Kamala Harris: the first African American and Indian American woman senator

Date of birth: October 20, 1964

Place of birth: Oakland, CA

Profession: US Senator from California

Party affiliation: Democrat

Spouse: Doug Emhoff

Alma mater: Howard University and University of California, Hastings College of the Law

Kamala Devi Harris is the tall, dusky presidential candidate for the 2020 elections. And with her winning ways, she has got quite a lot to say about what she wants to do for citizens without voices.

This lawyer and Democrat has been junior US Senator from California since 2017. She was also the 27th District Attorney of San Francisco (2004 to 2011) and 32nd Attorney General of California (2011 to 2017).

Being a public safety and civil rights leader, Sen. Harris became, in 2016, the second African-American woman to be elected to the US Senate, and the first African American and first woman to serve as Attorney General of California.

Daughter of a Tamil mother and a Jamaican father, Harris’ outlook, mindset and agenda has been shaped by her immigrant experience. Harris is clear that she would completely contravene Trump administration’s “inhumane” policies against immigrants.

Born in Oakland, Harris graduated from Howard University and got a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She is now married to Doug Emhoff and is also a stepmother to Ella and Cole Emhoff.

Her two books, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey (2019) and Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor’s Plan to Make Us Safer (2009), are key to some of the plans and policies that she holds dear.

Here is one thing she said for her campaign, firmly ruling out PACs: “We don’t have to accept a system that drowns out your voice. We can do better.”

Sen. Harris’ agenda is also quite impressive, rooting for affordable housing, climate change, criminal justice reform, economic justice and foreign policy, gun violence and immigration.

She is quite firm about improving lives and lifestyles. She once said that currently, “Our economy is not working for working people.” Hence, her plan is to increase pay checks, decrease the cost of living and fight against sexism, racism, and corporate favoritism, “to ensure every American gets a fair shot.”

She is also forthright that we need to push against Climate Change: “We need to act now to radically combat climate change…We can no longer make excuses,” she averred. For this, she is convinced that America needs to lead the way, so it should re-enter the Paris Agreement and fight to protect the environment.

While the vocal, cheerful poll candidate walks her talk determinedly, her motto for her presidential candidature sums her drive in three simple words: “For the People.”

READ STORIES ON KAMALA HARRIS:

Indian American senator Kamala Harris tops Biden’s VP list (July 29, 2020)

Kamala Harris asks Trump to honor Supreme Court’s DACA ruling (July 17, 2020)

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Kamala Harris exits the presidential race (December 3, 2019)

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Tulsi Gabbard unsettles Kamala Harris on the criminal justice issue (August 1, 2019)

Second Democratic presidential debate: All Indian American eyes on Kamala Harris (July 30, 2019)

Tulsi Gabbard outraises Kamala Harris among Indian American donors (April 20, 2019)

Kamala Harris is shipping ‘joyful warrior’ stickers for free across America (April 18, 2019)

Indian American Impact Fund endorses Kamala Harris for President (April 17, 2019)

Kamala Harris remembers her Indian American mother as she officially launches her White House bid (January 29, 2019)

And now Kamala Harris action figure (January 25, 2019)

Kamala Harris for President? Now you can show your support with a Kamala Harris bag, t-shirt, or cap! (January 22, 2019)

Seven things to know about Kamala Harris (January 21, 2019)

Indian American community excited about a potential Kamala Harris run (January 14, 2019)

Sen. Kamala Harris pays tribute to her Indian American mother (January 8, 2019)

Kamala Harris: Will she, or won’t she? (December 3, 2018)

Kamala Harris stars at the Kavanaugh hearing (September 8, 2018)

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Sen. Kamala Harris bills to place moratorium on ICE detention centers (May 16, 2018)

Kamala Harris supports striking workers of UC Berkeley; cancels commencement speech (May 8, 2018)

Kamala Harris discusses Washington and Senate affairs in ‘The Late Show’ (April 20, 2018)

Kamala Harris starts CHIP petition; tells Congress not to waste any more time (October 6, 2017)

Kamala Harris, Ami Bera co-sponsor fourth annual Langar on Capitol Hill (July 25, 2017)

Kamala Harris’ meetings with Clinton donors spark talk of presidential run (July 18, 2017)

Will Kamala Harris run for president in 2020? (July 2, 2017)

GOP senators repeatedly interrupt Sen. Kamala Harris during Senate hearing (June 8, 2017)

Kamala Harris: Jeff Sessions should resign as Attorney General for lying under oath (May 25, 2017)

Is Sen. Kamala Harris running for president in 2020? (May 16, 2017)

Kamala Harris: They told me, ‘It’s not your turn,’ ‘it’s not right time,’ and ‘I did not listen’ (May 5, 2017)