was assigned to the following committees:[26]

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021

The 116th United States Congress began on January 9, 2019, and ended on January 3, 2021. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (235-200), and Republicans held the majority in the U.S. Senate (53-47). Donald Trump (R) was the president and Mike Pence (R) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021
Vote Bill and description Status
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (96-0)
Not Voting Yes check.svg Passed (86-8)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (90-8)
Not Voting Yes check.svg Passed (71-23)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (96-1)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (83-16)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (92-8)
Not Voting Yes check.svg Passed (84-13)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (81-13)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (77-23)
Not Voting Yes check.svg Passed (84-10)
Not Voting Yes check.svg Passed (81-11)
Not Voting Yes check.svg Passed (74-20)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (97-2)
Yes check.svg Guilty Red x.svg Not Guilty (52-48)
Yes check.svg Guilty Red x.svg Not Guilty (53-47)
Red x.svg Nay Yes check.svg Passed (89-10)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (97-1)
Not Voting Yes check.svg Passed (84-8)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (85-8)
Yes check.svg Yea Yes check.svg Passed (59-41)


Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018

For detailed information about each vote, click here.


Elections

2024

Presidency

Harris officially announced her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election on July 21, 2024, following President Joe Biden's (D) withdrawal from the race.[88]

Click the links below to read more about the 2024 presidential election:

Harris in the news

See also: Editorial approach to story selection for presidential election news events

This section features up to five recent news stories about Harris and her presidential campaign. For a complete timeline of Harris' campaign activity, click here.

  • July 25, 2024: Harris spoke at the American Federation of Teachers' national convention in Houston, Texas.[89]
  • July 24, 2024: Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) endorsed Harris.[90]
  • July 23, 2024: Harris held a rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[91]
  • July 22, 2024:
  • July 21, 2024: Harris announced her candidacy following President Joe Biden's (D) withdrawal from the race. Harris said, "On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country. I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination."[95]


Vice presidency

Joe Biden (D) announced he would run for re-election with Harris as his running mate on April 25, 2023. Biden withdrew from the presidential race on July 21, 2024, and Harris announced she would seek the presidential nomination the same day.[96][97]

2020

Vice presidency

See also: Presidential election, 2020, Democratic National Convention, 2020, and Vice presidential candidates, 2020

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) was elected vice president of the United States on November 3, 2020. She received 306 electoral votes in the Electoral College on December 14, 2020, along with former Vice President Joe Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket.[98]


Presidential election, 2020
 
Candidate/Running mate
%
Popular votes
Electoral votes
✔
Image of
Image of
Joe Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D)
 
51.3
 
81,282,632 306
Image of
Image of
Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R)
 
46.9
 
74,223,234 232
Image of
Image of
Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (L)
 
1.2
 
1,864,873 0
Image of
Image of
Howie Hawkins/Angela Nicole Walker (G)
 
0.3
 
402,795 0
Image of
Roque De La Fuente (multiple running mates) (Alliance Party)
 
0.1
 
88,214 0
Image of
Gloria La Riva (multiple running mates) (Party for Socialism and Liberation)
 
0.1
 
84,905 0
Image of
Image of
Ye/Michelle Tidball (Independent)
 
0.0
 
67,906 0
Image of
Image of
Don Blankenship/William Mohr (Constitution Party)
 
0.0
 
59,924 0
Image of
Image of
Brock Pierce/Karla Ballard (Independent)
 
0.0
 
49,764 0
Image of
Image of
Brian T. Carroll/Amar Patel (American Solidarity Party)
 
0.0
 
35,260 0
Image of
Image of
Alyson Kennedy/Malcolm Jarrett (Socialist Workers Party)
 
0.0
 
6,791 0
Image of
Image of
Bill Hammons/Eric Bodenstab (Unity Party)
 
0.0
 
6,647 0
Image of
Jade Simmons (multiple running mates) (Independent)
 
0.0
 
6,534 0
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jerry Segal/John de Graaf (Bread and Roses)
 
0.0
 
5,949 0
Image of
Image of
Dario David Hunter/Dawn Neptune Adams (Progressive Party)
 
0.0
 
5,394 0
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Phil Collins/Billy Joe Parker (Prohibition Party)
 
0.0
 
4,844 0
Image of
Image of
Jesse Ventura/Cynthia McKinney (Green Party of Alaska)
 
0.0
 
3,284 0
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
President Boddie/Eric Stoneham (C.U.P.)
 
0.0
 
3,171 0
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Joe McHugh/Elizabeth Storm (Independent)
 
0.0
 
2,843 0
Image of
Image of
Mark Charles/Adrian Wallace (Independent)
 
0.0
 
2,662 0
Image of
Sheila Tittle (multiple running mates) (Independent)
 
0.0
 
1,806 0
Image of
Image of
Connie Gammon/Phil Collins (Independent)
 
0.0
 
1,475 0
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
J.R. Myers/Tiara Lusk (Life and Liberty)
 
0.0
 
1,372 0
Image of
Image of
Tom Hoefling/Andy Prior (Independent)
 
0.0
 
1,241 0
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
H. Brooke Paige/Thomas Witman (Grumpy Old Patriots)
 
0.0
 
1,175 0
Image of
Image of
Christopher Lafontaine/Michael Speed (Independent)
 
0.0
 
856 0
Image of
Kyle Kenley Kopitke (multiple running mates) (Independent)
 
0.0
 
815 0
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Ricki Sue King/Dayna Chandler (Genealogy Know Your Family History Party)
 
0.0
 
546 0
Image of
Image of
Princess Khadijah Maryam Jacob-Fambro/Khadijah Maryam Jacob Sr. (Independent)
 
0.0
 
497 0
Image of
Image of
Blake Huber/Frank Atwood (Approval Voting Party)
 
0.0
 
409 0
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Joseph Kishore/Norissa Santa Cruz (Socialist Equality Party)
 
0.0
 
317 0
Image of
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Richard Duncan/Mitch Bupp (Independent)
 
0.0
 
213 0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jordan Marc Scott/Jennifer Tepool (Independent)
 
0.0
 
175 0
Image of
Image of
Gary Swing/David Olszta (Boiling Frog)
 
0.0
 
141 0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Keith McCormic/Sam Blasiak (Bull Moose)
 
0.0
 
126 0
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Zachary Scalf/Matthew Lyda (Independent)
 
0.0
 
29 0
  Other write-in votes
 
0.1
 
183,120 0

Incumbents are bolded and underlined The results have been certified.

Total votes: 158,401,939

0 states have not been called.



Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) selected Harris as his running mate on August 11, 2020.

Presidency

See also: Presidential candidates, 2020

Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) won the presidential election on November 3, 2020. Biden received 306 electoral votes and President Donald Trump (R) received 232 electoral votes. In the national popular vote, Biden received 81.2 million votes and Trump received 74.2 million votes.

Harris announced she was running for president on January 21, 2019.[10] She suspended her presidential campaign on December 3, 2019.[11]

Ballotpedia compiled the following resources about Harris and the 2020 presidential election:

Click here for Harris' 2020 presidential campaign overview.

2016

See also: United States Senate election in California, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated California's U.S. Senate race as safely Democratic. California's U.S. Senate seat was open following the retirement of incumbent Barbara Boxer (D). Thirty-four candidates filed to run to replace Boxer, including seven Democrats, 12 Republicans, and 15 third-party candidates. Two Democrats, Kamala Harris and Loretta Sanchez, defeated the other 32 candidates to advance to the general election. Harris won the general election.[99][100]

U.S. Senate, California General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKamala Harris 61.6% 7,542,753
     Democratic Loretta Sanchez 38.4% 4,710,417
Total Votes 12,253,170
Source: California Secretary of State


U.S. Senate, California Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKamala Harris 40.2% 3,000,689
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLoretta Sanchez 19% 1,416,203
     Republican Duf Sundheim 7.8% 584,251
     Republican Phil Wyman 4.7% 352,821
     Republican Tom Del Beccaro 4.3% 323,614
     Republican Greg Conlon 3.1% 230,944
     Democratic Steve Stokes 2.3% 168,805
     Republican George Yang 1.5% 112,055
     Republican Karen Roseberry 1.5% 110,557
     Republican Tom Palzer 1.2% 93,263
     Libertarian Gail Lightfoot 1.3% 99,761
     Republican Ron Unz 1.2% 92,325
     Democratic Massie Munroe 0.8% 61,271
     Green Pamela Elizondo 1.3% 95,677
     Republican Don Krampe 0.9% 69,635
     Republican Jarrell Williamson 0.9% 64,120
     Independent Elanor Garcia 0.9% 65,084
     Republican Von Hougo 0.9% 63,609
     Democratic President Cristina Grappo 0.8% 63,330
     Republican Jerry Laws 0.7% 53,023
     Libertarian Mark Matthew Herd 0.6% 41,344
     Independent Ling Ling Shi 0.5% 35,196
     Peace and Freedom John Parker 0.3% 22,374
     Democratic Herbert Peters 0.4% 32,638
     Democratic Emory Rodgers 0.4% 31,485
     Independent Mike Beitiks 0.4% 31,450
     Independent Clive Grey 0.4% 29,418
     Independent Jason Hanania 0.4% 27,715
     Independent Paul Merritt 0.3% 24,031
     Independent Jason Kraus 0.3% 19,318
     Independent Don Grundmann 0.2% 15,317
     Independent Scott Vineberg 0.2% 11,843
     Independent Tim Gildersleeve 0.1% 9,798
     Independent Gar Myers 0.1% 8,726
Total Votes 7,461,690
Source: California Secretary of State

2014

See also: State executive official elections, 2014

Harris won re-election to the office of state attorney general in 2014.[101]

Results

Primary election
Attorney General of California, Blanket Primary, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKamala Harris Incumbent 53.2% 2,177,480
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRonald Gold 12.3% 504,091
     Republican Phil Wyman 11.7% 479,468
     Republican David King 9% 368,190
     Republican John Haggerty 8.2% 336,433
     Nonpartisan Orly Taitz 3.2% 130,451
     Libertarian Jonathan Jaech 2.4% 99,056
Total Votes 4,095,169
Election results via California Secretary of State


General election
Attorney General of California, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKamala Harris Incumbent 57.5% 4,102,649
     Republican Ronald Gold 42.5% 3,033,476
Total Votes 7,136,125
Election results via California Secretary of State

2010

See also: California Attorney General election, 2010
2010 Race for Attorney General - Democratic Primary[102]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
     Democratic Party Kamala Harris 33.1%
     Democratic Party Chris Kelly 15.9%
     Democratic Party Alberto Torrico 14.9%
     Democratic Party Ted Lieu 10.5%
     Democratic Party Rocky Delgadillo 10.1%
     Democratic Party Pedro Nava 9.9%
     Democratic Party Mike Schmier 5.6%
Total Votes 1,676,360
Kamala Harris for California Attorney General 2010 Campaign logo
2010 Race for Attorney General - General Election[103]
Party Candidate Vote Percentage
     Democratic Party Kamala Harris 46.0%
     Republican Party Steve Cooley 45.5%
     Green Party Peter Allen 2.7%
     Libertarian Party Timothy Hannan 2.5%
     American Independent Party Diane Templin 1,7%
     Peace and Freedom Party Robert J. Evans 1.6%
Total Votes 9,544,403

Campaign themes

2016

The following issues were listed on Harris' campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“
  • Civil Rights, Justice & Equality For All: Kamala has spent her entire career fighting for the voiceless and vulnerable in our society and against those who prey on them, and she’ll continue those fights in the Senate. She will stand up for a woman’s right to choose and equal pay for equal work, lead the charge against LGBT discrimination, work to pass comprehensive immigration reform, expand access to voting, and focus on fixing a broken criminal justice system.
  • Criminal Justice Reform: Kamala believes that we must maintain a relentless focus on reducing violence and aggressively prosecuting violent criminals. But as a career prosecutor, she has also seen firsthand the devastating effects of mass incarceration and the revolving door of recidivism. We deserve a better return on our investment. Instead of a justice system that responds to all crime as equal, we need a “smart on crime” approach – one that applies innovative, data-driven methods to make our system more efficient and effective.
  • Environment: Kamala believes that California’s great strengths include its dramatic beauty and environmental diversity: from the tall, mist-shrouded redwoods to vast desert vistas; from stunning sandy beaches to rushing rivers and the soaring Sierra Nevada mountains; from productive agricultural valleys to rolling, oak-studded hills.
  • Foreign Policy: Kamala Harris’s approach to foreign policy is informed by her work as a career prosecutor. We live in a dangerous world and she believes we need to be vigilant about the threats we face. She has tackled some of the biggest challenges we face across the globe – from dismantling human trafficking rings to taking down transnational criminal organizations that bring guns and drugs across our borders.
  • Higher Education: Kamala believes that meaningful access to education is a pathway to the American dream – it is how we build a better life for our families and ourselves. In today’s economy, a postsecondary education is increasingly a necessity to secure sustainable employment with decent wages – but it shouldn’t have to be that way.

[104]

”
—Kamala Harris' campaign website

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Kamala D. Harris campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* President of the United StatesOn the Ballot convention$284,834,122 $190,820,523
2020President of the United StatesWithdrew convention$43,088,972 $42,943,585
2016U.S. Senate, CaliforniaWon $13,507,961 N/A**
2014Attorney General of CaliforniaWon $6,469,494 N/A**
2010Attorney General of CaliforniaWon $7,560,628 N/A**
Grand total$355,461,177 $233,764,108
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only availabale data.

Notable endorsements

See also: Endorsements by Kamala Harris

The table below shows data on endorsements made by Kamala Harris. Endorsements include official statements, appearances at campaign rallies, and direct participation in campaign ads and materials. For more information about endorsements in a particular year, click here.

Endorsements by Kamala Harris, 2020-2023
Election year Total endorsements Primary endorsements Primary success rate General election endorsements General election success rate
2024 2 1 100% 1 0%
2023 23 0 N/A 23 70%
2022 22 0 N/A 22 86%
2021 3 0 N/A 3 67%
2020 72 27 93% 69 59%
Note: This table does not include endorsements made in presidential elections.

Ballot measure activity

The following table details Kamala Harris' ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:

Ballot measure support and opposition for Kamala Harris
Ballot measure Year Position Status
California Proposition 15, Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative (2020) 2020 Supported[105]  Defeatedd Defeated
California Proposition 17, Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment (2020) 2020 Supported[106]  Approveda Approved
California Proposition 22, App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative (2020) 2020 Opposed[107]  Approveda/Overturnedot Approved
Los Angeles Unified School District, California, Measure EE, Parcel Tax (June 2019) 2019 Supported[108] Defeatedd Defeated
California Proposition 59, Overturn of Citizens United Act Advisory Question (2016) 2016 Supported[109] Approveda Approved
California Proposition 19, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2010) 2010 Opposed[110] Defeatedd Defeated
San Francisco Decriminalization of Prostitution, Measure K (November 2008) 2008 Opposed[111] Defeatedd Defeated
California Proposition 66, Changes in the "Three Strikes" Law (2004) 2004 Opposed[112] Defeatedd Defeated

Noteworthy events

Criticism of Joe Biden (D) during Democratic primary debate (2019)

During the first Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential election cycle, Harris criticized Biden’s decision to oppose mandatory busing in the 1970s.[113][114][115] Harris said, “There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day. And that little girl was me.”[116] Following the debate, Harris raised $2 million in campaign funds in just 24 hours.[117] Her polling numbers improved by 9%, while Biden’s fell to 10% according to a CNN poll.[118] Harris withdrew from the race six months later citing finances as one of the reasons.[119]

Possible 2016 SCOTUS nominee

See also: Process to fill the vacated seat of Justice Antonin Scalia

Prior to President Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland, Harris was mentioned as a possible nominee to replace former United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on February 13, 2016.[120]

Possible 2016 Democratic vice presidential candidate

See also: Possible vice presidential picks, 2016

Harris was mentioned as a possible Democratic vice presidential candidate. On July 22, 2016, Hillary Clinton announced that she had selected U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) as her running mate.[121]

Refusal to enforce California's Proposition 8 (2011)

As California attorney general, Harris did not enforce Proposition 8, a ballot measure passed in California in 2008 making same-sex weddings illegal.[122] She said, “I declined to defend Proposition 8 because it violates the Constitution. The Supreme Court has described marriage as a fundamental right 14 times since 1888.”[123] The Ninth Circuit found the measure unconstitutional in 2013, making same-sex marriage in California legal. Harris officiated the first same-sex wedding in California.[124]

Successful appeal of ruling abolishing death penalty (2011)

In 2011, as state attorney general, Harris successfully appealed a ruling that abolished the death penalty in California.[125][126][124] As a result, the death penalty was reinstated in the state until Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order ending the practice in 2019.[125] As attorney general, she also declined to support two ballot measures that would have ended the death penalty.[127][128]

While San Francisco district attorney, Harris received criticism for not seeking the death penalty against David Hill in 2004. Hill was convicted of killing San Francisco police officer Isaac Espinoza.[125][129] Hill was eligible for the death penalty under a 1973 special circumstances law allowing the death penalty to be sought in the murder of a police officer.[125] Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) criticized Harris' decision in a eulogy at Espinoza's funeral while Harris was in attendance.[125][127][126]

Truancy reduction initiative (2006)

In 2006, as district attorney, Harris led an effort to reduce truancy in San Francisco which included possible jail time for parents of chronically truant students.[116] After the initiative began, truancy fell by over 30%, and no parents in San Francisco served any jail time.[130] The program included multiple steps aimed at education and intervention to help parents improve their child’s school attendance prior to possible imprisonment.[131] Harris said she supported the program because 94% of homicide victims under the age of 25 were high school dropouts.[130] In 2010, Harris sponsored a law to expand the program state-wide, making chronic truancy a criminal misdemeanor.[116] The state-wide program resulted in jail time for some parents.[131]

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Kamala Harris California Senate. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Kamala Harris - Google News

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ X, "Joe Biden on July 21, 2024," accessed July 21, 2024
  2. ↑ Associated Press, "AP Democratic Delegate Survey," July 23, 2024
  3. ↑ The New York Times Magazine, "In Search of Kamala Harris," October 10, 2023
  4. ↑ Politico, "Harris pushed hard for voting rights — then hit a brick wall," January 15, 2022
  5. ↑ The Week, "What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?" May 3, 2023
  6. ↑ NBC News, "Biden tasks Harris with 'stemming the migration' on southern border," March 24, 2021
  7. ↑ NBC News, "VP Harris serves as top White House messenger in abortion fight amid renewed fight over access," April 17, 2023
  8. ↑ Department of Labor, "White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment," accessed December 5, 2023
  9. ↑ White House, "Remarks by Vice President Harris Announcing the Launch of the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse," June 16, 2022
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Good Morning America, "Sen. Kamala Harris announces she will run for president in 2020," January 21, 2019
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Politico, "Kamala Harris drops out of presidential race," December 3, 2019
  12. ↑ Politico, "Kamala Harris endorses Biden," March 8, 2020
  13. ↑ Twitter, "Joe Biden," August 11, 2020
  14. ↑ CNBC, "Joe Biden picks Sen. Kamala Harris to be his vice presidential running mate, making her the first black woman on a major ticket," August 11, 2020
  15. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Kamala Harris is elected California's new U.S. senator," November 8, 2016
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named bio
  17. ↑ Fox News, "Kamala Harris’ career, from California district attorney to the Senate," accessed January 31, 2019
  18. ↑ Cal Matters, "What California knows about Kamala Harris," August 12, 2019
  19. ↑ Encyclopedia Britannica, "Kamala Harris," accessed July 17, 2019
  20. ↑ Kamala D. Harris, U.S. Senator for California, "About," accessed December 8, 2020
  21. ↑ Politico Magazine, “55 Things You Need to Know About Kamala Harris,” August 11, 2020
  22. ↑ LA Times, “2 More Brown Associates Get Well-Paid Posts: Government: The Speaker appoints his frequent companion and a longtime friend to state boards as his hold on his own powerful position wanes.,” November 29, 1994
  23. ↑ ThoughtCo, "Biography of California Senator Kamala Harris," June 29, 2019
  24. ↑ CNN, "Kamala Harris Fast Facts," July 3, 2019
  25. ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "HARRIS, Kamala Devi, (1964 - )," accessed January 10, 2017
  26. ↑ United States Senate, "Committee Assignments of the 115th Congress," accessed January 19, 2017
  27. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.748 - CARES Act," accessed March 22, 2024
  28. ↑ Congress.gov, "S.1790 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020," accessed April 27, 2024
  29. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act," accessed April 27, 2024
  30. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1865 - Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020," accessed April 27, 2024
  31. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.6074 - Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020," accessed April 27, 2024
  32. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.31 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019," accessed April 27, 2024
  33. ↑ Congress.gov, "S.47 - John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act," accessed April 27, 2024
  34. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.6395 - William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021," accessed April 27, 2024
  35. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.6395 - William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021," accessed April 27, 2024
  36. ↑ Congress.gov, "S.1 - Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019," accessed April 27, 2024
  37. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.8337 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act," accessed April 27, 2024
  38. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1158 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020," accessed April 27, 2024
  39. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3055 - Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Further Health Extenders Act of 2019," accessed April 27, 2024
  40. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.1327 - Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act," accessed April 27, 2024
  41. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.755 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.," accessed April 28, 2024
  42. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.Res.755 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.," accessed April 28, 2024
  43. ↑ Congress.gov, “H.R.5430 - United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act,” accessed April 28, 2024
  44. ↑ Congress.gov, "S.151 - Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act" accessed April 28, 2024
  45. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.3401 - Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019,' accessed April 28, 2024
  46. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2157 - Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019," accessed April 28, 2024
  47. ↑ Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.46 - Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on February 15, 2019.," accessed April 28, 2024
  48. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment with an Amendment)," December 18, 2018
  49. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Conference Report (Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 2)," December 11, 2018
  50. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Nomination (Confirmation Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," October 6, 2018
  51. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture Re: Brett M. Kavanaugh to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," October 5, 2018
  52. ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 2, As Amended)," June 28, 2018
  53. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Amdt. No. 1959)," February 15, 2018
  54. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Amdt. No. 1958 As Modified)," February 15, 2018
  55. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Amdt. No. 1948)," February 15, 2018
  56. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on Amdt. No. 1955)," February 15, 2018
  57. ↑ Senate.gov, "On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Consideration of S. 2311)," January 29, 2018
  58. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Amendment (McConnell Amdt. No. 667)," July 28, 2017
  59. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Amendment (Paul Amdt. No. 271 )," July 26, 2017
  60. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Waive All Applicable Budgetary Discipline Re: Amdt. No. 270)," July 25, 2017
  61. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Proceed to H.R. 1628)," July 25, 2017
  62. ↑ U.S. Senate, "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," April 7, 2017
  63. ↑ U.S. Senate, "On the Cloture Motion (Upon Reconsideration, Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," April 6, 2017
  64. ↑ U.S. Senate, "On the Decision of the Chair (Shall the Decision of the Chair Stand as the Judgment of the Senate?)," April 6, 2017
  65. ↑ U.S. Senate, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States)," April 6, 2017
  66. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Conference Report (Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 6157)," September 18, 2018
  67. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Conference Report (Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 5895)," September 12, 2018
  68. ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H. R. 6157 As Amended)," August 23, 2018
  69. ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 5895 As Amended)," June 25, 2018
  70. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1625)," March 23, 2018
  71. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1892 with an Amendment (SA 1930))," February 9, 2018
  72. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 695)," February 8, 2018
  73. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment with Further Amendment)," January 22, 2018
  74. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 195)," January 22, 2018
  75. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture: House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 195)," January 19, 2018
  76. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1370)," December 21, 2017
  77. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion to Recede from the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1 and Concur with Further Amendment ," December 20, 2017
  78. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Joint Resolution (H.J. Res. 123)," December 7, 2017
  79. ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 1 As Amended )," December 2, 2017
  80. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Concurrent Resolution (H. Con. Res. 71 As Amended)," October 19, 2017
  81. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amdt. to the Senate Amdt. with an Amdt. No. 808 to H.R. 601)," September 7, 2017
  82. ↑ U.S. Senate, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 244)," May 4, 2017
  83. ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Joint Resolution (S.J. Res. 54, As Amended), December 13, 2018
  84. ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 2810 As Amended)," September 18, 2017
  85. ↑ The Hill, "Senate sends $692B defense policy bill to Trump's desk," November 15, 2017
  86. ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 3364)," July 27, 2017
  87. ↑ Senate.gov, "On Passage of the Bill (S. 722 As Amended)," June 15, 2017
  88. ↑ X, "Harris on July 21, 2024," accessed July 24, 2024
  89. ↑ EducationWeek, "Kamala Harris Rallies Teachers: ‘God Knows We Don’t Pay You Enough,’" July 25, 2024
  90. ↑ Newsweek, "Republican Endorses Kamala Harris: 'Count Me In,'" July 25, 2024
  91. ↑ X, "Harris on July 23, 2024," accessed July 24, 2024
  92. ↑ Associated Press, "AP survey shows Kamala Harris backed by enough delegates to become Democratic nominee," July 23, 2024
  93. ↑ X, "Harris on July 22, 2024," accessed July 23, 2024
  94. ↑ CNN, "Harris eyes changes at campaign headquarters while wary of drama," July 23, 2024
  95. ↑ X, "Harris on July 21, 2024," accessed July 23, 2024
  96. ↑ X, "Biden on July 21, 2024," accessed July 24, 2024
  97. ↑ X, "Harris on July 21, 2024," accessed July 24, 2024
  98. ↑ The New York Times, "Presidential Election Results: Biden Wins," December 14, 2020
  99. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election," accessed April 4, 2016
  100. ↑ The New York Times, "California Primary Results," June 7, 2016
  101. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance: Statement of Intention," accessed November 27, 2012
  102. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named khprimary
  103. ↑ California Secretary of State - 2010 General Election Results
  104. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  105. ↑ Schools & Communities First, "Dem 2020 Candidates Backing ‘Split Roll’," October 10, 2016
  106. ↑ Twitter, "Kamala Harris," September 12, 2016
  107. ↑ Twitter, "Kamala Harris," July 3, 2020
  108. ↑ Twitter, "Kamala Harris," May 20, 2019
  109. ↑ Yes on 59, "Endorsements," accessed September 16, 2016
  110. ↑ Capitol Weekly, "Leading Democrats opposed to Prop. 19," July 22, 2010
  111. ↑ New York Times, "San Francisco’s Prostitutes Support a Proposition," October 31, 2008
  112. ↑ SF Gate, "Why '3 strikes' needs reform," September 19, 2004
  113. ↑ Politico Magazine, “The Inside Story of the Biden-Harris Debate Blowup,” May 19, 2021
  114. ↑ NPR, “5 Takeaways from Night 2 of the Democratic Debate,” June 28, 2019
  115. ↑ CNN, “‘That little girl was me’: Harris’ attack on Joe Biden steals spotlight at Democratic primary debate.,” June 28, 2019
  116. ↑ 116.0 116.1 116.2 The New Yorker, “Kamala Harris Makes Her Case,” July 15, 2019
  117. ↑ Politico, “‘One of the hardest decisions of my life’: Kamala Harris ends once-promising campaign,” December 3, 2019
  118. ↑ Politico Magazine, “The Inside Story of the Biden-Harris Debate Blowup,” May 19, 2021
  119. ↑ Politico, “‘One of the hardest decisions of my life’: Kamala Harris ends once-promising campaign,” December 3, 2019
  120. ↑ San Antonio-Express News, "Senior U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia found dead at West Texas ranch," accessed February 13, 2016
  121. ↑ The New York Times, "Hillary Clinton selects Tim Kaine, a popular senator from a swing state, as running mate," July 22, 2016
  122. ↑ Fox News, “Kamala Harris’ career, from California district attorney to the Senate,” January 21, 2019
  123. ↑ California Office of the Attorney General, “Attorney General Kamala D Harris Issues Statement on Prop. 8 Arguments,” March 16, 2013
  124. ↑ 124.0 124.1 Fox News, “Kamala Harris’ career, from California district attorney to the Senate,” January 21, 2019
  125. ↑ 125.0 125.1 125.2 125.3 125.4 CNN, “How Kamala Harris’ death penalty decisions broke hearts on both sides,” April 8, 2019
  126. ↑ 126.0 126.1 ABC News, “Kamala Harris’ dual roles, ‘mixed record’ with the death penalty,” August 21, 2019
  127. ↑ 127.0 127.1 Politico Magazine, “55 Things You Need to Know About Kamala Harris,” August 11, 2020
  128. ↑ The Atlantic, “Kamala Harris Takes Her Shot,” May 2019
  129. ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, “DA won’t pursue death in cop slaying/Harris fulfills campaign pledge with decision,” April 14, 2004
  130. ↑ 130.0 130.1 The Washington Post, “Kamala Harris’s careful answer on jailing parents whose kids missed school,” March 29, 2019
  131. ↑ 131.0 131.1 FactCheck.org, “Kamala Harris Spins Facts on Truancy Law,” May 14, 2019

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