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{{Short description|Vice President of the United States since 2021}}
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{{current person}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{About-distinguish2|the American politician|the professional wrestler ]}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{short description|United States Senator from California}}
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{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder {{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kamala Harris | image = Kamala Harris Vice Presidential Portrait.jpg
| image = Senator Harris official senate portrait.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2021
| jr/sr = United States Senator | office = 49th ]
| state = ] | president = ]
| alongside = ] | term_start = January 20, 2021
| term_start = January 3, 2017 | term_end = <!--WAIT UNTIL SHE LEAVES OFFICE:<!--January 20, 2025-->
| term_end = | predecessor = ]
| successor = <!--WAIT UNTIL HE TAKES OFFICE:]<!--WAIT UNTIL HE TAKES OFFICE-->
| predecessor = ]
| successor = | jr/sr1 = United States Senator
| office1 = 32nd ] | state1 = ]
| governor1 = ] | term_start1 = January 3, 2017
| term_start1 = January 3, 2011 | term_end1 = January 18, 2021
| term_end1 = January 3, 2017 | predecessor1 = ]
| predecessor1 = Jerry Brown | successor1 = ]
| successor1 = ] | office2 = 32nd ]
| governor2 = ]
| office2 = 27th ]
| term_start2 = January 8, 2004 | term_start2 = January 3, 2011
| term_end2 = January 3, 2011 | term_end2 = January 3, 2017
| predecessor2 = ] | predecessor2 = Jerry Brown
| successor2 = ] | successor2 = ]
| office3 = 27th ]
| birth_name = Kamala Devi Harris
| term_start3 = January 8, 2004
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|10|20}}<ref name=":0" />
| term_end3 = January 3, 2011
| predecessor3 = ]
| successor3 = ]
| birth_name = Kamala Devi Harris{{efn|name=fn1}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|10|20}}
| birth_place = ], U.S. | birth_place = ], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = ] | party = ]
| spouse = {{marriage|]|August 22, 2014}} | spouse = {{marriage|]|August 22, 2014}}
| parents = ] (mother)<br />Donald Harris (father) | relatives = ]
| relatives = ] (sister) | residence = ]
| education = {{plainlist|
| education = ] (])<br />] (])
* ] (])
| website = {{URL|kamalaharris.org}}
* ] (])}}
| signature = Kamala Harris Signature.svg | signature = Kamala Harris Signature.svg
| signature_alt = Cursive signature in ink
| module = {{listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Kamala Harris speaks on the Americans with Disabilities Act.ogg|title=Harris' voice|type=speech|description=Harris speaks on the ].<br />Recorded July 26, 2021}}
| website = {{URL|kamalaharris.com|Campaign website}}
| alt = Harris, formally dressed up and made up, smiles for her portrait.
| parents = {{ubl|]|]}}
| height =
| term_label =
}} }}
{{Kamala Harris series}} {{Kamala Harris series}}
'''Kamala Devi Harris''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɑː|m|ə|l|ə}} {{respell|KAH|mə|lə}};<ref>{{cite journal|quote='It's "COMMA-la",' Ms. Harris said with a laugh. 'Just think of "calm". At least I try to be most of the time.'|first=Ken|last=Thomas|title=You Say 'Ka-MILLA;' I Say 'KUH-ma-la.' Both Are Wrong|journal=]|date=February 15, 2013|page=1}}</ref> born October 20, 1964)<ref name=":0">{{congbio| id=H001075|accessdate=May 20, 2020|inline=YES}}</ref> is an American politician and former prosecutor serving as the ] ] from ] since 2017. A member of the ], Harris is the presumptive Democratic ] nominee for the ], running alongside ]. She is the first ] woman and first ] person to be chosen as the running mate of a major party's presidential candidate.<ref name="zeleny">{{Cite web|last1=Zeleny|first1=Jeff|first2= Dan|last2= Merica |first3= Arlette |last3=Saenz|title=Joe Biden picks Kamala Harris as his running mate|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/11/politics/biden-vp-pick/index.html|access-date=2020-08-11|website=CNN}}</ref> She will run against the incumbent ], ]. '''Kamala Devi Harris'''{{efn|Pronounced {{IPAc-en|audio=Kamala-Devi-Harris-pronunciation.ogg|ˈ|k|ɑː|m|ə|l|ə|_|ˈ|d|eɪ|v|i}} {{Respell|KAH|mə|lə|_|DAY|vee}}<ref name="Kamala">{{Cite tweet |number=735197253153914881 |user=KamalaHarris |title=People pronounce my name many different ways. Let #KidsForKamala show you how it's done. |author=Kamala Harris |author-link=Kamala Harris}}</ref>}} (born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who has been the 49th and current ] since 2021 under President ]. She is the first female U.S. vice president, making her the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history. She is also the first ] and the first ] vice president. A member of the ], she was the party's nominee in the ], becoming the second woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party, after ]. From 2017 to 2021, she represented California in the ], and was ] from 2011 to 2017. From 2004 to 2011, she served as ].


Born in ], Harris is a graduate of ] and ]. Harris began her career in the ] District Attorney's Office before being recruited to the ] and later the ]'s office. In 2003, she was elected the 27th ] of ], serving until 2011. Born in ], Harris graduated from ] and the ]. She began her law career in the office of the ] of ]. She was recruited to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and later to the office of the ]. She was ] in 2003 and ], and ]. Harris was the first woman, the first African American, and the first Asian American to hold each office.


Harris was the junior U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021. She won the ], becoming the second Black woman and first ] U.S. senator. As a senator, ] for stricter ] laws, the ], ], and reforms to healthcare and ]. She gained a national profile while asking pointed questions of officials within the ] of President ] during Senate hearings, including Trump's second ] nominee, ].
Harris was narrowly elected ], and was ]. Harris faced criticism from reformers for ] she pursued while she was California's attorney general. In November 2016, she defeated ] in the ] to succeed outgoing Senator ], becoming California's third ], the second African American woman and the first South Asian American to serve in the ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kamala D. Harris: US Senator from California|url=https://www.harris.senate.gov/about|publisher=United States Senate|access-date=July 29, 2020}} Quote: "In 2017, Kamala D. Harris was sworn in as a United States Senator for California, the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history."</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kamala Harris: Everything you need to know about the 2020 presidential candidate|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kamala-harris-latest-democrat-run-president/story?id=60521324|publisher=ABC News|first1=Tessa|last1=Weinberg|first2=Sruthi|last2=Palaniappan|date= December 3, 2019|access-date=10 August 2020}} Quote: "Harris is the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father, and is the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history."</ref> As a senator, she has supported healthcare reform, ], a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, the ], ], and ]. She gained a national profile for her pointed questioning of ] officials during Senate hearings, including ] ] and ], and ] nominee ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Viser |first=Matt |date=January 21, 2019 |title=Kamala Harris enters 2020 Presidential Race |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kamala-harris-enters-2020-presidential-race/2019/01/21/d68d15b2-0a20-11e9-a3f0-71c95106d96a_story.html |work=] |access-date=January 22, 2019}}</ref>


Harris ] in 2019, but withdrew from the race before ]. Biden ], and their ticket defeated the incumbent ] president and vice president, Trump and ], in the ]. Presiding over an evenly split ] upon entering office, Harris played a crucial role as President of the Senate. She cast ], which helped pass bills such as the ] stimulus package and the ]. After ], Harris launched ] with Biden's endorsement and became the official nominee at the ], with ] ] ] as her running mate. She lost the general election to Trump.
Harris ran for the ] for ] in the ], briefly becoming a frontrunner before ending her campaign on December 3, 2019, citing a lack of funds to continue.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Herndon |first1=Astead |last2=Goldmacher |first2=Shane |title=Kamala Harris Is Dropping Out of 2020 Race |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/03/us/politics/kamala-harris-campaign-drops-out.html |date=December 3, 2019 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=December 3, 2019}}</ref> She was announced as Joe Biden's running mate for the ] on August 11, 2020, becoming the third major party female U.S. vice presidential nominee after ] and ].


==Early life and education== == Early life and career ==
{{Main|Early life and career of Kamala Harris}}<!-- Please keep this section in ] format. New details should go in the subarticle ], not here! -->
Kamala Devi Harris was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California.<ref name=":0" /> Her mother, ], was a breast-cancer scientist who had emigrated from India in 1960 to pursue a doctorate in ] at ].<ref name=autogenerated4>{{cite news|title=Obituary: Dr. Shyamala G. Harris|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?pid=125330757|access-date=June 11, 2017|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=March 22, 2009}}</ref> Her father, Donald Harris, is a ] Emeritus Professor of Economics, who emigrated from ] in 1961 for graduate study in economics at UC Berkeley.<ref>See {{cite news|url=http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/opm-news/26176-office-Pm-pm-golding-congratulates-kamala-harris-daughter-of-Jamaican-on-appoint|title=PM Golding congratulates Kamala Harris-daughter of Jamaican – on appointment as California's First Woman Attorney General|date=December 2, 2010|access-date=February 2, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115023007/http://www.jis.gov.jm/news/opm-news/26176-officePM-pm-golding-congratulates-kamala-harris-daughter-of-jamaican-on-appoint|archivedate=January 15, 2012|url-status=dead|publisher=Jamaican Information Service}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Stanford University – Department of Economics|url=http://web.stanford.edu/~dharris/professional_career.htm|last=|first=|date=|website=web.stanford.edu|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref>


=== Early life and education ===
Harris identifies as African American and considers her experience to be American.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Kevin |title='I am who I am': Kamala Harris, daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, defines herself simply as 'American' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/i-am-who-i-am-kamala-harris-daughter-of-indian-and-jamaican-immigrants-defines-herself-simply-as-american/2019/02/02/0b278536-24b7-11e9-ad53-824486280311_story.html |accessdate=October 6, 2019 |work=The Washington Post |date=February 2, 2019}}</ref> She was raised in ], with her younger sister, ].<ref name=":4">{{cite news|first=Sari|last=Horwitz|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-lawyer-tony-west-to-take-over-as-acting-associate-attorney-general/2012/02/24/gIQAqyBOeR_story.html|title=Justice Dept. lawyer Tony West to take over as acting associate attorney general|work=The Washington Post |date=February 27, 2012}}</ref><ref> {{cite news | last = Martinez | first = Michael | title = A 'female Obama' seeks California attorney general post |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/22/california.kamala.harris.profile/ |publisher = CNN|date=October 23, 2010 |accessdate=January 22, 2014}}</ref> She grew up going to a black ] and a ]; she and her sister visited their mother's family in Madras (now ]), India, on occasion.<ref name="Shape">{{cite news |last1=Finnegan |first1=Michael |title=How race helped shape the politics of Senate candidate Kamala Harris |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-pol-ca-harris-senate-20150930-story.html |accessdate=December 1, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=September 30, 2015}}</ref> Harris began ] in the second year of Berkeley's school ] program, which adopted busing to bring racial balance to the city's public schools; a bus drove her to a school which, two years prior, had been 95% white.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/28/politics/fact-check-kamala-harris-busing-in-berkeley/index.html|title=Fact check: Kamala Harris was correct on integration in Berkeley, school district confirms|first=Daniel |last=Dale|publisher=CNN}}</ref> Her parents divorced when she was seven; she has said that when she and her sister visited their father in ] on weekends, neighbors' kids were not allowed to play with them because they were black.<ref name="Shape" /> When she was 12, Harris and her sister moved with their mother to ], Canada, where their mother had accepted a research position at ] and teaching at ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Sam |last=Whiting |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Kamala-Harris-grew-up-idolizing-lawyers-3232851.php |title=Kamala Harris grew up idolizing lawyers |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 14, 2009 |accessdate=January 11, 2014}}</ref> She was a popular student at ] in ], graduating in 1981.<ref name="Dale 2018">{{cite web | last=Dale | first=Daniel | title=U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris's classmates from her Canadian high school cheer her potential run for president | website=Toronto Star | date=December 29, 2018 |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/12/29/kamala-harriss-classmates-from-her-canadian-high-school-cheer-her-campaign-for-us-president.html | access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref>
], August 2020|left]]


Kamala Devi Harris{{efn|name=fn1|Harris was originally named Kamala Iyer Harris by her parents, who two weeks later filed an ] by which her middle name was changed to Devi.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/18/heres-kamala-harris-birth-certificate-end-of-debate/|first=David|last=Debolt|date=August 18, 2020|title=Here's Kamala Harris' birth certificate. Scholars say there's no VP eligibility debate|newspaper=]|access-date=November 27, 2021|archive-date=February 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217084253/https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/08/18/heres-kamala-harris-birth-certificate-end-of-debate/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} was born in ],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kim|first1=Catherin|last2=Stanton|first2=Zack|date=August 11, 2020|title=55 Things You Need to Know About Kamala Harris|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/08/11/kamala-harris-vp-background-bio-biden-running-mate-2020-393885|access-date=August 23, 2020|website=Politico|archive-date=August 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822230300/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/08/11/kamala-harris-vp-background-bio-biden-running-mate-2020-393885|url-status=live}}</ref> on October 20, 1964.<ref name=":0">{{congbio| id=H001075|accessdate=May 20, 2020|inline=YES}}</ref> Her mother, ] (1938–2009), was a biologist who arrived in the United States from India in 1958 to enroll in graduate school in ] at the ]. A research career of over 40 years followed, during which her work on the ] gene led to advances in breast cancer research.<ref name="bcaction">{{cite web|date=June 21, 2009|title=In Memoriam: Dr. Shyamala G. Harris|url=https://bcaction.org/2009/06/21/in-memoriam-dr-shyamala-g-harris/|access-date=January 23, 2019|website=]|archive-date=January 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123121324/https://bcaction.org/2009/06/21/in-memoriam-dr-shyamala-g-harris/|url-status=live}}</ref> Kamala's father, ] (1938–),<ref>{{cite book |first=Kamala |last=Harris |title=The Truths We Hold: An American Journey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vUFkDwAAQBAJ |year=2019 |publisher=Penguin Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-525-56072-2 |pages=, |quote=my paternal grandfather, Oscar Joseph ... my paternal grandmother, Beryl |access-date=April 17, 2023 |archive-date=March 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303000912/https://books.google.com/books?id=vUFkDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> is an ] who immigrated to the United States in 1961 and also enrolled in UC Berkeley, specializing in ]. The first Black scholar to be granted tenure at ]'s economics department, he has ] status there.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barry |first=Ellen |date=November 7, 2020 |title=Kamala Harris's Father, a Footnote in Her Speeches, Is a Prominent Economist |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/kamala-harris-dad-don-harris.html |access-date=July 22, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722141019/https://www.nytimes.com/article/kamala-harris-dad-don-harris.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Kamala's parents met in 1962 and married in 1963.<ref name="NYT S1320">{{Cite news |last=Barry |first=Ellen |date=September 13, 2020 |title=How Kamala Harris's Immigrant Parents Found a Home, and Each Other, in a Black Study Group |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/13/us/kamala-harris-parents.html |access-date=August 31, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827000000/https://web.archive.org/web/20240827041642/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/13/us/kamala-harris-parents.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
At ] in Washington, D.C., she ] in ] and ] (B.A. 1986), interned as a mailroom clerk for California Senator ], chaired the economics society, led the debate team, demonstrated against ], and joined ] sorority.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-election-day/meet-kamala-harris-second-black-woman-elected-u-s-senate-n680726 |title=Meet Kamala Harris, the second Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate|last=Owens|first=Donna|date=November 8, 2016|publisher=NBC News|access-date=February 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Howard Alumna Becomes First Woman Elected as California Attorney General |publisher=Howard University|date=December 17, 2010 |url=http://www.howard.edu/newsroom/releases/2010/20101215HowardAlumnaTrailblazerBecomesFirstWomanElectedasCaliforniaAttorneyGeneral.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112015549/http://www.howard.edu/newsroom/releases/2010/20101215HowardAlumnaTrailblazerBecomesFirstWomanElectedasCaliforniaAttorneyGeneral.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 12, 2011 |accessdate=November 14, 2014 }}</ref> Harris returned to California, where in 1989 she earned her ] from the ] in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris '89 Wins Race for California Attorney General|publisher=UC Hastings News Room|date=November 24, 2010|url=http://www.uchastings.edu/media-and-news/news/2010/11/kamala-harris.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130223928/http://uchastings.edu/media-and-news/news/2010/11/kamala-harris.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 30, 2010|accessdate=February 2, 2011}}</ref> She passed the bar examination and gained admission to the State Bar of California on June 14, 1990.<ref name="Cal. bar">{{cite web | title= Attorney Licensee Profile, Kamala Devi Harris #146672 | website= The State Bar of California |url= http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Licensee/Detail/146672 | access-date= August 1, 2020}}</ref>


The Harris family lived in ] until they moved in 1966, around Kamala's second birthday. The Harrises lived for a few years in ]s in the ] where her parents held teaching or research positions:<ref name="BerkeleysideHouse" /> ] (where her sister ] was born in 1966); ]; and ].{{efn|The schools were ]; ], Evanston; and ].}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Kacich |first=Tom |title=Tom's #Mailbag, Aug. 2, 2019 |url=https://www.news-gazette.com/news/toms-mailbag-aug-2-2019/article_2e901c56-67e8-54d6-a2b4-aa2f087d225f.html |work=The News-Gazette |date=August 2, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-date=August 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825213212/https://www.news-gazette.com/news/toms-mailbag-aug-2-2019/article_2e901c56-67e8-54d6-a2b4-aa2f087d225f.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BerkeleysideHouse">{{cite web |last=Dinkelspiel |first=Frances |author-link=Frances Dinkelspiel |title=Update: Change in Berkeley law not needed to landmark the childhood home of Kamala Harris |url=https://www.berkeleyside.org/2021/03/08/no-changes-needed-in-berkeley-to-landmark-the-childhood-home-of-kamala-harris |website=Berkeleyside |date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819233234/https://www.berkeleyside.org/2021/03/08/no-changes-needed-in-berkeley-to-landmark-the-childhood-home-of-kamala-harris |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="makes her case">{{cite magazine |title=Kamala Harris Makes Her Case |first=Dana |last=Goodyear |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/22/kamala-harris-makes-her-case |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=August 19, 2022 |date=July 15, 2019 |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118140540/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/22/kamala-harris-makes-her-case |url-status=live |quote=Growing up, Harris was surrounded by African-American intellectuals and activists. One of her mother's closest friends was Mary Lewis, who helped found the field of black studies, at San Francisco State. }}</ref> By 1970, the marriage had faltered, and Shyamala moved back to Berkeley with her two daughters;<ref>{{cite news |last=Horwitz |first=Sari |date=February 27, 2012 |title=Justice Dept. lawyer Tony West to take over as acting associate attorney general |newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-lawyer-tony-west-to-take-over-as-acting-associate-attorney-general/2012/02/24/gIQAqyBOeR_story.html |access-date=August 23, 2020|archive-date=July 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708054021/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/justice-dept-lawyer-tony-west-to-take-over-as-acting-associate-attorney-general/2012/02/24/gIQAqyBOeR_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Martinez |first=Michael |date=October 23, 2010 |title=A 'Female Obama' seeks California attorney general post |publisher=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/22/california.kamala.harris.profile/|access-date=January 22, 2014|archive-date=November 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116111208/https://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/22/california.kamala.harris.profile/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BerkeleysideHouse" /> the couple divorced when Kamala was seven.<ref name="NYT S1320" /> In 1972, Donald Harris accepted a position at Stanford University; Kamala and Maya spent weekends at their father's house in ] and lived at their mother's house in Berkeley during the week.<ref name="USATodayTimeline">{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=George Fabe |title=Where did Kamala Harris grow up? A timeline |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/23/where-did-kamala-harris-grow-up/74921659007/ |access-date=August 27, 2024 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826211303/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/23/where-did-kamala-harris-grow-up/74921659007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Shyamala was friends with African-American intellectuals and activists in Oakland and Berkeley.<ref name="makes her case"/> In 1976, she accepted a research position at the ], and moved with her daughters to ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Sam|last=Whiting|url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Kamala-Harris-grew-up-idolizing-lawyers-3232851.php|title=Kamala Harris grew up idolizing lawyers|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=May 14, 2009|access-date=January 11, 2014|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301010320/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Kamala-Harris-grew-up-idolizing-lawyers-3232851.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JGH News - November 2020">{{cite web | title=When your best friend from high school winds up in the White House |website=JGH News |date=November 2020 |url=https://jghnews.ciussswestcentral.ca/when-your-best-friend-from-high-school-winds-up-in-the-white-house/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 | archive-date=April 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428005842/https://jghnews.ciussswestcentral.ca/when-your-best-friend-from-high-school-winds-up-in-the-white-house/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kamala graduated from ] on ] in 1981.<ref name="Dale 2018">{{cite news |last=Dale |first=Daniel |title=U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris' classmates from her Canadian high school cheer her potential run for president |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/12/29/kamala-harriss-classmates-from-her-canadian-high-school-cheer-her-campaign-for-us-president.html |website=Toronto Star |date=December 29, 2018 |access-date=July 1, 2019 |archive-date=September 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914123459/https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/12/29/kamala-harriss-classmates-from-her-canadian-high-school-cheer-her-campaign-for-us-president.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Early career (1990–2004)==
{{Main|Electoral history of Kamala Harris}}
In 1990, Harris was hired as a deputy ] in ], where she was noted as being "an able prosecutor on the way up".<ref name="latimes-brown-harris"/> In 1994, California Assembly Speaker ] (with whom Harris was in a relationship)<ref name="latimes-brown-harris">{{cite news |last1=Morain |first1=Dan |title=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. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-29-mn-2787-story.html |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=29 Nov 1994 |ref=latimes-brown-harris}}</ref> appointed Harris to the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and later the California Medical Assistance Commission. Harris took a leave of absence from her prosecutor job to serve in the positions.<ref name="latimes-brown-harris"/><ref>Byrne, Peter, "," ''S.F. Weekly'', September 24, 2003.</ref>


Kamala Harris attended ] in Montreal in 1981–82,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Mike |date=January 20, 2021 |title=Kamala Harris now remembered for her Vanier roots |url=https://www.thesuburban.com/columnists/mike_cohen_cohen_chatter/kamala-harris-now-remembered-for-her-vanier-roots/article_7f344a74-971f-569b-8566-c4c68e8f1c51.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304040451/https://www.thesuburban.com/columnists/mike_cohen_cohen_chatter/kamala-harris-now-remembered-for-her-vanier-roots/article_7f344a74-971f-569b-8566-c4c68e8f1c51.html |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |access-date=July 21, 2024 |website=The Suburban Newspaper}}</ref> and then ], a ] in Washington, D.C.<ref name="Washington Post September 2019">{{cite news |last=Givhan |first=Robin |date=September 16, 2019 |title=Kamala Harris grew up in a mostly white world. She then went to a black university in a black city. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/16/kamala-harris-grew-up-mostly-white-world-then-she-went-black-university-black-city |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610045040/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/16/kamala-harris-grew-up-mostly-white-world-then-she-went-black-university-black-city/ |archive-date=June 10, 2021 |access-date=August 15, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref name="Washingtonian">{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/08/17/kamala-harris-is-no-dc-newcomer-what-has-her-life-looked-like-here-so-far/|title=Kamala Harris Is No DC Newcomer. What Has Her Life Looked Like Here So Far?|first=Mimi|last=Montgomery|date=August 17, 2020|website=]|access-date=July 25, 2024|archive-date=October 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002190338/https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/08/17/kamala-harris-is-no-dc-newcomer-what-has-her-life-looked-like-here-so-far/|url-status=live}}</ref> At Howard, she became a member of ], one of the "Divine Nine" historically black sororities.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Weissman |first=Sara |title=Black Sororities, Fraternities 'Organizing Like Never Before' |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2024/07/30/black-sorority-fraternity-members-mobilize-harris |date=July 30, 2024 |magazine=Inside Higher Education |access-date=August 30, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=August 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827201217/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2024/07/30/black-sorority-fraternity-members-mobilize-harris |url-status=live }}</ref> She graduated in 1986 with a degree in ] and economics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Holmes |first1=Tamara |title=Raising Up Kamala |url=https://magazine.howard.edu/stories/raising-up-kamala |website=Howard Magazine |access-date=October 17, 2024 |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520192839/https://magazine.howard.edu/stories/raising-up-kamala |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosalsky |first1=Greg |title=Where Kamala Harris Studied Economics |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/10/06/920350374/where-kamala-harris-studied-economics |publisher=NPR |access-date=October 17, 2024 |archive-date=October 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007145622/https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/10/06/920350374/where-kamala-harris-studied-economics |url-status=live }}</ref> Harris then attended the ] in San Francisco,<ref>{{cite news|title=LEOP: Opening Doors for Students of Promise|url=https://www.uchastings.edu/2018/08/14/uc-hastings-2018-magazine-preview-opening-doors-for-students-of-promise/|access-date=August 13, 2020|work=UC Hastings Magazine|date=August 14, 2018|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925110005/https://www.uchastings.edu/2018/08/14/uc-hastings-2018-magazine-preview-opening-doors-for-students-of-promise/|url-status=live}}</ref> where she served as president of its chapter of the ].<ref>{{cite web|title=UC Hastings Congratulates Kamala Harris '89: California's next U.S. Senator|url=https://www.uclawsf.edu/2016/11/09/uc-hastings-congratulates-kamala-harris-89-californias-next-u-s-senator/ |website=UC Hastings Law|location=San Francisco|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=August 13, 2020|archive-date=January 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109130656/https://www.uchastings.edu/2016/11/09/uc-hastings-congratulates-kamala-harris-89-californias-next-u-s-senator/|url-status=live}}</ref> She graduated with a ] in 1989.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris '89 Wins Race for California Attorney General|publisher=UC Hastings News Room|date=November 24, 2010|url=https://www.uchastings.edu/media-and-news/news/2010/11/kamala-harris.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130223928/https://uchastings.edu/media-and-news/news/2010/11/kamala-harris.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 30, 2010|access-date=February 2, 2011}}</ref>
In February 1998, ], ], recruited Harris as an Assistant District Attorney.<ref name="Head">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29091340/sf-examiner-feb-03-1998/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422133402/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29091340/sf-examiner-feb-03-1998/ |url-status=live |title=DA Names New Head of Career Crime Unit|publisher=The San Francisco Examiner|date=February 3, 1998|archive-date=April 22, 2020 }}</ref> There, she became the chief of the Career Criminal Division, supervising five other attorneys, where she prosecuted ], ], ], and ] cases{{snd}}particularly ]. Harris reportedly clashed with Hallinan's assistant, Darrell Salomon.<ref name="TopAide">{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Hartlaub|title=DA's top aide quits among turmoil|publisher=The San Francisco Examiner|date=August 21, 2000}}</ref> Salomon's appointment coincided with the introduction of ], which would grant prosecutors the option of trying ] defendants in Superior Court rather than juvenile courts.<ref name="Kayo">{{cite news |url=https://www.theava.com/archives/96387 |last=Fred |first=Gardener|title=Kamala vs. Kayo (2003)|work=]|location=Boonville, CA |publisher=Bruce Anderson, editor and publisher |date=February 13, 2019}}</ref> Harris became involved in campaigning against the measure. Her knowledge and commitment to the issue was such that the Public Information Officer, Fred Gardner, would give reporters the option to interview both Harris and Hallinan.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}{{undue inline|reason=relevant to encyclopedia article?|date=July 2020}} Salomon ordered Gardner to stop directing Prop 21 media inquiries to Harris. Hallinan ordered that all calls from reporters go directly to him and then retaliated by reassigning Harris, a ''de facto'' demotion. Shortly after, Harris led a group of supervisors who confronted Hallinan about Salomon's behavior. However, when their attempt to get him removed failed, Harris filed a complaint and quit; Salomon followed shortly thereafter.{{cn|date=August 2020}}


=== Early career ===
In August 2000, Harris took a new job at ], working for ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.womensradio.com/articles/This-DA-Makes-a-Difference-for-Women/559.html |title=Women's Radio: This DA Makes a Difference For Women |publisher=Womensradio.com |accessdate=November 18, 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219095441/http://www.womensradio.com/articles/This-DA-Makes-a-Difference-for-Women/559.html |archivedate=December 19, 2010}}</ref> Harris ran the Family and Children's Services Division representing child abuse and ] cases. Renne said of Harris: "She will make the best DA this city has seen in years."<ref name="SF Weekly 09/24/2003"/>


In 1990, Harris was hired as a deputy ] in ], where she was described as "an able prosecutor on the way up".<ref name="latimes-brown-harris" /> In 1994, ] ], who was then dating Harris, appointed her to the state ] and later to the California Medical Assistance Commission.<ref name="latimes-brown-harris">{{cite news|last=Morain|first=Dan|title=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. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-29-mn-2787-story.html|access-date=July 4, 2020|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 29, 1994 |ref=latimes-brown-harris|archive-date=June 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617210000/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-29-mn-2787-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 1998, ] ] recruited Harris as an assistant district attorney.<ref name="Head">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29091340/sf-examiner-feb-03-1998/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422133402/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29091340/sf-examiner-feb-03-1998/ |url-status=live|title=DA Names New Head of Career Crime Unit|work=The San Francisco Examiner|date=February 3, 1998|archive-date=April 22, 2020}}</ref> There, she became the chief of the Career Criminal Division, supervising five other attorneys, where she prosecuted ], ], ], and ] cases—particularly ]. In August 2000, Harris took a job at ], working for ] ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.womensradio.com/articles/This-DA-Makes-a-Difference-for-Women/559.html|title=Women's Radio: This DA Makes a Difference For Women |first=Pat |last=Lynch |publisher=Womensradio.com|access-date=November 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219095441/https://www.womensradio.com/articles/This-DA-Makes-a-Difference-for-Women/559.html|archive-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref> Harris ran the Family and Children's Services Division, representing child abuse and ] cases. Renne endorsed Harris during her D.A. campaign.<ref name="SF Weekly September 24, 2003">{{cite news |last=Byrne |first=Peter |date=September 24, 2003 |title=Kamala's Karma |url=https://www.sfweekly.com/news/kamalas-karma/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213202115/https://www.sfweekly.com/news/kamalas-karma/ |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 4, 2020 |newspaper=San Francisco Weekly}}</ref>
===2003 campaign for District Attorney===
], who later twice became ].]]
In 2002, she began "methodically gathering support" to run against Hallinan, calling Mark Buell, the stepfather of her friend ], and telling him of her intentions.<ref name="Launched">{{cite news|last=Kruse|first=Michael|date=August 9, 2019|title=How San Francisco's Wealthiest Families Launched Kamala Harris|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/08/09/kamala-harris-2020-president-profile-san-francisco-elite-227611}}</ref> Impressed, Buell offered to be her ] and advised she would need to raise more than $150,000 to defeat an incumbent, the highest amount ever raised for the position. He and Harris organized a finance committee composed mostly of Harris's friends, including ] and ].<ref name=Launched/>


=== San Francisco District Attorney (2002–2011) ===
Harris sought to run a campaign that disrupted negative ] and set up her campaign office in ], the "most isolated neighborhood" in San Francisco.<ref name=Launched/> Running against Hallinan, and defense attorney, Bill Fazio, Harris was the least known candidate, but noted to be "whip-smart, hard-working, and well-credentialed".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Nina|title=Why Kamala Matters|url=http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/why-kamala-matters|accessdate=May 12, 2015|work=San Francisco Magazine|date=August 2007 |archive-date=February 15, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215203550/http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/why-kamala-matters }}</ref> Harris's campaign successfully lobbied the 24-member ]{{snd}}including U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and then-House Majority leader ]{{snd}}of the statewide Democratic party to withhold its influential endorsement from an incumbent.<ref name="SF Weekly 09/24/2003">{{cite news|first=Peter |last=Byrne |title=Kamala's Karma |newspaper=San Francisco Weekly |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |date=September 24, 2003|url=https://www.sfweekly.com/news/kamalas-karma/ }}</ref> Hallinan and Fazio sought to ], who was campaigning and fundraising for Harris, through a ].<ref name="SF Weekly 09/24/2003"/> Harris denied financially benefitting from Brown, and countered that statements used to tie her to Brown were ].<ref name="SF Weekly 09/24/2003"/>
] ] in March 2004]]


In 2002, Harris ran for ],<ref name="Launched">{{cite news|last=Kruse|first=Michael|date=August 9, 2019|title=How San Francisco's Wealthiest Families Launched Kamala Harris|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/08/09/kamala-harris-2020-president-profile-san-francisco-elite-227611|access-date=August 9, 2019|archive-date=November 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128184615/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/08/09/kamala-harris-2020-president-profile-san-francisco-elite-227611|url-status=live}}</ref> running a "forceful" campaign<ref name="Sunset">{{cite news|first=Adriel|last=Hampton|title=Harris stumps in the Sunset|work=The San Francisco Examiner|date=July 28, 2003}}</ref><ref name="Celebs">{{cite news |last1=Dineen |first1=J.K. |last2=Hampton |first2=Adriel |date=December 9, 2003 |title=Clinton Tops List of Celebrity Supporters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner/152837956/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241007052258/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner/152837956/ |archive-date=October 7, 2024 |access-date=October 7, 2024 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |pages=1 |via=]}}</ref> and differentiating herself from Hallinan by attacking his performance.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Demian|last1=Bulwa|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Harris-puts-D-A-on-trial-Performance-not-2525471.php|title=Harris puts D.A. on trial / Performance, not philosophy, an issue|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 6, 2003|access-date=May 6, 2020|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128030109/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Harris-puts-D-A-on-trial-Performance-not-2525471.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris won ] with 56% of the vote, becoming the first ] elected district attorney of San Francisco.<ref name="NYTimes-Zernike-2-2019">{{cite news|first=Kate|last=Zernike|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/11/us/kamala-harris-progressive-prosecutor.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211111631/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/11/us/kamala-harris-progressive-prosecutor.html |archive-date=February 11, 2019 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title='Progressive Prosecutor': Can Kamala Harris Square the Circle?|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> She ran unopposed for a second term in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|first=Heather|last=Knight|title=Kamala Harris celebrates unopposed bid for district attorney|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Kamala-Harris-celebrates-unopposed-bid-for-3301780.php|newspaper=]|date=November 7, 2007|access-date=February 2, 2011|archive-date=January 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111042848/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Kamala-Harris-celebrates-unopposed-bid-for-3301780.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
In October 2003, the ] found that Harris unintentionally<ref name="Harris violated campaign finance law" /> violated the city's campaign finance law by exceeding the voluntary $211,000 spending limit. In what was thought to be the largest fine to date under that law, the Ethics Commission levied up to $34,000 in penalties and corrective measures, and ordered her to buy newspaper ads informing voters about not abiding by the spending cap. Harris accepted full blame, saying, "Leadership isn't about being perfect. Leadership means taking responsibility."<ref name="Harris violated campaign finance law">{{cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Harris-violated-S-F-campaign-finance-law-D-A-2554388.php |title=Harris violated S.F. campaign finance law / D.A. candidate to pay up to $34,000 for 'unintentional' mistake |publisher=SFGate.com |work=] |date=October 7, 2003 |accessdate=July 2, 2020 |author=Gordon, Rachel}}</ref> Harris spent nearly $625,000 while Hallinan spent just over $285,000; both advanced to the general election ] with 33% and 37% of the vote, respectively.<ref name=Ousts>{{cite news|first1=Alison|last1=Soltau|first2=Ethan|last2=Fletcher|title=Harris ousts veteran Hallinan|publisher=The San Francisco Examiner|date=December 10, 2003}}</ref>


Within the first six months of taking office, Harris cleared 27 of 74 backlogged homicide cases.<ref>{{cite news |last=Soltau |first=Alison |date=July 21, 2004 |title=New DA claims higher success rate vs. violent felons |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-comparing-das/156116510/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006153951/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-comparing-das/156116510/ |archive-date=October 6, 2024 |access-date=October 6, 2024 |newspaper=] |page=4}}</ref> She also pushed for higher bail for criminal ]s involved in gun-related crimes, arguing that historically low bail encouraged outsiders to commit crimes in San Francisco. ] credited Harris with tightening the ]s defendants had used in the past.<ref>{{cite news |first= Jaxon |last= Van Derbeken |url= https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Trials-and-tribulations-of-Kamala-Harris-D-A-2521498.php |title= Trials and tribulations of Kamala Harris, D.A. / 2 years into term, prosecutor, police have their differences |newspaper= ] |date= March 20, 2006 |access-date= March 9, 2019 |archive-date= March 5, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190305182146/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Trials-and-tribulations-of-Kamala-Harris-D-A-2521498.php |url-status= live }}</ref> During her campaign, Harris pledged never to seek the death penalty,<ref name="sfgate.com">{{cite news |last1=VanDerbeken |first1=Jaxson |date=January 9, 2004 |title=New D.A. promises to be 'smart on crime' / Harris speaks well of Hallinan, will continue some of his policies |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/New-D-A-promises-to-be-smart-on-crime-Harris-2831205.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017095119/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/New-D-A-promises-to-be-smart-on-crime-Harris-2831205.php |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |access-date=May 10, 2020 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> and kept to this in the cases of a ] officer, Isaac Espinoza, who was shot and killed in 2004,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Feinstein-s-surprise-call-for-death-penalty-puts-3313728.php|first1=Phillip|last1=Matier|first2=Andrew|last2=Ross|title=Feinstein's surprise call for death penalty puts D.A. on spot|website=San Francisco Chronicle|date=April 21, 2004|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=April 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425062908/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Feinstein-s-surprise-call-for-death-penalty-puts-3313728.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Sen-Boxer-joins-throng-calling-for-death-in-3324378.php|first1=Phillip|last1=Matier|first2=Andrew|last2=Ross|title=Sen. Boxer joins throng calling for death in killing of cop|website=San Francisco Chronicle|date=May 5, 2004|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218193324/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Sen-Boxer-joins-throng-calling-for-death-in-3324378.php|url-status=live}}</ref> and of ], an ] and alleged ] gang member who was accused of murdering a man and his two sons in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last=Van Derbeken|first=Jaxon|url=https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Edwin-Ramos-won-t-face-death-penalty-3218429.php|title=Edwin Ramos won't face death penalty|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=September 11, 2009|access-date=April 22, 2020|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223144/https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Edwin-Ramos-won-t-face-death-penalty-3218429.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Newsom-backs-Harris-decision-3286455.php|first1=Heather|last1=Knight|first2=Marisa|last2=Lagos|title=Newsom backs Harris' decision|date=September 16, 2009|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=November 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103205814/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Newsom-backs-Harris-decision-3286455.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
Hallinan was running for re-election amidst the backdrop of the ] scandal, in which three off-duty police officers got into a fight with residents over a bag of fajitas. Hallinan alleged that ], the city's first black Chief of Police, and other officers were involved in a cover-up of the criminal acts of the three off-duty officers, indicting all of them for ] in February 2003. Sanders resigned, but Hallinan was forced to drop the charges against Sanders less than a month later when he was unable to prove evidence of a conspiracy.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Dean|last1=Murphy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/12/us/case-against-police-chief-is-dropped-in-san-francisco.html|title=Case Against Police Chief is Dropped in San Francisco|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 12, 2003}}</ref> Sanders pursued legal action and was declared factually innocent, damaging Hallinan's credibility.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Jaxson|last1=VanDerbeken|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Court-finds-S-F-chief-factually-innocent-2597925.html|title=Court finds S.F. chief 'factually innocent' / Sanders' mug shot taken after arrest in Fajitagate case to be destroyed|publisher=SFGate|date=August 7, 2003}}</ref>


] in the ], November 2009]]
In the runoff, Harris pledged never to seek the death penalty and to prosecute ] only in cases of violent felonies.<ref name="sfgate.com">{{cite news|first1=Jaxson|last1=VanDerbeken|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/New-D-A-promises-to-be-smart-on-crime-Harris-2831205.php|title=New D.A. promises to be 'smart on crime' / Harris speaks well of Hallinan, will continue some of his policies|publisher=SFGate|date=January 9, 2004}}</ref> Harris ran a "forceful" campaign, assisted by former Mayor Willie Brown, Senator ], writer and cartoonist ], and comedians ] and ].<ref name=Sunset>{{cite news|first=Adriel|last=Hampton|title=Harris stumps in the Sunset|work=The San Francisco Examiner|date=July 28, 2003}}</ref><ref name=Celebs>{{cite news|first1=J.K.|last1=Dineen|first2=Adriel|last2=Hampton|title=Clinton Tops List of Celebrity Supporters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/462679876/ |work=The San Francisco Examiner|date=December 9, 2003}}</ref> Harris differentiated herself from Hallinan by attacking his performance.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Demian|last1=Bulwa|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Harris-puts-D-A-on-trial-Performance-not-2525471.php|title=Harris puts D.A. on trial / Performance, not philosophy, an issue| newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 6, 2003}}</ref> She argued that she left his office because it was technologically inept and "dysfunctional", emphasizing his "abysmal" 52% conviction rate for ] despite an 83% average conviction rate statewide.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Demian|last1=Bulwa|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Harris-defeats-Hallinan-after-bitter-campaign-2546323.php|title=Harris defeats Hallinan after bitter campaign| newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 10, 2003}}</ref> She accused Hallinan of mismanaging his office by promoting people in his office without ] and covering up allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Patrick|last1=Hoge|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Harris-accuses-Hallinan-of-coverup-She-says-2553651.html|title=Harris accuses Hallinan of coverup / She says reports of staff misconduct have been ignored|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=October 14, 2003}}</ref> Harris further charged that his office wasn't doing enough to stem the city's gun violence, particularly in poor neighborhoods like the ] and the ], and attacked his willingness to accept ] in cases of ]: "It is not progressive to be soft on crime."<ref>{{cite news|first1=Demian|last1=Bulwa|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Harris-slams-Hallinan-on-city-s-gun-violence-2512358.php|title=Harris slams Hallinan on city's gun violence / D.A. candidate points to bus shooting victim|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=November 12, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Demian|last1=Bulwa|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/No-holds-barred-debate-in-D-A-race-2547137.php|title=No-holds-barred debate in D.A. race|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 5, 2003}}</ref>


Harris created a Hate Crimes Unit, focusing on ]s against ] children and teens in schools,<ref>{{cite web |title=Marriage Equality |url=https://kamalaharris.org/MarriageEquality |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125112342/https://kamalaharris.org/MarriageEquality |archive-date=November 25, 2010 |access-date=November 18, 2010 |publisher=Kamalaharris.org}}</ref> and supported A.B. 1160, the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act.<ref name="AB 1160">{{cite web |date=September 28, 2006 |title=Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=200520060AB1160 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623100157/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=200520060AB1160 |archive-date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=June 23, 2015 |website=California Legislative Information}}</ref> As District Attorney, she created an environmental crimes unit in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Jason B. |date=June 1, 2005 |title=D.A. creates environmental unit: 3-staff team takes on crime mostly affecting the poor |url=https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-D-A-creates-environmental-unit-2666667.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422163016/https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-D-A-creates-environmental-unit-2666667.php |archive-date=April 22, 2020 |access-date=May 4, 2020 |work=]}}</ref> Harris expressed support for San Francisco's ] policy of not inquiring about immigration status in the process of a criminal investigation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKinley |first=Jesse |date=November 12, 2006 |title=Immigrant Protection Rules Draw Fire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/us/12sanctuary.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625035600/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/us/12sanctuary.html |archive-date=June 25, 2012 |access-date=October 28, 2010 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2004, she created the San Francisco Reentry Division.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=August 12, 2020|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/21/kamala-harris-2020-president-election-run-meteoric-rise|work=The Guardian|date=January 21, 2019|title='Nobody works harder': insiders recall Kamala Harris's meteoric rise|first=Vivian|last=Ho|archive-date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910155940/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/21/kamala-harris-2020-president-election-run-meteoric-rise|url-status=live}}</ref> Over six years, the 200 people graduated from the program had a ] rate of less than 10%, compared to the 53% of California's drug offenders who returned to prison within two years of release.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alison|last=Knezevich|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-mosby-new-program-20150514-story.html|title=Mosby: New program gives nonviolent offenders a second chance|newspaper=]|date=May 14, 2015|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=October 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005074323/https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-mosby-new-program-20150514-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://phlcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Pre-Trial-Diversion.Philadelphia.pdf|title=Preventing Future Crime and Preserving Judicial Resources Through Non-Traditional Prosecution|date=September 2016|publisher=Philadelphia District Attorney's Office|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233543/https://phlcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Pre-Trial-Diversion.Philadelphia.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbs46.com/news/jail-to-jobs-mayor-bottoms-announces-new-reentry-program/article_6e6caccf-6479-5f52-a451-db7d59adb70c.html|title=Jail to jobs, Mayor Bottoms announces new reentry program |first=Keith |last=Whitney |date=April 11, 2018 |publisher=] |access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223142/https://www.cbs46.com/news/jail-to-jobs-mayor-bottoms-announces-new-reentry-program/article_6e6caccf-6479-5f52-a451-db7d59adb70c.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Harris won with 56-44 percent of the vote, becoming California's first African American district attorney.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Harris-defeats-Hallinan-after-bitter-campaign-2546323.php#photo-2684347 |title=Harris defeats Hallinan after bitter campaign |publisher=] |date=December 10, 2003 |accessdate=July 5, 2020 |author=Bulwa, Demian |quote=(Photo caption 1 of 2) Kamala Harris gives her victory speech after becoming the first Afro/Indian American D.A. in California.}}</ref>


In 2006, as part of an initiative to reduce the city's homicide rate, Harris led a citywide effort to combat ] for at-risk elementary school youth in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite news|first=Heather|last=Knight|title=City opens campaign to cut truancy by thousands of students|url=https://www.sfgate.com/education/*article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Drive-to-keep-kids-in-school-2680486.php|access-date=May 1, 2020|newspaper=]|date=October 19, 2004|archive-date=October 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006120353/https://www.sfgate.com/education/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Drive-to-keep-kids-in-school-2680486.php|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2008, declaring chronic truancy a matter of public safety and pointing out that the majority of prison inmates and homicide victims are dropouts or habitual truants,<ref name="Knight">{{cite news|first=Heather|last=Knight|title=City trying to get worst truants to school. Help for students, criminal prosecution part of crackdown|url=https://www.sfgate.com/education/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-City-trying-to-get-worst-truants-2469689.php|access-date=May 1, 2020|newspaper=]|date=September 14, 2006|archive-date=August 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820180349/https://www.sfgate.com/education/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-City-trying-to-get-worst-truants-2469689.php|url-status=live}}</ref> she issued citations against six parents whose children missed at least 50 days of school, the first time San Francisco prosecuted adults for student truancy.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nanette|last=Asimov|title=Citations go to parents of truant kids|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/S-F-cites-parents-of-chronically-truant-kids-3209547.php|access-date=May 2, 2020|newspaper=]|date=June 11, 2008|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812201245/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/S-F-cites-parents-of-chronically-truant-kids-3209547.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris's office ultimately prosecuted seven parents in three years, with none jailed.<ref name="SFGate" /> By April 2009, 1,330 elementary school students were habitual or chronic truants, down 23% from 1,730 in 2008, and from 2,517 in 2007 and 2,856 in 2006.<ref name="SFGate">{{cite news|title=Fighting truancy yields big dividends|url=https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Fighting-truancy-yields-big-dividends-3295152.php|access-date=May 2, 2020|work=]|date=June 14, 2009|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223146/https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Fighting-truancy-yields-big-dividends-3295152.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
== District Attorney of San Francisco (2004–2011) ==
]


== Attorney General of California (2011–2017) ==
===Public safety===
{{Main|Kamala Harris as Attorney General of California}}
==== Felony conviction rate ====
]
Harris inherited a 50.3% felony conviction rate from Hallinan when she took over in 2004. During her tenure, the felony conviction rate rose to 53.2% in 2005 to 65.5% in 2006, the highest in a decade.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tamara|last=Apartonr|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/567124483/?terms=kamala%2Bharris%2Bconviction%2Brate|title=Felony prosecutions skyrocket|newspaper=]|date=June 4, 2009|page=4|accessdate=May 20, 2020}}</ref> The felony conviction rate continued to rise, reaching 76% in 2009.<ref name="tribulations"/> Convictions of drug dealers increased from 56% in 2003 to 74% in 2006.<ref name="tribulations">{{cite news|first=Jaxon|last=Van Derbeken|url=http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-03-20/news/17287759_1_conviction-handling-of-criminal-cases-homicide/4|title=Trials and tribulations of Kamala Harris, D.A. / 2 years into term, prosecutor, police have their differences|newspaper=]|date=March 20, 2006|page=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118160154/http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-03-20/news/17287759_1_conviction-handling-of-criminal-cases-homicide/4 |archive-date=January 18, 2012 }}</ref>
<!--Please keep this section in ] format. New details go in the subarticle ], not here! -->


Harris was elected ] in ], becoming the first woman, ], and ] to hold the office in the state's history.<ref>{{citation |last=Bacerra |first=Xavier |title=Kamala D. Harris Takes Oath as California Attorney General |date=January 3, 2011 |url=https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/kamala-d-harris-takes-oath-california-attorney-general |access-date=August 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929161259/https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/kamala-d-harris-takes-oath-california-attorney-general |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |url-status=live |publisher=State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General |quote=Harris is the first woman, and the first African American and the first South Asian American, to hold the office of Attorney General in the history of California}}</ref> She took office on January 3, 2011, and was reelected ].<ref name="Reilly">{{cite news |last=Reilly |first=Mollie |date=November 5, 2014 |title=Kamala Harris Re-Elected As California Attorney General |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/05/kamala-harris-election-results_n_5819890.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525071358/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/05/kamala-harris-election-results_n_5819890.html |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=HuffPost}}</ref> She served until resigning on January 3, 2017, to take her seat in the ].
Harris was re-elected in 2007 when she ran unopposed.<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite news|first=Heather|last=Knight|title=Kamala Harris celebrates unopposed bid for district attorney |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Kamala-Harris-celebrates-unopposed-bid-for-3301780.php |newspaper=]|date=November 7, 2007|accessdate=February 2, 2011}}</ref>


In 2010, Harris announced her candidacy for attorney general and was endorsed by prominent California Democrats, including U.S. Senators ] and ] and House Speaker ].<ref name="newsline">{{cite news |last=Rizo |first=Chris |date=April 16, 2010 |title=Villaraigosa eschews local candidates, backs Harris for Calif. attorney general |url=https://www.legalnewsline.com/news/226664-villaraigosa-eschews-local-candidates-backs-harris-for-calif.-attorney-general |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723184208/https://www.legalnewsline.com/news/226664-villaraigosa-eschews-local-candidates-backs-harris-for-calif.-attorney-general |archive-date=July 23, 2011 |access-date=August 20, 2010 |newspaper=Legal Newsline}}</ref> She won the Democratic primary and narrowly defeated Republican nominee ] in the general election.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leonard |first=Jack |date=November 24, 2010 |title=Kamala Harris wins attorney general's race as Steve Cooley concedes |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/steve-cooley-kamala-harris-attorney-general.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802190612/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/steve-cooley-kamala-harris-attorney-general.html |archive-date=August 2, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Her tenure was marked by significant efforts in consumer protection, criminal justice reform, and privacy rights.
====Non-violent crimes====
In summer 2005, Harris created a unit to tackle environmental crimes.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jason B.|last=Johnson|title=SAN FRANCISCO / D.A. creates environmental unit / 3-staff team takes on crime mostly affecting the poor|url=https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-D-A-creates-environmental-unit-2666667.php|accessdate=May 4, 2020 |work=]|date=June 1, 2005}}</ref> Harris filed charges against the Alameda Publishing Corporation for dumping hazardous printing ink in San Francisco's ] neighborhood. Fifty gallon buckets of hazardous ink were left overturned and leaking: the corporation and its publishers were charged with unlawful disposal and transportation of hazardous waste and with depositing of hazardous substances on a road.<ref>{{cite news|first=Glenn|last=Chapman|title=Publisher charged with illegal dumping|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2004/12/18/publisher-charged-with-illegal-dumping-2/|accessdate=May 4, 2020 |work=]|date=December 18, 2004}}</ref>


In 2014, Harris was reelected, defeating Republican nominee Ronald Gold with 58% of the vote.<ref name="Reilly"/> During her second term, she expanded her focus on consumer protection, securing major settlements against corporations like ],<ref>{{cite web |last=Lifsher |first=Marc |date=May 20, 2011 |title=Quest Diagnostics settles Medi-Cal whistleblower suit |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-may-20-la-fi-quest-settlement-20110520-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223143/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-may-20-la-fi-quest-settlement-20110520-story.html |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=May 11, 2020 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> ],<ref name="Parker">{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Barbara |last2=Kaplan |first2=Rebecca |date=March 5, 2012 |title=Kamala Harris' foreclosure deal a win for state |url=https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Kamala-Harris-foreclosure-deal-a-win-for-state-3381270.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106225939/https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Kamala-Harris-foreclosure-deal-a-win-for-state-3381270.php |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2012 |work=]}}</ref> and ],<ref name="auto14">{{cite web |date=October 10, 2013 |title=California lawsuit claims for-profit colleges misled students, investors |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article2579497.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115203603/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article2579497.html |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=April 28, 2020 |work=The Sacramento Bee}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=March 23, 2016 |title=Corinthian Colleges must pay nearly $1.2&nbsp;billion for false advertising and lending practices |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-corinthian-colleges-judgment-false-advertising-20160323-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609164838/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-corinthian-colleges-judgment-false-advertising-20160323-story.html |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |access-date=April 28, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> recovering billions for California consumers. She spearheaded the creation of the Homeowner Bill of Rights to combat aggressive ] practices during the housing crisis, recording multiple nine-figure settlements against mortgage servicers.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 30, 2012 |title=Calif. attorney general Kamala Harris fights for struggling homeowners |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/calif-attorney-general-kamala-harris-fights-for-struggling-homeowners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223141/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/calif-attorney-general-kamala-harris-fights-for-struggling-homeowners/ |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=June 18, 2012 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 12, 2012 |title=Gov. Brown signs Homeowner Bill of Rights |url=https://abc7news.com/archive/8732388https:// |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223143/https://abc7news.com/archive/8732388https:// |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=May 11, 2020 |publisher=ABC 7 News}}</ref> Harris also worked on privacy rights. She collaborated with major tech companies like ], ], and ] to ensure that mobile apps disclosed their data-sharing practices.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guynn |first1=Jessica |last2=Olivarez-Giles |first2=Nathan |date=February 22, 2012 |title=Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, tech giants agree on mobile app privacy |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-feb-22-la-fi-tn-calif-ag-kamala-harris-agreement-with-apple-amazon-google-hp-microsoft-rim-on-app-privacy-policies-20120222-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803233743/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-feb-22-la-fi-tn-calif-ag-kamala-harris-agreement-with-apple-amazon-google-hp-microsoft-rim-on-app-privacy-policies-20120222-story.html |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref name="Elinor">{{cite news |last=Elinor |first=Mills |date=July 19, 2012 |title=California beefing up privacy-protection enforcement |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/california-beefing-up-privacy-protection-enforcement/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223142/https://www.cnet.com/news/california-beefing-up-privacy-protection-enforcement/ |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |publisher=CNET}}</ref> She created the Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit, focusing on cyber privacy and data breaches.<ref name="Elinor"/> California secured settlements with companies like ] and ] for privacy violations.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 18, 2015 |title=Comcast agrees to pay $33&nbsp;million in California privacy breach |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-comcast-california-settlement-20150918-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803233822/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-comcast-california-settlement-20150918-story.html |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Paresh |first=Dave |date=October 2, 2015 |title=Why Kamala Harris is making start-up Houzz hire a "chief privacy officer" |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-houzz-privacy-20151002-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803233837/https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-houzz-privacy-20151002-story.html |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref>
In 2006, Republican ] won a highly competitive election to the ]. Harris investigated Jew for violating residency requirements necessary to hold his supervisor position<ref name="sfexaminer.com">{{cite news|title=Ed Jew surrenders for felony arrest, out on bail|url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/ed-jew-surrenders-for-felony-arrest-out-on-bail/|accessdate=May 2, 2020 |work=]|date=June 13, 2007}}</ref> charging him with nine felonies, alleging that he lied under oath and falsified documents to make it appear that he resided in a ] home, necessary so he could run for the District 4 seat for supervisor.<ref name=Buchanan>{{cite news|first=Wyatt|last=Buchanan|title=Former S.F. supervisor pleads guilty to federal extortion, bribery, plans to accuse others|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Former-S-F-supervisor-pleads-guilty-to-federal-3190636.php|work=]|date=October 11, 2008}}</ref> Jew pleaded guilty in October 2008 to unrelated federal corruption charges (mail fraud, soliciting a bribe, and extortion)<ref name=Buchanan/> and pleaded guilty the following month in state court charge of perjury for lying about his address on nomination forms, as part of a plea agreement in which the other state charges were dropped and Jew agreed to never again hold elected office in California.<ref name=CotéNov2008>John Coté, , ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (November 19, 2008).</ref> Harris described the case as "about protecting the integrity of our political process, which is part of the core of our democracy."<ref name=CotéNov2008/> For his federal offenses, Jew was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison and a $10,000 fine;<ref name=CotéApr2009>John Coté, , ''San Francisco Chronicle'' (April 4, 2009).</ref> for the state perjury conviction, Jew was sentenced to one year in county jail, three years' probation, and about $2,000 in fines.<ref>, NBC Bay Area (April 22, 2009).</ref>


Harris was instrumental in advancing criminal justice reform. She launched the Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry and implemented the Back on Track LA program, which provided educational and job training opportunities for nonviolent offenders.<ref>{{cite web |last=Palta |first=Rina |date=November 20, 2013 |title=Calif. Attorney General Kamala Harris announces new division to stop ex-prisoners from committing new crimes |url=https://www.scpr.org/news/2013/11/20/40494/attorney-general-kamala-harris-announces-new-divis/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223144/https://www.scpr.org/news/2013/11/20/40494/attorney-general-kamala-harris-announces-new-divis/ |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |access-date=May 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Veiga |first=Alex |date=March 11, 2015 |title=Sheriff, AG Harris Unveil Program to Curb Recidivism |url=https://scvnews.com/sheriff-ag-harris-unveil-program-to-curb-recidivism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803011814/https://scvnews.com/sheriff-ag-harris-unveil-program-to-curb-recidivism/ |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |agency=SCV News}}</ref> Despite her focus on reform, Harris faced criticism for defending the state's position in cases involving wrongful convictions<ref name="CrimJusticeRecord2">{{cite web |last=Bazelon |first=Lara |date=December 4, 2019 |title=Kamala Harris's Criminal Justice Record Killed Her Presidential Run |url=https://theappeal.org/kamala-harris-criminal-justice-record-killed-her-presidential-run/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817223213/https://theappeal.org/kamala-harris-criminal-justice-record-killed-her-presidential-run/ |archive-date=August 17, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=The Appeal}}</ref> and for her office's stance on prison labor.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tolan |first=Casey |date=August 1, 2019 |title=Democratic debate: Fact-checking the attacks on Kamala Harris' criminal justice record |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/01/democratic-debate-kamala-harris-tulsi-gabbard-joe-biden-fact-check/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815030540/https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/01/democratic-debate-kamala-harris-tulsi-gabbard-joe-biden-fact-check/amp/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |agency=Mercury News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Singh |first=Lakshmi |date=November 18, 2018 |title=Serving Time And Fighting California Wildfires |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/18/669088658/serving-time-and-fighting-california-wildfires-for-2-a-day |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818111955/https://www.npr.org/2018/11/18/669088658/serving-time-and-fighting-california-wildfires-for-2-a-day |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |newspaper=NPR.org |publisher=]}}</ref> She continued to advocate for progressive reforms, including banning the ] in California courts<ref>{{cite web |date=September 5, 2014 |title=California On Track To Become First State To Ban 'Gay Panic' Defense in Courtrooms |url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/09/05/california-on-track-to-become-first-state-to-ban-gay-panic-defense/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007065248/https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/09/05/california-on-track-to-become-first-state-to-ban-gay-panic-defense/ |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |access-date=August 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Chokshi |first=Niraj |date=September 5, 2014 |title=California could become the first state to ban the 'gay panic' defense |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/09/05/california-could-become-the-first-state-to-ban-the-gay-panic-defense/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815002204/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/09/05/california-could-become-the-first-state-to-ban-the-gay-panic-defense/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |access-date=March 11, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US}}</ref> and opposing ], the state's same-sex marriage ban.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baume |first=Matt |date=December 2, 2010 |title=Kamala Harris Vows to Abandon Prop 8 |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/harris-vows-to-abandon-prop-8/1860319/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426211608/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/harris-vows-to-abandon-prop-8/1860319/ |archive-date=April 26, 2020 |access-date=April 29, 2020 |newspaper=] |publisher=NBC News |location=San Francisco, CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 27, 2013 |title=Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Files U.S. Supreme Court Brief in Support of Marriage Equality |url=https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-files-us-supreme-court-brief-support-marriage |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803072255/https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-files-us-supreme-court-brief-support-marriage |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |publisher=Office of the California Attorney General}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Almendrala |first=Anna |date=June 27, 2013 |title=Kamala Harris On Prop 8 Decision: Same-Sex Marriages In California Should Begin Immediately |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-prop-8_n_3505292 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803093101/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-prop-8_n_3505292 |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=August 19, 2020 |work=HuffPost}}</ref>
Harris oversaw more than 1900 convictions for ] possession, including persons simultaneously convicted of marijuana offenses and more serious crimes.<ref name=FactCheckMJ>{{cite news|first=Casey|last=Tolan|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/09/11/kamala-harris-prosecuting-marijuana-cases/|title=Campaign fact check: Here's how Kamala Harris really prosecuted marijuana cases|newspaper=]|date=September 11, 2019}}</ref> The rate at which Harris' office prosecuted marijuana crimes was higher rate than the rate under her predecessor, but the number of defendants sentenced to state prison for such offenses was substantially lower as compared to her predecessor.<ref name=FactCheckMJ/> Prosecutions for low-level marijuana offenses were rare under Harris, and her office had a policy of not pursuing jail time for marijuana possession offenses.<ref name=FactCheckMJ/> Harris's successor as D.A., ], expunged all San Francisco marijuana offenses going back to 1975.<ref name=FactCheckMJ/>


== U.S. Senator (2017–2021) ==
==== Violent crimes ====
=== Election ===
In the early 2000s, the ] murder rate per capita drastically outpaced the national average. Within the first six months of taking office, Harris cleared 27 of 74 backlogged homicide cases by settling 14 by ] and taking 11 to trial; with 9 convictions and 2 hung juries, she attained an 81% success rate. She took 49 violent crime cases to trial and secured 36 convictions, for an 84% success rate.<ref>{{cite news|first=Alison|last=Soltau|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/462412693/?terms=kamala%2Bharris%2Bconviction%2Brate|title=New DA claims higher success rate vs. violent felons|newspaper=]|date=July 21, 2004|page=4|accessdate=May 20, 2020}}</ref> From 2004 to 2006, Harris achieved an 87% conviction rate for homicides and a 90% conviction rate for all felony gun violations.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bonnie|last=Eslinger|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/462434036/?terms=kamala%2Bharris%2Bconviction%2Brate|title=SF's Felony conviction rate improves|newspaper=]|date=September 15, 2006|page=4|accessdate=May 20, 2020}}</ref>
{{Main|2016 United States Senate election in California}}
] in January 2017. At center is Harris' husband, ].]]
After more than 20 years as a U.S. senator from California, Senator ] announced on January 13, 2015, that she would not run for reelection in 2016.<ref name="Mehta">{{cite news|last=Mehta|first=Seema|date=January 13, 2015|title=Kamala Harris launches U.S. Senate bid, begins raising money|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-harris-launches-us-senate-bid-begins-raising-money-20150113-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=January 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113200929/https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-harris-launches-us-senate-bid-begins-raising-money-20150113-story.html|archive-date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> Harris announced her candidacy for the Senate seat the next week.<ref name="Mehta" /> She was a top contender from the beginning of her campaign.<ref name="Kane">{{cite web|last=Kane|first=Will|date=November 7, 2016|title=Why Is the Most Groundbreaking Senate Race Ever So Uninspiring?|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/11/2016-california-senate-harris-sanchez-jungle-open-primary-reform-214429|access-date=November 19, 2020|website=Politico Magazine|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118015357/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/11/2016-california-senate-harris-sanchez-jungle-open-primary-reform-214429|url-status=live}}</ref>


The 2016 California Senate election used California's new top-two primary format, where the top two candidates in the primary advance to the general election regardless of party.<ref name="Kane" /> On February 27, 2016, Harris won 78% of the ] vote at the party convention, allowing her campaign to receive financial support from the party.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cadelago|first=Christopher|date=February 27, 2016|title=Kamala Harris receives California Democratic Party endorsement|work=The Sacramento Bee|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article62985987.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215142830/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article62985987.html|archive-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref> Three months later, Governor Jerry Brown endorsed her.<ref>{{cite news|last=Willon|first=Phil|date=May 23, 2016|title=California Gov. Jerry Brown backs Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-jerry-brown-kamala-harris-endorsement-htmlstory.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405165645/https://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-jerry-brown-kamala-harris-endorsement-htmlstory.html|archive-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> In the June 7 primary, Harris came in first with 40% of the vote and won with pluralities in most counties.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 2016|title=United States Senator (primary results)|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-primary/75-us-senate-formatted.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826130419/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-primary/75-us-senate-formatted.pdf|archive-date=August 26, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2020|publisher=]}}</ref> Harris faced representative and fellow Democrat ] in the general election.<ref name="Myers">{{cite news|last=Myers|first=John|date=June 8, 2016|title=Two Democrats will face off for California's U.S. Senate seat, marking first time a Republican will not be in contention|work=]|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-senate-primary-election-20160607-snap-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304132859/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-senate-primary-election-20160607-snap-story.html|archive-date=March 4, 2020}}</ref>
Harris also pushed for higher bail for criminal ]s involved in gun-related crimes, arguing that historically low ] encouraged outsiders to commit crimes in San Francisco. ] credited Harris with tightening ]s in bail and drug programs that defendants had used in the past.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jaxon|last=Van Derbeken|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Trials-and-tribulations-of-Kamala-Harris-D-A-2521498.php |title=Trials and tribulations of Kamala Harris, D.A. / 2 years into term, prosecutor, police have their differences|newspaper=]|date=March 20, 2006|accessdate=March 9, 2019}}</ref> In addition to creating a gun crime unit, Harris opposed releasing defendants on their own recognizance if they were arrested on gun crimes, sought minimum 90-day sentences for possession of concealed or loaded weapons, and charged all assault weapons possession cases as felonies, adding that she would seek prison terms for criminals who possessed or used assault weapons and would seek maximum penalties on gun-related crimes:<ref name="Garofoli">{{cite news|last=Garofoli|first=Joe |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-D-A-vows-to-go-after-gun-law-2755194.php |title=SAN FRANCISCO / D.A. vows to go after gun law violators / Harris takes tough approach, pledges maximum penalties|newspaper=]|date=May 29, 2004|accessdate=May 2, 2020}}</ref>
{{quote|If you carry an illegal gun in the city of San Francisco and your case is brought to my office, you are going to spend time in jail. Period.<ref name="Garofoli"/>}}


On July 19, President ] and Vice President ] endorsed Harris.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Willon|first1=Phil|date=July 19, 2016|title=Obama, Biden endorse Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-obama-biden-endorse-kamala-harris-for-1468889660-htmlstory.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719145452/https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-obama-biden-endorse-kamala-harris-for-1468889660-htmlstory.html|archive-date=July 19, 2016|access-date=July 19, 2016|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> In the ], Harris defeated Sanchez with over 60% of the vote, carrying all but four counties.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Live California election results|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://graphics.latimes.com/la-na-pol-2016-election-results-california/|url-status=live|access-date=November 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109220737/https://graphics.latimes.com/la-na-pol-2016-election-results-california/|archive-date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> After her victory, she promised to protect immigrants from the policies of President-elect ] and announced her intention to remain Attorney General through the end of 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last=Willon|first=Phil|date=November 10, 2016|title=Newly elected Kamala Harris vows to defy Trump on immigration|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-senate-kamala-harris-trump-20161110-story.html|url-status=live|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803235607/https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-senate-kamala-harris-trump-20161110-story.html|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Willon|first=Phil|date=December 1, 2016|title=Essential Politics November archives|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-kamala-harris-plans-to-keep-her-day-job-1478832067-htmlstory.html|url-status=live|access-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217150000/https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-kamala-harris-plans-to-keep-her-day-job-1478832067-htmlstory.html|archive-date=December 17, 2016|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> Harris became the second Black woman and first South Asian American senator in history.<ref name=Ma_2021c>{{citation|last1=Ma|first1=Debbie S.|last2=Hohl|first2=Danita|last3=Kantner|first3=Justin|year=2021|title=The politics of identity: The unexpected role of political orientation on racial categorization of Kamala Harris|journal=Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy|volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=99–120 |doi=10.1111/asap.12257|quote=Harris, who has written and spoken at length about her parents' backgrounds and heritage,... On her official website, she asserts that she is 'the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history.'}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kamala D. Harris: US Senator from California|url=https://www.harris.senate.gov/about|access-date=July 29, 2020|publisher=United States Senate|quote=In 2017, Kamala D. Harris was sworn in as a United States senator for California, the second African-American woman, and first South Asian-American senator in history.|archive-date=October 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014130548/https://www.harris.senate.gov/about|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Weinberg|first1=Tessa|last2=Palaniappan|first2=Sruthi|date=December 3, 2019|title=Kamala Harris: Everything you need to know about the 2020 presidential candidate|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kamala-harris-latest-democrat-run-president/story?id=60521324|access-date=August 10, 2020|publisher=ABC News|quote=Harris is the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father, and is the second African-American woman and first South Asian-American senator in history.|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419003209/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kamala-harris-latest-democrat-run-president/story?id=60521324|url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2005, Harris pursued the prosecution of Charles Rothenberg, a.k.a. Charley Charles, under California's ] for illegal possession of a firearm. Rothenberg became infamous in the 1980s when he set his 6-year-old son, ], on fire amidst a custody dispute with his ex-wife. Rothenberg previously served 6{{frac|1|2}} years in prison for dousing the hotel room in kerosene and setting it ablaze while his son was asleep. Having been convicted of attempted murder and arson, and now illegal firearm possession, Rothenberg's act constituted a third "strike" under state law, triggering a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.<ref>{{cite news |first=Marisa |last=Lagos |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Rothenberg-sentenced-25-years-to-life-under-2567011.php |title=Rothenberg sentenced 25 years to life under three-strike law |newspaper=] |date=April 4, 2007 }}</ref>


=== Tenure and political positions ===
In May 2005, convicted sex offender Roberto Gamero broke into a home in the ] district and ] a nine-year-old. Gamero was arrested on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child, ], ], and burglary and later sentenced to more than 17 years in prison.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jaxon|last=Vanderbeken|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-A-parent-s-worst-nightmare-2630735.php|title=A parent's worst nightmare' / 9-year-old girl sexually assaulted in her bedroom|newspaper=]|date=December 9, 2005|accessdate=May 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Jaxon|last=Vanderbeken|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Attacker-gets-17-years-for-sex-2520273.php|title=Attacker gets 17 years for sex assault on girl|newspaper=]|date=April 15, 2006|accessdate=May 9, 2020}}</ref> That summer, Harris' office brought three charges of murder with special circumstances against LaShaun Harris, who was seen throwing her young sons – ages 2, 6, and 16 months – into the ].<ref name="NBCAP">{{cite news|title=San Francisco mom pleads innocent to murder|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9758632/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/san-francisco-mom-pleads-innocent-murder/|accessdate=May 2, 2020 |website=]|agency=]|date=August 1, 2006}}</ref> LaShaun Harris, who has ], pleaded not guilty to three counts, stating that she had heard “the voice of God” telling her to “sacrifice” her children.<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Koopman|url= https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/amp/SAN-FRANCISCO-Lawyer-says-Mom-thought-God-told-2496250.php|title=SAN FRANCISCO/Lawyer says Mom thought God told her to throw kids in bay/Attorney says defendant was mentally ill|newspaper=]|date=May 24, 2006|accessdate=August 9, 2020}}</ref><ref name="NBCAP" /> A jury found her guilty of second-degree murder, but the judge ruled that she was insane and ordered her hospitalized for 25 years to life.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mom who threw kids in bay declared insane|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16674425/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/mom-who-threw-kids-bay-declared-insane/|accessdate=May 2, 2020|website=]|agency=]|date=August 1, 2006}}</ref> The conviction was upheld on appeal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Court upholds convictions of S.F. mother who threw three sons into the bay|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/07/01/court-uphold-convictions-of-s-f-mother-who-threw-three-sons-into-the-bay/|accessdate=May 2, 2020 |work=]|date=July 1, 2010}}</ref>
{{See also|Political positions of Kamala Harris}}


As a senator, Harris ] stricter ] laws,<ref name=SenateStances>{{Cite magazine |last=Sanchez |first=Chelsey |date=January 20, 2021 |title=Here's Where Kamala Harris Stands on Gun Control |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a34275544/kamala-harris-gun-control/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322165235/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a34275544/kamala-harris-gun-control/ |archive-date=March 22, 2024 |access-date=March 22, 2024 |magazine=] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=deBruyn |first=Jason |date=August 12, 2020 |title=Kamala Harris Advocated For Stricter Gun Laws As A Candidate. What About As Joe Biden's VP? |url=https://www.wunc.org/law/2020-08-12/kamala-harris-advocated-for-stricter-gun-laws-as-a-candidate-what-about-as-joe-bidens-vp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322165236/https://www.wunc.org/law/2020-08-12/kamala-harris-advocated-for-stricter-gun-laws-as-a-candidate-what-about-as-joe-bidens-vp |archive-date=March 22, 2024 |access-date=March 22, 2024 |publisher=WUNC}}</ref> the ], ], and healthcare and ] reforms.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} She became well known nationally after questioning several Trump appointees such as ] and ].<ref name=Harris2019>{{cite news|last=Viser|first=Matt|date=January 21, 2019|title=Kamala Harris enters 2020 Presidential Race|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kamala-harris-enters-2020-presidential-race/2019/01/21/d68d15b2-0a20-11e9-a3f0-71c95106d96a_story.html|access-date=January 22, 2019|archive-date=February 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225040147/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kamala-harris-enters-2020-presidential-race/2019/01/21/d68d15b2-0a20-11e9-a3f0-71c95106d96a_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Kamala Harris created a special Hate Crimes Unit, focusing on ]s against ] children and teens in schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kamalaharris.org/MarriageEquality|title=Marriage Equality|publisher=Kamalaharris.org|accessdate=November 18, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125112342/http://kamalaharris.org/MarriageEquality|archivedate=November 25, 2010}}</ref> In early 2006, ], a 17-year-old American Latina ] teenager, was ] who later used the "]" before being convicted of second-degree murder. Harris, alongside Araujo's mother Sylvia Guerrero, convened a two-day conference of at least 200 prosecutors and law enforcement officials nationwide to discuss strategies to counter such legal defenses.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/462922087/ |title=Harris challenges 'gay panic' strategy|page=4 |date=July 5, 2006 |newspaper=] }}</ref> Harris subsequently supported A.B. 1160, the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act, advocating that California's penal code include jury instructions to ignore bias, sympathy, prejudice, or public opinion in making their decision, also making mandatory for district attorney's offices in California to educate prosecutors about panic strategies and how to prevent bias from affecting trial outcomes.<ref name="AB 1160"/> In September 2006, California Governor ] signed A.B. 1160 into law; the law put California on record as declaring it contrary to public policy for defendants to be acquitted or convicted of a ] on the basis of appeals to "societal bias".<ref name="AB 1160">{{cite web
| title = Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act
|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=200520060AB1160
| website = California Legislative Information
| date = September 28, 2006
| accessdate = June 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Hemmelgarn">{{Citation
| last1 = Hemmelgarn
| first1 = Seth
| last2 = Laird
| first2 = Cynthia
| title = Ten years later, Araujo's murder resonates
| newspaper = ]
| date = October 4, 2012
| url=https://www.ebar.com/news///242932
| accessdate = June 23, 2015}}</ref>


==== 2017 ====
In August 2007, State Assemblyman ] introduced legislation to ban gun shows at the ], joined by Harris, Police Chief ], and Mayor ]. City leaders contended the shows were directly contributing to the proliferation of illegal guns and spiking homicide rates in San Francisco: Mayor Newsom earlier that month signed into law local legislation banning gun shows on city and county property. Leno alleged that merchants drove through the public housing developments nearby and illegally sold weapons to residents.<ref>{{cite news |first=Marisa |last=Lagos |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Measure-would-ban-gun-shows-at-Cow-Palace-2526741.php |title=Measure would ban gun shows at Cow Palace
], December 2017]]
|newspaper=] |date=August 9, 2007 }}</ref> While the bill would stall, local opposition to the shows continued until the Cow Palace Board of Directors in 2019 voted to approve a statement banning all future gun shows.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alyssa |last=Pereira |url=https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Cow-Palace-to-stop-hosting-gun-shows-beginning-in-13772291.php |title=Cow Palace to stop hosting gun shows beginning in 2020|newspaper=] |date=April 16, 2019}}</ref>
On January 28, after Trump signed ], barring citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days, she condemned the order and was one of many to call it a "Muslim ban".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/27/politics/trump-plans-to-sign-executive-action-on-refugees-extreme-vetting/index.html|title=Trump signs executive order to keep out 'radical Islamic terrorists'|date=January 30, 2017|first=Dan|last=Merica|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804083608/https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/27/politics/trump-plans-to-sign-executive-action-on-refugees-extreme-vetting/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She called ] ] at home to gather information and push back against the executive order.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ting|first1=Eric|title=Kamala Harris says John Kelly got mad when she called him at home during the travel ban|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-2020-John-Kelly-travel-ban-book-13518859.php|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=January 8, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802191704/https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-2020-John-Kelly-travel-ban-book-13518859.php|url-status=live}}</ref>


In February, Harris spoke in opposition to Trump's cabinet picks ] for ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-201702-htmlstory.html|title=Sen. Kamala Harris speaks out against Betsy DeVos as part of Democrats' 24-hour blitz on Senate floor|date=February 6, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815215602/https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-201702-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and ] for ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newsone.com/3661775/sen-kamala-harris-will-argue-against-confirming-sessions/|access-date=April 22, 2020|title=Sen. Kamala Harris: 'You Deserve An Attorney General Who Recognizes The Full Human Quality Of All People'|date=February 8, 2017|publisher=newsone.com|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223143/https://newsone.com/3661775/sen-kamala-harris-will-argue-against-confirming-sessions/|url-status=live}}</ref> In early March, she called on Sessions to resign, after it was reported that Sessions, who had previously said he "did not have communications with the Russians", spoke twice with ] ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article135980818.html|title=Kamala Harris calls on attorney general to resign over contacts with the Russians|date=March 2, 2017|newspaper=Sacramento Bee|first=Sean|last=Cockerham|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812003300/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article135980818.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Reform efforts===
====Recidivism and re-entry initiative====
]
In 2004, Harris recruited civil rights activist ], the youngest woman to ever receive a ], to create San Francisco Reentry Division.<ref>{{cite news | access-date = August 12, 2020 | url = https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/21/kamala-harris-2020-president-election-run-meteoric-rise | work = The Guardian | date = January 21, 2019 | title = 'Nobody works harder': insiders recall Kamala Harris's meteoric rise | first = Vivian | last = Ho}}</ref> The flagship program was the Back on Track initiative, a first-of-its-kind reentry program for first-time nonviolent offenders age 18–30.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} Initiative participants whose crimes were not weapon or gang-related would plead guilty in exchange for a deferral of sentencing and regular appearances before a judge over a 12 to 18-month period. The program maintained rigorous graduation requirements, mandating completion of up to 220 hours of community service, obtaining a ], maintaining steady employment, taking parenting classes, and passing drug tests. At graduation, the court would dismiss the case and expunge the graduate's record.<ref name="Fraley">{{cite web|first=Malaika|last=Fraley|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2009/10/26/book-em-kamala-s-f-district-attorney-harris-adds-author-to-list-of-credits/|title=Book 'em, Kamala{{snd}}S.F. District Attorney Harris adds author to list of credits|newspaper=]|publisher=]|location=Walnut Creek, California|date=October 26, 2009}}</ref> Over six years, Harris's pioneer program produced over 200 graduates, and achieved a low ] rate of less than 10 percent, compared to 53 percent of California's drug offenders that returned to prison within two years of release. Back on Track earned recognition from the ] as a model for reentry programs. The DOJ found that the cost to the taxpayers per participant was markedly lower ($5,000) than the cost of adjudicating a case ($10,000) and housing a low-level offender ($50,000).<ref>{{cite web |url=
https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/Publications/BackonTrackFS.pdf|title=Back on Track: A Problem-Solving Reentry Court| date=September 2009| publisher=U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance|accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref> In 2009, a state law (the Back on Track Reentry Act, A.B. 750) was enacted, encouraging other California counties to start similar programs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/finding-the-path-back-on_b_350679 |first=Kamala |last=Harris |title=Kamala Harris: Finding the Path Back on Track |work=] |location=New York City|date=November 9, 2009 |accessdate=November 18, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Begin">{{cite news |first=Brent|last=Begin|url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/district-attorney-program-is-now-statewide-example/ |title=District Attorney program is now statewide example|newspaper=]|date=October 14, 2009}}</ref> Adopted by the National District Attorneys Association as a model, prosecutor offices in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Atlanta have used Back on Track as a template for their own programs.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alison|last=Knezevich|url=
https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-mosby-new-program-20150514-story.html|title=Mosby: New program gives nonviolent offenders a second chance|newspaper=]|date=May 14, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=
http://phlcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Pre-Trial-Diversion.Philadelphia.pdff|title=Preventing Future Crime and Preserving Judicial Recources Through Non-Traditional Prosecution|date=September 2016| publisher=Philadelphia District Attorney's Office|accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=
https://www.cbs46.com/news/jail-to-jobs-mayor-bottoms-announces-new-reentry-program/article_6e6caccf-6479-5f52-a451-db7d59adb70c.html|title=Jail to jobs, Mayor Bottoms announces new reentry program|date=April 11, 2018| publisher=CBS|accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref>


In April, Harris voted against the confirmation of ] to the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Adam Liptak|author-link=Adam Liptak|last2=Matt Flegenheimer|title=Neil Gorsuch Confirmed by Senate as Supreme Court Justice|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court.html|access-date=April 15, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=April 8, 2017|page=A1|archive-date=April 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429054521/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, she took her first foreign trip to the Middle East, visiting California troops stationed in ] and the ] in ], the largest camp for Syrian refugees.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Kamala Harris visits troops, refugee camp in Middle East|url=https://abc7.com/sen-kamala-harris-syria-refugees-town-hall/1885500/|access-date=May 16, 2019|publisher=]|date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223142/https://abc7.com/sen-kamala-harris-syria-refugees-town-hall/1885500/|url-status=live}}</ref>
====Death penalty====
Harris made a campaign pledge never to seek the death penalty as a prosecutor.<ref name="sfgate.com"/> In April 2004, ] Officer Isaac Espinoza was shot and killed in the line of duty. Three days later, Harris announced she would not seek the ], angering the ]. During Espinoza's funeral at ], former Mayor of San Francisco, U.S. Senator ] rose to the pulpit and called on Harris, seated in the front pew, to seek the death penalty. This surprise move prompted a standing ovation from the 2,000 uniformed police officers in attendance. Association President Gary Delagnes echoed her call and demanded that Espinoza's killer "pay the ultimate price".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Feinstein-s-surprise-call-for-death-penalty-puts-3313728.php |title=Feinstein's surprise call for death penalty puts D.A. on spot|website=San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 21, 2004 |accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref> Despite immense political pressure from members of California's political establishment, including U.S. Senator ] and Oakland Mayor ], Harris still refused.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Sen-Boxer-joins-throng-calling-for-death-in-3324378.php |title=Sen. Boxer joins throng calling for death in killing of cop|website=San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 5, 2004 |accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref> Public polling found that 70% of city voters backed Harris's decision not to seek the death penalty, with only 22% opposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/D-A-s-death-penalty-no-go-gets-a-thumbs-up-in-3324388.php |title=D.A.'s death penalty no-go gets a thumbs-up in S.F. poll|website=San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 19, 2004 |accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref> Harris's convictions were tested again in the case of ], an ] and alleged ] gang member, who was accused of murdering Tony Bologna and his two sons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Van Derbeken |first=Jaxon |url=https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Edwin-Ramos-won-t-face-death-penalty-3218429.php |title=Edwin Ramos won't face death penalty |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=September 11, 2009 |accessdate=April 22, 2020 }}</ref> On September 10, 2009, she announced she would seek life in prison without the possibility of parole, a decision Mayor Gavin Newsom backed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/16/BANU19NGA7.DTL|title=Newsom backs Harris' decision|last1=Knight|first1=Heather|last2=Lagos|first2=Marisa|date=September 16, 2009|work=San Francisco Chronicle|accessdate=October 20, 2009}}</ref>


In June, Harris garnered media attention for her questioning of ], the ], over the role he played in the ] of ], the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Jalonick|first=Mary Clare|agency=Associated Press|date=June 7, 2017|title=Harris Reminded to Be Respectful During Intel Hearing|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-06-07/gop-senator-admonishes-democrat-for-persistent-questioning|work=U.S. News & World Report|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803062412/https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-06-07/gop-senator-admonishes-democrat-for-persistent-questioning|url-status=live}}</ref> The prosecutorial nature of her questioning caused Senator ], an '']'' of the ], and Senator ], the committee chairman, to interrupt her and request that she be more respectful of the witness. A week later, she questioned ], the ], on the same topic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Finnegan|first=Michael|date=June 14, 2017|title=Sen. Kamala Harris leaves Sessions 'nervous' in interrogation over his refusal to disclose conversations with Trump|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-sen-kamala-harris-and-sessions-face-1497387259-htmlstory.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=July 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704034800/https://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-sen-kamala-harris-and-sessions-face-1497387259-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Sessions said her questioning "makes me nervous".<ref>{{cite news|last=]|date=November 7, 2020|title=Kamala Harris: America's first woman vice president|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201107-kamala-harris-america-s-first-woman-vice-president|access-date=December 5, 2020|publisher=]|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107213023/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201107-kamala-harris-america-s-first-woman-vice-president|url-status=live}}</ref> Burr's singling out of Harris sparked suggestions in the news media that his behavior was sexist, with commentators arguing that Burr would not treat a male Senate colleague in a similar manner.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ansari|first=M. K.|date=June 8, 2017|title=The Silencing Of Kamala Harris During The Senate Hearing Was Sexist: Why do people take issue when a woman asks direct questions?|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sen-kamala-harris-shushed-women-politicians-are_us_593983bce4b094fa859f1668|work=HuffPost|location=New York|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012045541/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sen-kamala-harris-shushed-women-politicians-are_us_593983bce4b094fa859f1668|url-status=live}}</ref>
Harris has expressed the belief that life without possibility of parole is a better, more cost-effective, punishment.<ref name="CA Capitol">{{cite web|url=http://www.californiascapitol.com/2009/04/san-francisco-district-attorney-kamala-harris/ |title=San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris |publisher=Californiascapitol.com |date=April 15, 2009 |accessdate=November 18, 2010}}</ref> According to the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, the death penalty costs $137 million per year.<ref name="CCAFJ report">{{cite web|url=http://www.ccfaj.org/documents/CCFAJFinalReport.pdf |title=CCFAJ-Report-final.pdf |accessdate=November 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114144752/http://www.ccfaj.org/documents/CCFAJFinalReport.pdf |archive-date=November 14, 2010}}</ref> If the system were changed to life without possibility of parole, the annual costs would be approximately $12 million per year.<ref name="CCAFJ report" /> She noted that the resulting surplus could put 1,000 more police officers into service in San Francisco alone.<ref name="CA Capitol" />


In December, Harris called for the resignation of Senator ], writing on Twitter, "Sexual harassment and misconduct should not be allowed by anyone and should not occur anywhere."<ref>{{cite news |first=Casey |last=Tolan |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/06/kamala-harris-calls-on-al-franken-to-resign-amid-sexual-harassment-allegations/ |url-status=live |title=Harris, Feinstein call on Al Franken to resign after sexual harassment allegations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200816134028/https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/06/kamala-harris-calls-on-al-franken-to-resign-amid-sexual-harassment-allegations/ |archive-date=August 16, 2020 |newspaper=Mercury News |date=December 6, 2017 }}</ref>
====Truancy initiative====
In 2006, as part of an initiative to reduce the city's skyrocketing homicide rate, Harris led a city-wide effort to combat ] for at-risk elementary school youth in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite news|first=Heather|last=Knight|title=City opens campaign to cut truancy by thousands of students|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=105D3AF9CE92404E&p_docnum=16&s_dlid=DL0120050214473400976&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F15%2F2030&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F15%2F2030&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=refuser&s_accountid=AC0114070818394531470&s_upgradeable=no|accessdate=May 1, 2020 |newspaper=]|date=October 19, 2004}}</ref> Declaring chronic truancy a matter of public safety and pointing out that the majority of prison inmates and homicide victims are dropouts or habitual truants, Harris's office met with thousands of parents at high-risk schools and sent out letters warning all families of the legal consequences of truancy at the beginning of the fall semester, adding she would prosecute the parents of chronically truant elementary students; penalties included a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail.<ref name="Knight">{{cite news|first=Heather|last=Knight|title=City trying to get worst truants to school. Help for students, criminal prosecution part of crackdown|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=114246C09F95F7D0&p_docnum=15&s_dlid=DL0120050214512626230&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F15%2F2030&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F15%2F2030&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=refuser&s_accountid=AC0114070818394531470&s_upgradeable=no|accessdate=May 1, 2020 |newspaper=]|date=September 14, 2006}}</ref> The program was controversial when introduced.


==== 2018 ====
In 2008, Harris issued citations against six parents whose children missed at least 50 days of school, the first time San Francisco prosecuted adults for student truancy. San Francisco's school chief, Carlos Garcia, stated that the path from truancy to prosecution was lengthy, and that the school district usually spends months encouraging parents through phone calls, reminder letters, private meetings, hearings before the School Attendance Review Board, and offers of help from city agencies and social services; two of the six parents entered no plea but said they would work with the DA's office and social service agencies to create "parental responsibility plans" to help them start sending their children to school regularly.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nanette|last=Asimov|title=Citations go to parents of truant kids|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=1213DEC077C76F28&p_docnum=9&s_dlid=DL0120050214581526325&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F15%2F2030&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F15%2F2030&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=refuser&s_accountid=AC0114070818394531470&s_upgradeable=no|accessdate=May 2, 2020 |newspaper=]|date=June 11, 2008}}</ref> By April 2009, there were 1,330 elementary school students who were habitual or chronic truants, down 23% from 1,730 in 2008, and down from 2,517 in 2007 and from 2,856 in 2006.<ref name="SFGate">{{cite news|title=Fighting truancy yields big dividends |url=https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Fighting-truancy-yields-big-dividends-3295152.php|accessdate=May 2, 2020 |work=]|date=June 14, 2009}}</ref> Harris's office prosecuted seven parents in three years, with none jailed.<ref name="SFGate"/>
] in ] where she was invited to speak by ] (right), January 2018<ref>{{cite news |date=March 7, 2018 |title=Lawmakers reflect on Selma beyond Bloody Sunday |publisher=WCBI |url=https://www.wcbi.com/lawmakers-reflect-on-selma-beyond-bloody-sunday/ |access-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-date=February 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218192801/https://www.wcbi.com/lawmakers-reflect-on-selma-beyond-bloody-sunday/ |url-status=live }}</ref>]]


In January, Harris was appointed to the ] after Franken resigned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/09/democrats-add-harris-booker-to-senate-judiciary-committee/|title=Democrats add Harris, Booker to Senate Judiciary Committee|last=Weigel|first=David|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 12, 2020|date=January 9, 2018|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611195000/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/09/democrats-add-harris-booker-to-senate-judiciary-committee/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, she questioned Homeland Security Secretary ] for favoring Norwegian immigrants over others and for claiming to be unaware that Norway is a predominantly white country.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://qz.com/1180864/kristen-nielsen-trumps-department-of-homeland-security-chief-on-shithole-countries/ |title=Trump's DHS chief perfectly recalls his praise for Norway{{snd}}but not 'shithole' |work=] |date=January 16, 2018 |first=Ana |last=Campoy |access-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130043205/https://qz.com/1180864/kristen-nielsen-trumps-department-of-homeland-security-chief-on-shithole-countries/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://observer.com/2018/01/kirstjen-nielsen-trump-remark/ |title=Cory Booker and Kamala Harris Grill Kirstjen Nielsen Over Trump's Racial Remarks |first=Davis |last=Richardson |date=January 16, 2018 |work=] |access-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113065516/https://observer.com/2018/01/kirstjen-nielsen-trump-remark/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Attorney General of California (2011–2017) ==
=== 2010 election ===
{{main|2010 California Attorney General election}}
]
On November 12, 2008, Harris announced her candidacy for ]. Both of California's Senators, ] and ], House Speaker ], ] cofounder ], and Mayor of Los Angeles ] all endorsed her during the primary.<ref name="newsline">{{cite news|url=http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/226664-villaraigosa-eschews-local-candidates-backs-harris-for-calif.-attorney-general|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723184208/http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/226664-villaraigosa-eschews-local-candidates-backs-harris-for-calif.-attorney-general|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 23, 2011|title=Villaraigosa eschews local candidates, backs Harris for Calif. attorney general|last=Rizo|first=Chris|date=April 16, 2010|newspaper=Legal Newsline|accessdate=August 20, 2010}}</ref> In the June 8, 2010 primary, she was nominated with 33.6% of the vote, defeating ] and ].<ref name="StatementofVote2010Primary">{{cite web |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2010-primary/pdf/2010-complete-sov.pdf |accessdate=April 22, 2020 |title=Statement of Vote June 8, 2010, Direct Primary Election |work=California Secretary of State }}</ref>


Also in January, Harris and Senators ], ], and ] co-sponsored the Border and Port Security Act,<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126115149/https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-115s2314is |date=January 26, 2023 }} ]</ref> legislation to mandate that ] "hire, train and assign at least 500 officers per year until the number of needed positions the model identifies is filled" and require the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection to determine potential equipment and infrastructure improvements for ports of entry.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyinterlake.com/local_news/20180119/tester_wants_more_border_personnel |title=Tester wants more border personnel |date=January 19, 2018 |first=Patrick |last=Reilly |work=Daily Inter Lake |access-date=September 27, 2019 |archive-date=December 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222105856/https://www.dailyinterlake.com/local_news/20180119/tester_wants_more_border_personnel |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In the general election, she faced Republican ] District Attorney ], who led most of the race. Cooley ran as a nonpartisan, distancing himself from the ]. However, during a debate on October 5, Cooley complained about the low salary of the attorney general, stating his intention to accept a pension and the salary in a practice known as "double-dipping". Harris turned his remarks into a cutting political ad that portrayed him as out-of-touch.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.laweekly.com/how-steve-cooley-blew-it-the-definitive-post-mortem/ |first=Gene |last=Maddaus |title=How Steve Cooley blew it: The definitive post-mortem |work=LA Weekly|date=November 24, 2010}}</ref>


In May, Harris heatedly questioned Nielsen about the ], under which children were separated from their families when their parents were taken into custody for illegally entering the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/05/16/homeland-security-chief-defends-policy-separates-families-entering-u-s/614505002/|title=Homeland Security chief defends policy that separates families entering U.S. illegally|work=]|date=May 16, 2018|access-date=July 4, 2020|last=Bacon|first=John|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609101702/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/05/16/homeland-security-chief-defends-policy-separates-families-entering-u-s/614505002/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June, after visiting one of the detention facilities near the border in San Diego,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sloss|first1=Jason|title='Utter despair': Sen. Harris visits migrant mothers separated from children in San Diego|url=https://fox5sandiego.com/2018/06/22/sen-kamala-harris-to-visit-migrant-mothers-separated-from-children-in-san-diego/|access-date=November 9, 2018|work=Fox 5 San Diego|date=June 22, 2018|archive-date=November 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110040529/https://fox5sandiego.com/2018/06/22/sen-kamala-harris-to-visit-migrant-mothers-separated-from-children-in-san-diego/|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris became the first senator to demand Nielsen's resignation.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Byrne|first1=Trapper|title=Kamala Harris says DHS chief should resign over immigrant family separations|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-says-DHS-chief-should-resign-over-13004563.php|access-date=May 8, 2020|work=Advocate|date=June 18, 2018|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223144/https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-says-DHS-chief-should-resign-over-13004563.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
On election night, November 2, 2010, Cooley declared victory, but mail-in and provisional ballots remained uncounted, with the lead changing four times. On November 24, as the count advanced, Harris led by more than 55,000 votes. Cooley conceded the next day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/11/steve-cooley-kamala-harris-attorney-general.html |first=Jack |last=Leonard |title=Kamala Harris wins attorney general's race as Steve Cooley concedes|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 24, 2010}}</ref>


In the September and October ], Harris questioned ] about a meeting he may have had regarding the Mueller Investigation with a member of ], the law firm founded by ]'s personal attorney, ]. Kavanaugh was unable to answer and repeatedly deflected.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zhou|first1=Li|title=Kamala Harris's mysterious Kasowitz question during the Kavanaugh hearings, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/9/6/17826498/kamala-harris-kasowitz-question-kavanaugh-hearings|access-date=May 4, 2020|work=Vox|date=September 6, 2018|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608223140/https://www.vox.com/2018/9/6/17826498/kamala-harris-kasowitz-question-kavanaugh-hearings|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris also participated in questioning the FBI director's limited scope of the investigation of Kavanaugh regarding allegations of sexual assault.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ring|first1=Trudy|title=FBI Head Stonewalls as Kamala Harris Grills Him on Kavanaugh Probe|url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/2018/10/10/fbi-head-stonewalls-kamala-harris-grills-him-kavanaugh-probe|access-date=November 9, 2018|work=Advocate|date=October 10, 2018|archive-date=November 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110083434/https://www.advocate.com/politics/2018/10/10/fbi-head-stonewalls-kamala-harris-grills-him-kavanaugh-probe|url-status=live}}</ref> She voted against his confirmation.
On January 3, 2011, Harris made history as the first ] and ] woman to serve as California Attorney General.<ref name="sfgate1">{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Cabanatuan|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Brown-Boxer-Newsom-win-Prop-19-goes-down-3247304.php |title=Brown, Boxer, Newsom win; Prop. 19 goes down|newspaper=]|date=November 3, 2010}}</ref>


Harris was a target of the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stanton|first1=Sam|last2=McGough|first2=Mike|last3=Yoon-Hendricks|first3=Alex|title=Suspicious package in Sacramento addressed to Sen. Kamala Harris, sources say|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article220670830.html|access-date=May 15, 2020|work=The Sacramento Bee|date=October 26, 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630131952/https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article220670830.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== 2014 election ===
{{main|2014 California Attorney General election}}
Harris announced her intention to run for re-election in February 2014 and filed paperwork to run on February 12.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2014/02/14/kamala-harris-announces-bid-re-election-gop-scratching-heads-candidate-face/ |title=As Kamala Harris announces bid for re-election, GOP scratching their heads for a candidate to face her|work=The American Bazaar |first=Deepak|last=Chitnis|date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> '']'',<ref>{{cite news |accessdate=April 25, 2020 |url=https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/election-endorsements/article2607527.html |first=Mollie |last=Reilly |title=Endorsement: Attorney General Kamala Harris, all but unchallenged, deserves a second term|date=August 25, 2014|work=The Sacramento Bee}}</ref> '']'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2014/10/03/re-elect-kamala-harris-as-attorney-general-but-demand-more-endorsement/ |title=Re-elect Kamala Harris as attorney general{{snd}}but demand more: Endorsement|date=October 3, 2014|work=Los Angeles Daily News}}</ref> and '']'' endorsed her for reelection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/endorsements/la-ed-end-attorney-general-20140924-story.html |title=For attorney general, Kamala Harris|date=September 23, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>


In December, the Senate passed the ] (S. 3178), sponsored by Harris.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/us/lynching-federal-hate-crime.html|title=Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Making Lynching a Federal Crime|last=Zaveri|first=Mihir|date=December 20, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 6, 2018|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220214541/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/us/lynching-federal-hate-crime.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The bill, which died in the House, would have made lynching a federal hate crime.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3178/ |title=S.3178 – Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2018, 115th Congress (2017–2018) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311171539/https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/3178 |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |website=Congress.gov}}</ref>
On November 4, 2014, Harris was re-elected against Republican Ronald Gold, winning 57.5% of the vote to 42.5%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/05/kamala-harris-election-results_n_5819890.html|title=Kamala Harris Re-Elected As California Attorney General|date=November 5, 2014|work=HuffPost}}</ref>


==== 2019 ====
=== Significant cases and policies ===
] parade, June 2019]]
==== Anti-truancy efforts ====
]
In 2011, after she was elected Attorney General, Harris urged criminal penalties for parents of truant children as she did as District Attorney of San Francisco, allowing the court to defer judgment if the parent agreed to a mediation period to get their child back in school. Critics charged that local prosecutors implementing her directives were overzealous in their enforcement and that Harris's rhetoric legitimized the notion that parents were responsible for their children's education.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-truancy-arrests-2020-progressive-prosecutor_n_5c995789e4b0f7bfa1b57d2e|title=IThe Human Costs Of Kamala Harris' War On Truancy|first=Molly|last=Redden|date=March 29, 2019|website=HuffPost|accessdate=May 25, 2020}}</ref>


Harris supported ] for ], saying, "the schools of America are as segregated, if not more segregated, today than when I was in elementary school."<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamala Harris Calls for Federally Mandated Busing |first=John |last=McCormack |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/kamala-harris-calls-for-federally-mandated-busing/ |work=] |date=July 1, 2019 |access-date=July 3, 2019 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233234/https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/kamala-harris-calls-for-federally-mandated-busing/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She viewed busing as an option to be considered by school districts, rather than the responsibility of the federal government.<ref>{{cite news |title=Harris says busing should be considered, not mandated |url=https://apnews.com/article/586b1e81cb684654b0cf689b9074c1cb |first1=Alexandra |last1=Jaffe |first2=Thomas |last2=Beaumont |work=] |date=July 3, 2019 |access-date=July 4, 2019 |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704020114/https://apnews.com/586b1e81cb684654b0cf689b9074c1cb |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2013, Harris issued a report titled "In School + On Track", which found that more than 250,000 elementary school students in the state were "chronically absent", meaning they missed 18 or more days of school. The report found that the statewide truancy rate for elementary students in the 2012–2013 school year was nearly 30%, at a cost of nearly $1.4 billion to school districts, since funding is based on attendance rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/tr/truancy_2013.pdf|title=In School + On Track: Attorney General's 2013 Report on California's Elementary School Truancy and Absenteeism Crisis|website=California Attorney General|accessdate=May 25, 2020}}</ref> The 2014 edition of In School + On Track released updated data and looked at gaps in state infrastructure for collecting attendance information and disparities in student attendance and discipline by race, income, and other subgroups such as foster youth. Since the last report, the statewide truancy rate for elementary school children rose 1.2%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/tr/truancy_2014.pdf|title=In School + On Track 2014 |website=California Attorney General|accessdate=May 25, 2020}}</ref>


Harris was an early co-sponsor of the ], a plan to transition the country towards generating 100 percent ] by 2030.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamala Harris vs. climate: Where she stands on the Green New Deal, fossil fuels and pollution |url=https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/07/22/kamala-harris-vs-climate-where-she-stands-on-the-green-new-deal-fossil-fuels-and-pollution |work=] |date=July 22, 2024 |access-date=July 26, 2024 |archive-date=July 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727004333/https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/07/22/kamala-harris-vs-climate-where-she-stands-on-the-green-new-deal-fossil-fuels-and-pollution |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2015, Harris announced that she would start a new agency called the Bureau of Children's Justice to address issues such as ], the juvenile justice system, school ], and childhood trauma. She appointed special assistant attorney general Jill Habig to head the agency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/news/kamala-harris-bureau-of-childrens-justice-taking-shape/9513|title=Kamala Harris' Bureau of Children's Justice Takes Shape|last=Heimpel|first=Daniel|date=February 28, 2015|website=The Chronicle of Social Change|location=San Francisco|accessdate=March 2, 2015}}</ref> Harris released the 2015 draft of In School + On Track, which reported that public awareness of the issue has increased, while districts have improved their monitoring and tracking techniques. 82% of districts reported changes to their data collection, while more than 60% of districts reported they have changed their alert systems to track a student's attendance history; 95% of all surveyed school districts reported they have made changes to improve attendance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/tr/truancy_2015.pdf|title=In School + On Track 2015 |website=California Attorney General|accessdate=May 25, 2020}}</ref>


In March 2019, after Special Counsel ] submitted ], Harris called for U.S. Attorney General ] to testify before Congress in the interests of transparency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/2020-democrats-demand-mueller-report-be-made-public-n986511|title='Release the report. Release the report. Release the report.' 2020 Dems demand Mueller report be made public|publisher=NBC News|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2020|last=Clark|first=Dartunorro|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520161929/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/2020-democrats-demand-mueller-report-be-made-public-n986511|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days later, Barr released a ] of the redacted Mueller Report, which was criticized as a deliberate mischaracterization of its conclusions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/media-beware-impeachment-hearings-will-be-the-trickiest-test-of-covering-trump/2019/11/08/1f2b0aac-0239-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58_story.html|title=Media beware: Impeachment hearings will be the trickiest test of covering Trump|first=Margaret|last=Sullivan|date=November 10, 2019|newspaper=]|access-date=November 11, 2019|archive-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110233140/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/media-beware-impeachment-hearings-will-be-the-trickiest-test-of-covering-trump/2019/11/08/1f2b0aac-0239-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, Harris was one of 12 Democratic senators led by ] to sign a letter questioning Barr's decision to offer "his own conclusion that the President's conduct did not amount to obstruction of justice", and called for an investigation into whether Barr's summary of the ] and his statements at a news conference were misleading.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/30/william-barr-investigation-mueller-1293214|title=Senate Dems call on DOJ watchdog to investigate Barr|first=Marianne|last=Levine|date=April 30, 2019|work=Politico|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802222637/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/30/william-barr-investigation-mueller-1293214|url-status=live}}</ref>
====Law enforcement accountability ====


In April 2019, Harris was one of 34 Senate Democrats and independents to write a letter urging President Trump not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The group wrote:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frazin |first=Rachel |date=April 4, 2019 |title=More than 30 Senate Dems ask Trump to reconsider Central American aid cuts |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/437463-more-than-30-dem-sens-ask-trump-to-reconsider-cutting-foreign/ |access-date=October 12, 2024 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404221454/https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/437463-more-than-30-dem-sens-ask-trump-to-reconsider-cutting-foreign |url-status=live }}</ref>{{blockquote|We encourage you to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America....Since taking office, you have consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance. It is neither charity, nor is it a gift to foreign governments. Our national security funding is specifically designed to promote American interests, enhance our collective security, and protect the safety of our citizens... By obstructing the use of national security funding and seeking to terminate similar funding from , you are personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity.}} On May 1, 2019, Barr testified before the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/mueller-complained-that-barrs-letter-did-not-capture-context-of-trump-probe/2019/04/30/d3c8fdb6-6b7b-11e9-a66d-a82d3f3d96d5_story.html|title=Mueller complained that Barr's letter did not capture 'context' of Trump probe|date=April 30, 2019|newspaper=]|access-date=May 16, 2020|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430234349/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/mueller-complained-that-barrs-letter-did-not-capture-context-of-trump-probe/2019/04/30/d3c8fdb6-6b7b-11e9-a66d-a82d3f3d96d5_story.html |first1=Devlin |last1=Barrett |first2=Matt |last2=Zapotosky |url-status=live}}</ref> During the hearing, he remained defiant about the misrepresentations in the four-page summary he had released ahead of the full report.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barr defiant amid furor over his handling of Mueller report|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/30/politics/bill-barr-hearing-congress-senate/index.html|first=Laura|last=Jarrett|publisher=CNN|date=May 2, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809101319/https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/30/politics/bill-barr-hearing-congress-senate/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> When asked by Harris whether he had reviewed the underlying evidence before deciding not to charge Trump with obstruction of justice, Barr admitted that neither he, ], nor anyone in his office had reviewed the evidence supporting the report before making the charging decision.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris Guts Barr Like a Fish, Leaves Him Flopping on the Deck|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/05/kamala-harris-william-barr|first=Bess|last=Levin|work=]|date=May 1, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606101726/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/05/kamala-harris-william-barr|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris later called for Barr to resign, accusing him of refusing to answer her questions because he could open himself up to ], and saying his responses disqualified him from serving as U.S. attorney general.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris accuses Barr of not answering her question to avoid exposure to perjury|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/02/politics/kamala-harris-bill-barr-hearing-cnntv/index.html|first=Veronica|last=Stracqualursi|publisher=CNN|date=May 2, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730135802/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/02/politics/kamala-harris-bill-barr-hearing-cnntv/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/dems-grill-barr-amid-reports-mueller-s-frustration-n1000546|title=Barr defends himself amid calls for resignation, slights Mueller's 'snitty' letter|publisher=NBC News|date=May 1, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2020|last=Shabad|first=Rebecca|archive-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624155406/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/dems-grill-barr-amid-reports-mueller-s-frustration-n1000546|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days later, Harris demanded again that the Department of Justice inspector general ] investigate whether Barr acceded to pressure from the White House to investigate Trump's political enemies.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harris urges DOJ watchdog to probe whether Trump asked Barr to investigate 'enemies'|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/03/kamala-harris-barr-trump-1301502|last=Levine|first=Marianne|work=]|date=May 3, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802213443/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/03/kamala-harris-barr-trump-1301502|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2014, after a rash of racially motivated killings by police nationwide, Harris conducted a 90-day review of ] and lethal use of force. In April 2015, Harris introduced the first of its kind "''Principled Policing: Procedural Justice and Implicit Bias''" training, designed in conjunction with ] psychologist and professor ], to help law enforcement officers overcome barriers to neutral policing and rebuild the relationship of trust between law enforcement and the community. All Command-level staff received the training. The training was part of a package of reforms introduced within the California Department of Justice, which also included additional resources deployed to increase the recruitment and hiring of diverse special agents, an expanded role for the department to investigate officer-related shooting investigations, and community policing.<ref>{{cite news |title=California Attorney General Launches Top-Down Policing Reforms|url=https://www.kqed.org/news/10493776/california-attorney-general-launches-top-down-policing-reforms|work=] |date=April 17, 2015|accessdate=May 29, 2020}}</ref> In 2015, Harris's California Department of Justice was the first statewide agency in the country to require all of its police officers to wear ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/live-updates/general-election/fact-checking-the-first-democratic-debate/harris-on-requiring-police-to-wear-body-cameras/?arc404=true|title=Harris on requiring police to wear body cameras|work=]|date=June 27, 2019}}</ref> That same year, Harris announced a new state law requiring every law enforcement agency in California to collect, report, and publish expanded statistics on how many people are shot, seriously injured or killed by peace officers throughout the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kqed.org/news/10813726/state-to-improve-police-use-of-force-data-next-year-under-new-law-2|title=State to Improve Police Use-of-Force Data Next Year Under New Law|work=]|date=December 30, 2015}}</ref>


] in January 2019]]
Later that year, Harris appealed a judge's order to take over the prosecution of a ] and to eject all 250 prosecutors from the Orange County District Attorney's office over allegations of misconduct by ] D.A. ]. Rackauckas was alleged to have illegally employed jailhouse informants and concealed evidence.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sidney |last=Powell |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scott-dekraai-case_n_6911258|title=California AG Appeals Booting Of Orange County DA From Mass Murder Case Over Misconduct Allegations|date=October 17, 2016|website=HuffPost|accessdate=May 1, 2020}}</ref> Harris noted that it was unnecessary to ban all 250 prosecutors from working on the case, as only a few had been directly involved, later promising a narrower criminal investigation. The ] began an investigation into Rackauckas in December 2016, but he was not re-elected.<ref>{{cite news |first=Tony |last=Saavedra |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2019/02/25/new-orange-county-da-willing-to-undergo-federal-probation-to-end-snitch-investigation/|title=New Orange County DA willing to undergo federal probation to end 'snitch' investigation|date=February 25, 2019|website=TheOCRegister|accessdate=May 1, 2020}}</ref>


On May 5, 2019, Harris said "voter suppression" prevented Democrats ] and ] from winning the 2018 gubernatorial elections in ] and ]; Abrams lost by 55,000 votes and Gillum by 32,000. According to election law expert ], "I have seen no good evidence that the suppressive effects of strict voting and registration laws affected the outcome of the governor's races in Georgia and Florida."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sherman |first1=Amy |title=Kamala Harris says voter suppression kept Stacey Abrams, Andrew Gillum out of office. Really? |url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2019/may/10/fact-checking-kamala-harris-claim-stacey-abrams-an/ |website=] |access-date=September 20, 2021 |date=May 1, 2019 |archive-date=September 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921010122/https://www.politifact.com/article/2019/may/10/fact-checking-kamala-harris-claim-stacey-abrams-an/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2016, Harris announced a patterns and practices investigation into purported civil rights violations and use of ] by the two largest law enforcement agencies in ], the ] and the ].<ref>{{cite news |first1=Oliver |last1=Laughland|first2=Jon|last2=Swaine|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/22/california-police-kern-county-investigation-kamala-harris|title=Two 'deadliest' police departments in US to be investigated in California|date=December 22, 2016|website=The Guardian|accessdate=May 29, 2020}}</ref> Labeled the "deadliest police departments in America" in a five-part '']'' expose, a separate investigation commissioned by the ] and submitted to the California Department of Justice corroborated reports of police using ]. The ACLU found that officers had engaged in patterns of excessive force – including shooting and beating to death unarmed individuals – as well as a practice of filing retaliatory criminal charges against individuals subjected to excessive force. Further analysis also revealed the highest rate of police homicides in the country, as well as excessive use of force, resulting in 17 deaths of unarmed civilians from 2009 to 2013 in the form of dog attacks and tazings.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Oliver |last1=Laughland|first2=Jon|last2=Swaine|url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11631037/aclu-report-slams-central-valley-law-enforcement-agencies|title=ACLU says violence at Kern County police departments violated rights|date=November 9, 2017|website=The Guardian|accessdate=May 29, 2020}}</ref>


In July, Harris teamed with ] to urge the ] to investigate the ] by the ]; in this question she was joined by Senator ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 30, 2020|title=Calls for UN probe of China forced birth control on Uighurs|url=https://apnews.com/article/98f18c964e66a8682a8e257e97714fd9 |access-date=July 1, 2020|work=]|archive-date=December 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210173041/https://apnews.com/98f18c964e66a8682a8e257e97714fd9|url-status=live}}</ref>
====LGBTQ rights====
{{main|Hollingsworth v. Perry}}
In 2008, California voters passed ], a ] and state constitutional amendment providing that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California". Legal challenges to Prop 8 were presented by opponents soon after its approval, and a pair of same-sex couples filed a lawsuit against the initiative in federal court in the case of ] (later ]). In August 2010, Chief Judge ] ruled that the amendment was unconstitutional under both the ] and ] Clauses of the ],<ref>{{cite news |title=Judge strikes down Prop. 8, allows gay marriage in California |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/08/prop8-gay-marriage.html |work=] |date=August 4, 2010 |accessdate=February 22, 2012}}</ref> since it purported to ''re-remove'' rights from a disfavored class only, with no ]. The official proponents' justifications for the measure were analyzed in over fifty pages covering eighty ]. The state government supported the ruling and refused to defend the law.<ref name="scopinion">{{cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-144_8ok0.pdf |title=Hollingsworth et al. v. Perry et al. Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit No. 12–144. Argued March 26, 2013—Decided June 26, 2013 |accessdate=December 3, 2013}}</ref> In their 2010 campaigns, California Attorney General Jerry Brown and Harris both ran on platforms promising not to defend the proposition.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bob|last=Egelko|url=https://blog.sfgate.com/politics/2010/11/08/kamala-harris-steve-cooley-race-could-affect-prop-8/|title=Kamala Harris-Steve Cooley race could affect Prop. 8|work=]|date=November 8, 2010|accessdate=April 29, 2020}}</ref> After being elected, Harris declared her office would not defend the marriage ban, leaving the task to Prop 8's proponents.<ref>{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Baume|url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/harris-vows-to-abandon-prop-8/1860319/ |title=Kamala Harris Vows to Abandon Prop 8|newspaper=]|publisher=]|location=San Francisco, California|date=December 2, 2010|accessdate=April 29, 2020}}</ref>


In November, Harris called for an investigation into the death of Roxsana Hernández, a transgender woman and immigrant who died in ] custody.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-and-blumenthal-demand-special-counsel-to-investigate-failure-to-preserve-evidence-within-dhs-and-ice |date=November 1, 2019 |title=Harris and Blumenthal Demand Special Counsel to Investigate Failure to Preserve Evidence Within DHS and ICE |publisher=U.S. Senator Kamala Harris of California |access-date=August 21, 2020 |archive-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218045811/https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-and-blumenthal-demand-special-counsel-to-investigate-failure-to-preserve-evidence-within-dhs-and-ice |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/joe-biden-announces-kamala-harris-his-running-mate-here-where-she-stands-lgbtq-issues|title=Joe Biden announces Kamala Harris as his running mate. Here is where she stands on LGBTQ issues|last=Davis|first=Georgia|date=August 11, 2020|website=GLAAD|access-date=August 21, 2020|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115120439/https://www.glaad.org/blog/joe-biden-announces-kamala-harris-his-running-mate-here-where-she-stands-lgbtq-issues|url-status=live}}</ref>
On February 7, 2012, the ], in a 2–1 decision, reached the same conclusion as the district court, but on narrower grounds. The court ruled that it was unconstitutional for California to grant marriage rights to same-sex couples, only to take them away shortly after. The ruling was stayed pending appeal to the ].<ref name="auto16">{{cite web |title=Search Results Web results United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit |url=http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/general/2012/02/07/1016696com.pdf |website=uscourts.gov}}</ref> The ] granted ] that December, ordering the parties to brief and argue the additional question of whether supporters of Prop. 8 have standing, i.e., a legal right to be involved in the case, under Article III, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution.<ref name="auto16"/> On February 27, 2013, Harris filed an ] brief, arguing that Prop 8 was unconstitutional and that the initiative's sponsors did not have ] to represent California's interests by defending the law in federal court.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-files-us-supreme-court-brief-support-marriage |title=Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Files U.S. Supreme Court Brief in Support of Marriage Equality|date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>


In December, Harris led a group of Democratic senators and civil rights organizations in demanding the removal of White House senior adviser ] after emails published by the ] revealed frequent promotion of ] literature to ] website editors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris Leads Senators in Demanding 'Immediate Removal' Of Stephen Miller|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stephen-miller-kamala-harris-senators-letter-white-nationalist_n_5ded8571e4b00563b8534265|first=Christopher|last=Mathias|work=]|date=December 9, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802214720/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stephen-miller-kamala-harris-senators-letter-white-nationalist_n_5ded8571e4b00563b8534265|url-status=live}}</ref>
On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court, in a 5–4 decision, ruled that the proponents did not possess ] in their own right to defend Prop 8 in ], either to the Supreme Court or (previously) to the ]. Therefore, the Court vacated the decision of the Ninth Circuit, and remanded the case for further proceedings. The decision left the district court's 2010 ruling intact.<ref>{{cite news|last=Savage |first=David G. |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/burbank-leader/the818now/tn-blr-prop-8-gay-marriages-can-resume-in-california-court-rules-20130628-story.html |title=Prop. 8: Supreme Court clears way for gay marriage in California. LA Times June 26, 2013 Politics Now |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 26, 2013 |accessdate=December 3, 2013}}</ref> The next day, Harris, in a speech delivered in downtown Los Angeles, declared that all 58 counties in California must abide by Judge Walker's 2010 ruling that declared Prop 8 unconstitutional, urging the Ninth Circuit to lift the stay on same-sex marriages as soon as possible — even before the usual 25-day waiting period until the Supreme Court clerk notified the lower court of its judgement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-prop-8_n_3505292|title=Kamala Harris On Prop 8 Decision: Same-Sex Marriages In California Should Begin Immediately|first=Anna|last=Almendrala|date=June 27, 2013|work=HuffPost}}</ref> On June 28, 2013, the Ninth Circuit, on remand, dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction and dissolved their previous stay of Judge Walker's ruling, enabling Governor Jerry Brown to order same-sex marriages to resume.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dolan |first=Maura |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/burbank-leader/the818now/tn-blr-prop-8-gay-marriages-can-resume-in-california-court-rules-20130628-story.html |title=Prop 8: Gay marriages can resume in California, court rules |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 28, 2013 |accessdate=December 3, 2013}}</ref> The same day, Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier, plaintiffs in the case, married with Harris officiating the ceremony.<ref>{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Baume|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-gay-marriage-resumes-20130628-story.html|title=Kamala Harris officiating Prop 8 plaintiffs' San Francisco wedding|newspaper=]|date=June 28, 2013|accessdate=April 29, 2020}}</ref>


==== 2020 ====
In February 2014, Michelle-Lael Norsworthy, a ] woman incarcerated at California's ], filed a federal lawsuit based on the state's failure to provide her with what she argued was medically necessary ] (SRS).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.leagle.com/decision/inadvfdco151116000237 |title=Jeffrey B. Norsworthy (a/k/a Michelle-Lael B. Norsworthy), Plaintiff, v. Jeffrey Beard, et al., Defendants|date=November 18, 2014|publisher=United States District Court, N.D. California, Case No. 14-cv-00695-JST|accessdate=August 2, 2017}}</ref> In April 2015, a federal judge ordered the ] (CDCR) to provide Norsworthy with SRS, finding that prison officials had been "deliberately indifferent to her serious medical need."<ref name="SFGateNorsworthy">{{cite news|first=Bob|last=Egelko|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Former-California-inmate-finally-has-10924841.php |title=Parolee has sex-reassignment surgery after years of battling state|newspaper=]|publisher=]|location=San Francisco, California|date=February 10, 2017|accessdate=August 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Norswrthy v. Beard et al 14- cv-00695-|url=https://transgenderlawcenter.org/norsworthy-v-beard|website=Transgender Law Center|accessdate=October 12, 2017}}</ref> Harris, representing CDCR, challenged the order in the ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Paige|last=St. John|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-ff-prison-board-approves-parole-for-sexreassignment-inmate-20150521-story.html|title=Inmate who won order for sex reassignment surgery recommended for parole|newspaper=]|publisher=]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=May 21, 2015|accessdate=August 2, 2017}}</ref> She argued that "Norsworthy has been receiving ] for her ] since 2000 and continues to receive hormone therapy and other forms of treatment" and that "there is no evidence that Norsworthy is in serious, immediate physical or emotional danger."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Chris|title=Harris appeals order granting gender reassignment to trans inmate|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/04/10/harris-appeals-order-granting-trans-inmate-gender-reassignment/ |accessdate=October 12, 2017|newspaper=]|date=April 10, 2015|ref=1}}</ref> In August 2015, while the state's appeal was pending, Norsworthy was released on parole, obviating the state's duty to provide her with inmate medical care<ref>{{cite web|first=Jay|last=Barmann|url=https://sfist.com/2016/03/21/former_trans_inmate_michelle-lael_n/|title=Former Trans Inmate Michelle-Lael Norsworthy Speaks Out About Her New Transition, To Civilian Life|website=]|publisher=Gothamist LLC|location=San Francisco, California|date=March 21, 2016|accessdate=August 2, 2017|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105215549/http://sfist.com/2016/03/21/former_trans_inmate_michelle-lael_n.php|archivedate=November 5, 2017}}</ref> and rendering the case moot.<ref name="Brown">{{cite magazine|first=Annie|last=Brown|url=https://story.californiasunday.com/michelle-lael-norsworthy-sex-reassignment-prison|title=Michelle's Case|magazine=]|publisher=]|location=San Francisco, California|date=May 17, 2016|accessdate=August 2, 2017}}</ref>


] in January 2020|upright=.85]]
=== Criminal justice reform ===
====Launch of Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry====
In November 2013, Harris launched the ]'s Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry in partnership with district attorney offices in ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|first=Rina|last=Palta|url=https://www.scpr.org/news/2013/11/20/40494/attorney-general-kamala-harris-announces-new-divis/|title=Calif. Attorney General Kamala Harris announces new division to stop ex-prisoners from committing new crimes|accessdate=May 22, 2020|date=November 20, 2013}}</ref> In March 2015, Harris announced the creation of a pilot program in coordination with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department called "Back on Track LA". Like Back on Track, first time, nonviolent offenders between 18 and 30 individuals participated in the pilot program for 24–30 months. Assigned a case manager, participants received education through a partnership with the ] and job training services.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheriff, AG Harris Unveil Program to Curb Recidivism|url=https://scvnews.com/sheriff-ag-harris-unveil-program-to-curb-recidivism/|first=Alex |last=Veiga |agency=SCV News|date=March 11, 2015}}</ref>
====Sentencing and prison inmate retention====
After the United States Supreme Court in '']'' (2011) declared California's prisons so overcrowded that they inflicted ], Harris fought federal court supervision, explaining "I have a client, and I don't get to choose my client."<ref name=NYTmag>{{cite news | last = Bazelon | first = Emily | title = Kamala Harris, a 'Top Cop' in the era of Black Lives Matter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/magazine/kamala-harris-a-top-cop-in-the-era-of-black-lives-matter.html| work = The New York Times Magazine | date = May 25, 2016}}</ref> Harris's record on ] cases as Attorney General has engendered some criticism from academics and activists. For example, law professor Lara Bazelon contends Harris "weaponized technicalities" to uphold lengthy sentences.<ref>{{cite web|first=Lara|last=Bazelon|url=https://theappeal.org/kamala-harris-criminal-justice-record-killed-her-presidential-run/|title=Kamala Harris's Criminal Justice Record Killed Her Presidential Run |work=The Appeal|date=December 4, 2019}}</ref> While she was Attorney General, Harris declined to take any position on criminal sentencing-reform initiatives ] and ], arguing it would be improper because her office prepares the ballot booklets. John Van de Kamp, a predecessor as attorney general, publicly disagreed with the rationale.<ref name="NYTmag" />


Before the opening of the ] on January 16, 2020, Harris delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate, stating her views on the integrity of the American justice system and the principle that nobody, including an incumbent president, is above the law. She later asked Senate Judiciary chairman ] to halt all judicial nominations during the impeachment trial, to which Graham acquiesced.<ref>{{cite news|title=Senate Judiciary Pauses Nominations for Impeachment Trial (1)|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/senate-judiciary-pauses-nominations-for-impeachment-trial|first=Madison|last=Adler|work=]|date=January 15, 2020|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803014009/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/senate-judiciary-pauses-nominations-for-impeachment-trial|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/kamala-harris-calls-for-halt-to-advancement-of-judicial-nominees-during-impeachment-proceedings|title=Sen. Kamala Harris calls for halt to advancement of judicial nominees; is it happening?|work=]|date=January 16, 2020|access-date=July 4, 2020|last=Weiss|first=Debra Cassens|archive-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705080641/https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/kamala-harris-calls-for-halt-to-advancement-of-judicial-nominees-during-impeachment-proceedings|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris voted to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.<ref>{{cite news|title=How senators voted on Trump's impeachment|url=https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/|work=]|date=February 5, 2020|access-date=August 19, 2020|archive-date=February 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205215232/https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In September 2014, attorneys for Harris argued unsuccessfully in a court filing against the early release of prisoners, citing the need for inmate firefighting labor. When the memo provoked headlines, Harris spoke out against the memo. She said that she was unaware of it, and the attorneys had produced the memo without her knowledge.<ref>{{cite news |title=Democratic debate: Fact-checking the attacks on Kamala Harris' criminal justice record|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/01/democratic-debate-kamala-harris-tulsi-gabbard-joe-biden-fact-check/amp/|first=Casey |last=Tolan |agency=Mercury News|date=August 1, 2019}}</ref> Since the 1940s, qualified California inmates have the option of volunteering to receive comprehensive training from the ] in exchange for sentence reductions and more comfortable prison accommodations; prison firefighters receive about $2 a day, and another $1 when battling fires.<ref>{{cite web|first=Lakshmi|last=Singh|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/18/669088658/serving-time-and-fighting-california-wildfires-for-2-a-day|title=Serving Time And Fighting California Wildfires|publisher=]|date=November 18, 2018}}</ref>
====Death penalty====
In 2014, Judge ] vacated the death sentence of convicted rapist and murderer Ernest Dewayne Jones, declaring ] unconstitutional on the basis of the ]'s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment because "systemic delay and dysfunction" rendered the process arbitrary.<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle">{{cite web|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/Why-does-Kamala-Harris-defend-the-death-penalty-6481227.php|title=Why does Kamala Harris defend the death penalty?|first=Mugambi|last=Jouet|publisher=The San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> Harris appealed, contending Carney failed to abide by the highly-circumscribed ] procedure set forth in the binding Supreme Court precedent of '']'' prohibiting federal courts from announcing a new rule of constitutional law in habeas cases.<ref>489 U.S. 288 (1989)</ref> In an op-ed for ''The San Francisco Chronicle'', legal and political scholar Mugambi Jouet criticized the appeal as a defense of the death penalty.<ref name="San Francisco Chronicle"></ref> The ] sided with Harris when it unanimously overturned Carney’s order.<ref>''Jones. v. Davis'' 806 F.3d 538, 545 (9th Cir. 2015)</ref>


Harris worked on bipartisan bills with Republican co-sponsors, including a bail reform bill with ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rand-paul-kamala-harris-team-reform-bail-practices-n794031|title=Rand Paul and Kamala Harris Team Up to Reform Bail Practices|last=Hamilton|first=Dawchelle|date=September 10, 2017 |publisher=NBC News|access-date=April 27, 2019|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323081855/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rand-paul-kamala-harris-team-reform-bail-practices-n794031|url-status=live}}</ref> an election security bill with ],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/22/election-security-bill-congress-437472|title=Lawmakers gather behind election security bill – at last|last=Matishak|first=Martin|website=Politico|date=March 22, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2019|archive-date=March 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326054720/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/22/election-security-bill-congress-437472|url-status=live}}</ref> and a workplace harassment bill with ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mollyhensleyclancy/kamala-harris-lisa-murkowski-sexual-harassment-nda-bill|title=Two Women Senators Will Introduce A New Bill About Workplace Harassment|last=Hensley-Clancy|first=Molly|website=BuzzFeedNews|date=June 5, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2019|archive-date=April 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421154604/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mollyhensleyclancy/kamala-harris-lisa-murkowski-sexual-harassment-nda-bill|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Consumer protection===
====Fraud, waste, and abuse====
]
In 2011, Harris announced the creation of the Mortgage Fraud Strike Force in the wake of the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Calif. creates task force to probe mortgage fraud|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-calif-creates-task-force-to-probe-mortgage-fraud-2011may23-story.html|first=Alex |last=Veiga |agency=San Diego Union Tribune |date=May 23, 2011}}</ref> That same year, Harris obtained two of the largest recoveries in the history of California's False Claims Act – $241 million from ] and then $323 million from the SCAN healthcare network – over excess state ] and federal ] payments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2011-may-20-la-fi-quest-settlement-20110520-story.html|title=Quest Diagnostics settles Medi-Cal whistleblower suit| newspaper=LA Times| accessdate=May 11, 2020 | date=May 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://legalnewsline.com/stories/510527871-harris-323m-scan-settlement-record-recovery-for-calif-program|title=Harris: $323M SCAN settlement record recovery for Calif. program| publisher=Legal Newsline| accessdate=May 11, 2020| date=May 20, 2011}}</ref>


==== 2021 ====
In 2012, Harris leveraged California's outsize economic clout as the world's fifth largest economy to obtain better terms in the ] against the nation's five largest mortgage servicers – ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="Parker">{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Kamala-Harris-foreclosure-deal-a-win-for-state-3381270.php |title=Kamala Harris' foreclosure deal a win for state |date=March 5, 2012 |work=] |last1=Parker |first1=Barbara |first2=Rebecca |last2=Kaplan |accessdate=June 18, 2012}}</ref> The mortgage firms were accused of illegally foreclosing on homeowners. After dismissing an initial offer of $2 to $4 billion in relief for Californians, Harris withdrew from negotiations. The offer eventually was increased to $18.4 billion in debt relief and $2 billion in other financial assistance for California homeowners.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-may-12-la-fi-0512-harris-housing-20120512-story.html |title=Mortgage deal cash is divvied | date=May 12, 2012 | work=] |last=Lazo |first=Alejandro |accessdate=June 18, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-senate-harris-banks-20161016-snap-story.html |title=$25-billion foreclosure settlement was a victory for Kamala Harris in California, but it wasn’t perfect | date=October 16, 2016 | work=] | last=Willon | first=Phil | accessdate=July 11, 2020}}</ref>
Following her election as Vice President of the United States, Harris resigned from her seat on January 18, 2021,<ref>{{cite news |title=Thank you, California. |url=https://medium.com/@SenKamalaHarris/thank-you-california-d89ff421a0a4 |last=Harris |first=Kamala |work=Medium.com |date=January 18, 2021 |access-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118153454/https://medium.com/@SenKamalaHarris/thank-you-california-d89ff421a0a4 |url-status=live }}</ref> before taking office on January 20, and was replaced by ] ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Newsom taps California election chief Padilla for US Senate |url=https://apnews.com/article/senate-elections-elections-california-alex-padilla-gavin-newsom-862028e7aef12cb995db549b7707cf7b |last=Ronayne |first=Kathleen |work=Associated Press News |date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181046/https://apnews.com/article/senate-elections-elections-california-alex-padilla-gavin-newsom-862028e7aef12cb995db549b7707cf7b |url-status=live }}</ref>


=== Committee assignments ===
In 2013, Harris worked with ] and Senate President ''pro tem'' ] in 2013 to introduce the Homeowner Bill of Rights, considered one of the strongest protections nationwide against aggressive foreclosure tactics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/calif-attorney-general-kamala-harris-fights-for-struggling-homeowners/|title=Calif. attorney general Kamala Harris fights for struggling homeowners| publisher=CBS News| accessdate=June 18, 2012| date=July 30, 2012 }}</ref> The Homeowner Bill of Rights banned the practices of "dual-tracking" (processing a modification and foreclosure at the same time) and ] and provided homeowners with a single point of contact at their lending institution.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc7news.com/archive/8732388//|title=Gov. Brown signs Homeowner Bill of Rights| publisher=ABC 7 News| accessdate=May 11, 2020| date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref> Harris achieved multiple nine-figure settlements for California homeowners under the bill mostly for robo-signing and dual-track abuses, as well as prosecuting instances in which loan processors failed to promptly credit mortgage payments, miscalculated interest rates, and charged borrowers improper fees. Harris secured hundreds of millions in relief, including $268 million from ], $470 million from ], and $550 million from ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sacramento homeowners to receive $20 million under settlement with Ocwen Financial|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article2586881.html |first=Hudson|last=Sangree |newspaper=]|date=December 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-05/hsbc-reaches-470-million-accord-over-foreclosure-abuses|title=HSBC Reaches $470 Million Accord Over Foreclosure Abuses| publisher=Bloombeg| accessdate=June 18, 2012| date=February 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-suntrust-mortgage-settlement-20140618-story.html|title=SunTrust to pay nearly $1 billion to settle mortgage-abuse allegations| publisher=CBS News| accessdate=June 18, 2012| date=July 30, 2012 }}</ref>
While in the Senate, Harris was a member of the following committees:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-201612-htmlstory.html|first=John|last=Myers|date=December 19, 2016|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 22, 2020|title=Kamala Harris nabs national security, environment assignments in the U.S. Senate|archive-date=May 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514012749/https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-201612-htmlstory.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ]
* ]
** ]
** ]
* ]
* ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-updated-senate-democratic-committee-memberships-for-the-115th-congress-2nd-session|title=Schumer Announces Updated Senate Democratic Committee Memberships for the 115th Congress, 2nd Session|website=democrats.senate.gov|date=January 9, 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110174605/https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-updated-senate-democratic-committee-memberships-for-the-115th-congress-2nd-session|url-status=live}}</ref>
** ]
** ]
** ]


=== Caucus memberships ===
From 2013 to 2015, Harris pursued financial recoveries for California's public employee and teacher's pensions, ] and ] against various financial giants for misrepresentation in the sale of ]. She secured multiple nine-figure recoveries for the state pensions, recovering about $193 million from ], $210 million from ], $300 million from ], and over half a billion from ].<ref>{{cite news |title=California to Receive $200 Million in Citibank $7 Billion Mortgage Settlement|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2014/07/14/california-receive-200-million-citibank-7-billion-mortgage-settlement/|first=Jennifer |last=Vigil|newspaper=]|date=July 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=S&P to pay $1.4 billion in claims it misled investors with rosy ratings|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-sp-settles-20150203-story.html|first=Dean |last=Starkman |newspaper=]|date=February 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Public Employee Pensions Gets $299M In JPMorgan Chase Settlement
* ]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://capac-chu.house.gov/members|publisher=Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus|access-date=May 17, 2018|archive-date=May 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514183102/https://capac-chu.house.gov/members|url-status=live}}</ref>
|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/11/19/public-employee-pensions-gets-299m-in-jpmorgan-chase-settlement/|work=]|date=November 19, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=California To Receive Hundreds Of Millions In Bank Of America Settlement
* ]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://cbc.house.gov/membership/|publisher=Congressional Black Caucus|access-date=March 7, 2018|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427095736/https://cbc.house.gov/membership/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/08/22/california-to-receive-hundreds-of-millions-in-bank-of-america-settlement-mortgage-kamala-harris-department-of-justice/|work=]|date=August 22, 2014}}</ref>
* ]


== 2020 presidential election ==
In 2013, Harris declined to authorize a civil complaint drafted by state investigators that accused ], owned by an investment group headed by future ] ] (then a private citizen), of "widespread violation" of California foreclosure laws.<ref name="Declined to sue Mnuchin bank">{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/01/04/news/mnuchin-onewest-california-memo/index.html | title=California investigators wanted to sue Mnuchin bank over foreclosures | publisher=] | date=January 4, 2017 | accessdate=July 4, 2020 | author=Fitzpatrick, David}}</ref> During the 2016 elections, Harris was the only Democratic Senate candidate to receive a donation from Mnuchin, but voted against his confirmation as Treasury secretary in February 2017. In 2019, Harris's campaign stated that the decision not to pursue prosecution hinged on the state's inability to subpoena OneWest. Her press secretary said, "There was no question OneWest conducted predatory lending, and Senator Harris believes they should be punished. Unfortunately, the law was squarely on their side and they were shielded from state subpoenas because they're a federal bank."<ref name="Complicated history with Wall Street">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/26/kamala-harris-has-complicated-history-with-wall-street.html |title=Kamala Harris' complicated history with Wall Street will come under scrutiny in the 2020 race |publisher=] |date=January 26, 2019 |accessdate=July 2, 2020 |author=Chappell, Carmin}}</ref>
=== Presidential campaign ===
{{Main|Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign}}
] in ], January 2019]]


Harris had been considered a top contender and potential front-runner for the ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Beckett|first=Lois|title=Kamala Harris: young, black, female – and the Democrats' best bet for 2020?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/22/kamala-harris-democratic-candidate-for-2020|website=The Guardian|access-date=July 10, 2018|date=July 22, 2017|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921011145/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/22/kamala-harris-democratic-candidate-for-2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2018, she said she was "not ruling it out".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/sen-kamala-harris-not-ruling-out-2020-white-house-run-n886166|title=Sen. Kamala Harris not ruling out 2020 White House run|publisher=NBC News|date=June 24, 2018|access-date=July 4, 2020|last=Hunt|first=Kasie|archive-date=August 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831171024/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/sen-kamala-harris-not-ruling-out-2020-white-house-run-n886166|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2018, it was announced that she would publish a memoir, a sign of a possible run.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/kamala-harris-book-deal/index.html|title=Kamala Harris signs book deal amid 2020 speculation|first=Eric|last=Bradner|date=July 17, 2018 |access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008150735/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/kamala-harris-book-deal/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 21, 2019, Harris officially announced her ] for president of the United States in the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/21/politics/kamala-harris-president-2020/index.html|title=Kamala Harris to run for president in 2020|last=Reston|first=Maeve|date=January 21, 2019|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 21, 2019|archive-date=January 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121145202/https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/21/politics/kamala-harris-president-2020/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the first 24{{nbsp}}hours after her announcement, she tied a record set by ] in 2016 for the most donations raised in the day after an announcement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kamala Harris raises $1.5 million in first 24 hours |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/22/kamala-harris-15-million-first-day-1119125 |access-date=May 3, 2022 |website=Politico |date=January 22, 2019 |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219221514/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/22/kamala-harris-15-million-first-day-1119125 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=David Wright |title=Kamala Harris touts $1.5 million haul in 24 hours after 2020 announcement |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/22/politics/kamala-harris-fundraising-announcement/index.html |access-date=May 3, 2022 |publisher=CNN |date=January 22, 2019 |archive-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123090522/https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/22/politics/kamala-harris-fundraising-announcement/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> More than 20,000&nbsp;people attended her campaign launch event in her hometown of Oakland, California, on January 27, according to a police estimate.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris kicks off 2020 campaign with hometown Oakland rally|work=]|last=Beckett|first=Lois|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/27/kamala-harris-2020-campaign-oakland-rally-democrats|date=January 27, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=October 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005092739/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/27/kamala-harris-2020-campaign-oakland-rally-democrats|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2014, Harris forced ] retailer ], to refund $28.4 million to California customers and pay $3.4 million in civil penalties to settle allegations that it violated California's Karnette Rental-Purchase Act by charging improper late fees, overcharging customers who paid off contracts early, and omitting important contract disclosures.<ref name="auto6">{{cite web |first=Maria|last=Armental|url=
https://www.wsj.com/articles/aarons-to-settle-spyware-allegations-in-california-1413226841| title=Aaron's to Settle Spyware Allegations in California| date=November 17, 2015| newspaper=]|accessdate=April 28, 2020}}</ref> Aaron's also violated California state privacy laws by permitting its franchised stores to install spyware on rented computers, allowing franchisees to remotely monitor keystrokes, capture screenshots, and even activate the webcam.<ref name="auto6"/> According to a report on the industry by the ], nearly all rent-to-own customers have a household income of below $50,000, and the vast majority are people of color who have attained a high school education or less.<ref>{{cite web |first=Brian|last=Highsmith|url=
https://www.nclc.org/images/pdf/criminal-justice/report-rent-to-own-racket.pdf| title=The Rent-to-Own Racket: Using Criminal Courts to Coerce Payments from Vulnerable Families| date=February 2019| publisher=]|accessdate=April 28, 2020}}</ref>


During the first Democratic ] in June 2019, Harris scolded former vice president Joe Biden for "hurtful" remarks he made, speaking fondly of senators who opposed integration efforts in the 1970s and working with them to oppose mandatory school bussing.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Flegenheimer|first1=Matt|last2=Burns|first2=Alexander|title=Kamala Harris Makes the Case That Joe Biden Should Pass That Torch to Her|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/27/us/politics/kamala-harris-busing-joe-biden.html|website=The New York Times|date=June 27, 2019|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008112030/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/27/us/politics/kamala-harris-busing-joe-biden.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris's support rose by between six and nine points in polls after that debate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/01/politics/2020-democratic-candidates-poll/index.html|title=CNN Poll: Harris and Warren rise and Biden slides after first Democratic debates|date=July 1, 2019|publisher=CNN|last=Agiesta|first=Jennifer|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010211931/https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/01/politics/2020-democratic-candidates-poll/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the second debate in August, Biden and Representative ] confronted Harris over her record as attorney general.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tulsi-gabbard-kamala-harris-criminal-justice-record_n_5d424340e4b0aca3411841fb|title=Tulsi Gabbard Takes Kamala Harris To Task On Marijuana Prosecution Record|first=Alanna|last=Vagianos|date=July 31, 2019|website=HuffPost|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008025402/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tulsi-gabbard-kamala-harris-criminal-justice-record_n_5d424340e4b0aca3411841fb|url-status=live}}</ref> The '']'' assessed that some of Gabbard's and Biden's accusations were on point, such as blocking the DNA testing of a death row inmate, while others did not withstand scrutiny. In the immediate aftermath of the debate, Harris fell in the polls.<ref>{{cite web|first=Casey|last=Tolan|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/01/democratic-debate-kamala-harris-tulsi-gabbard-joe-biden-fact-check/|title=Democratic debate: Fact-checking the attacks on Kamala Harris' criminal justice record|date=August 1, 2019|website=]|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=October 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005162846/https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/01/democratic-debate-kamala-harris-tulsi-gabbard-joe-biden-fact-check/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/polls-since-the-second-debate-show-kamala-harris-slipping/|title=Polls Since The Second Debate Show Kamala Harris Slipping|last=Silver|first=Nate|date=August 7, 2019|website=]|access-date=August 25, 2019|archive-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010055757/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/polls-since-the-second-debate-show-kamala-harris-slipping/|url-status=live}}</ref> Over the next few months her poll numbers fell to the low single digits.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Jonathan |last2=Herndon |first2=Alstead W. |last3=Burns |first3=Alexander |date=November 19, 2019 |title=How Kamala Harris's Campaign Unraveled |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/29/us/politics/kamala-harris-2020.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |work=The New York Times |location=Washington, DC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627192502/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/29/us/politics/kamala-harris-2020.html |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |access-date=June 27, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-happened-to-the-kamala-harris-campaign/|title=What Happened to the Kamala Harris Campaign?|last=Bacon Jr.|first=Perry|date=October 8, 2019|work=FiveThirtyEight|access-date=December 3, 2019|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008221659/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-happened-to-the-kamala-harris-campaign/|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris faced criticism from reformers for tough-on-crime policies she pursued while she was California's attorney general.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Luc |date=July 24, 2024 |title=As a prosecutor, Harris mixed criminal justice reform with tough-on-crime approach |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/prosecutor-harris-mixed-criminal-justice-reform-with-tough-on-crime-approach-2024-07-23/ |work=] |access-date=August 21, 2024 }}</ref> In 2014, she defended California's death penalty in court.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dolan|first1=Maura|title=California AG Kamala Harris to appeal ruling against death penalty|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-death-penalty-appeal-20140821-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=August 21, 2014|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=October 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014113322/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-death-penalty-appeal-20140821-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2015, Harris obtained a $1.2 billion judgment against for-profit post-secondary education company ] for false advertising and deceptive marketing targeting vulnerable, low-income students and misrepresenting job placement rates to students, investors, and accreditation agencies.<ref name="auto14">{{cite web |url=
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article2579497.html | title=California lawsuit claims for-profit colleges misled students, investors | date=October 10, 2013 | publisher=SacramentoBee | accessdate=April 28, 2020}}</ref> The Court ordered Corinthian to pay $820 million in restitution and another $350 million in civil penalties.<ref>{{cite web |url=
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-corinthian-colleges-judgment-false-advertising-20160323-story.html| title=Corinthian Colleges must pay nearly $1.2 billion for false advertising and lending practices| date=March 23, 2016| work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=April 28, 2020}}</ref> That same year, Harris also secured a $60 million settlement with ] to resolve allegations of illegal ] with respect to credit card customers, with the bank also agreeing to change practices that violated California consumer protection laws by collecting incorrect amounts, selling bad credit card debt, running a debt collection mill that "robo-signed" court documents without first reviewing the files as it rushed to obtain judgments and wage garnishments. As part of the settlement, the bank was required to stop attempting to collect on more than 528,000 customer accounts<ref>{{cite web |first=Don|last=Thompson|url=
https://apnews.com/c0349c9e21374744b7010e7b5eff6e0c/california-settles-debt-collection-suit-jpmorgan-chase| title=California settles debt collection suit with JPMorgan Chase| date=November 2, 2015| publisher=]|accessdate=May 26, 2020}}</ref>


Before and during her presidential campaign, an online informal organization using the hashtag #] formed to support Harris's candidacy and defend her from racist and sexist attacks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zakrzewski|first=Cat|date=August 13, 2020|title=Kamala Harris is already facing online attacks in her bid for the vice presidency|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/13/technology-202-kamala-harris-is-already-facing-online-attacks-bid-vice-presidency/|access-date=August 15, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=October 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005223031/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/13/technology-202-kamala-harris-is-already-facing-online-attacks-bid-vice-presidency/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Zhou|first=Li|date=July 25, 2019|title=The #KHive, Kamala Harris's most devoted online supporters, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/7/25/20697783/khive-twitter-kamala-harris-2020-candidate-doug-hive|access-date=August 15, 2020|website=Vox|archive-date=October 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014030747/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/7/25/20697783/khive-twitter-kamala-harris-2020-candidate-doug-hive|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bixby|first=Scott|date=August 12, 2020|title=Kamala Harris Built a 'Digital Army' – Now She Gets to Use It|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/kamala-harris-built-a-digital-army-now-she-gets-to-use-it|access-date=August 15, 2020|website=The Daily Beast|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009152431/https://www.thedailybeast.com/kamala-harris-built-a-digital-army-now-she-gets-to-use-it|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the '']'', ] first used the term in an August 2017 tweet saying "@Dr] @] and I had a meeting and decided it's called the K-Hive."<ref>{{cite web|last=Thomas|first=Alex|date=August 12, 2020|title=What Is the K-Hive, Kamala Harris' Online Twitter Support?|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/k-hive-kamala-harris-twitter-2020/|access-date=August 16, 2020|website=The Daily Dot|archive-date=October 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005113927/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/k-hive-kamala-harris-twitter-2020/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2015, Harris opened an investigation of the Office of Ratepayer Advocates, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison regarding the closure of ]. California state investigators searched the home of California utility regulator Michael Peevey and found hand written notes that allegedly showed that he had met with an Edison executive in Poland, where the two had negotiated the terms of the San Onofre settlement, leaving San Diego taxpayers with a $3.3 billion bill to pay for the closure of the plant. The investigation was closed amidst Harris's 2016 run for the U.S. Senate position.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/nov/20/cpuc-approves-controversial-san-onofre-settlement-/|title=San Onofre Settlement Puts Ratepayers On Hook For $3.3B|last=Anderson|first=Erik|work=KPBS Public Media|access-date=2017-02-28|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kpbs.org/news/2016/apr/05/california-critics-kamala-harris-san-onofre-probe/|title=Critics Unhappy With Kamala Harris' Approach To San Onofre Probe|last=Sharma|first=Amita|work=KPBS Public Media|access-date=2017-02-28|language=en}}</ref>


On December 3, 2019, Harris withdrew from the 2020 presidential election, citing a shortage of funds.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Harris|first1=Kamala|title=I am suspending my campaign today|url=https://medium.com/@KamalaHarris/i-am-suspending-my-campaign-today-6dca8cefb252|website=Medium|date=December 3, 2019 |access-date=December 4, 2019|archive-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010184446/https://medium.com/@KamalaHarris/i-am-suspending-my-campaign-today-6dca8cefb252|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2020, she endorsed ] for president.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wootson|first1=Cleve R. Jr. |date=March 8, 2020 |title=Sen. Kamala D. Harris endorses Joe Biden for president|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/08/2182dfca-6137-11ea-b3fc-7841686c5c57_story.html|access-date=March 9, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008143020/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/08/2182dfca-6137-11ea-b3fc-7841686c5c57_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Privacy rights ====
In February 2012, Harris announced an agreement with six technology giants and their app developers – ], ], ], ], ], and ] – to mandate that apps sold in their stores display prominent privacy policies that inform users of the private information they're sharing and with whom.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Jessica |last1=Guynn |first2=Nathan|last2=Olivarez-Giles|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-feb-22-la-fi-tn-calif-ag-kamala-harris-agreement-with-apple-amazon-google-hp-microsoft-rim-on-app-privacy-policies-20120222-story.html|title=Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris, tech giants agree on mobile app privacy|newspaper=] |date=February 22, 2012}}</ref> ] later joined the agreement. That summer, Harris announced the creation of a Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit to enforce laws related to cyber privacy, identity theft, and data breaches.
<ref>{{cite news|first=Mills |last=Elinor |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/california-beefing-up-privacy-protection-enforcement/|title=California beefing up privacy-protection enforcement|work=CNet |date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> That winter, Harris sent a letter to 100 mobile-app developers, notifying them of their non-compliance with state privacy laws and asking them to create privacy policies or face a $2500 fine each time a non-compliant app is downloaded by a resident of California.<ref>{{cite news|first=Iain |last=Thomson |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/31/california_privacy_crackdown_mobile/|title=California begins crackdown on mobile app developers|work=The Register |date=October 31, 2012}}</ref>


=== Vice presidential campaign ===
In 2015, Harris secured two settlements with ], one totaling $33 million over allegations that posted online the names, phone numbers and addresses of tens of thousands of customers who had paid for unlisted voice over internet protocol ("VOIP") phone service and another $26 million settlement to resolve allegations that it discarded paper records without first omitting or redacting private customer information.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-feb-22-la-fi-tn-calif-ag-kamala-harris-agreement-with-apple-amazon-google-hp-microsoft-rim-on-app-privacy-policies-20120222-story.html|title=Comcast agrees to pay $33 million in California privacy breach|newspaper=] |date=September 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-comcast-california-settlement-20150918-story.html|title=California reaches $26 million settlement with Comcast over electronic waste|newspaper=] |date=December 15, 2015}}</ref> Harris also settled with ] over allegations the company recorded phone calls without notifying customers or employees. Houzz was forced to pay $175,000, destroy the recorded calls, and hire a ], the first time such a provision has been included in a settlement with the California Department of Justice.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-houzz-privacy-20151002-story.html|title=Why Kamala Harris is making start-up Houzz hire a "chief privacy officer"|newspaper=] |date=October 2, 2015}}</ref>
{{Main|Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|2020 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection}}
] in ], August 2020 ]]
In May 2019, senior members of the ] endorsed the idea of a Biden–Harris ticket.<ref>{{cite news|title='A dream ticket': Black lawmakers pitch Biden-Harris to beat Trump|work=]|last=Caygle|first=Heather|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/12/joe-biden-kamala-harris-dream-ticket-1317561|date=May 12, 2019|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008213806/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/12/joe-biden-kamala-harris-dream-ticket-1317561|url-status=live}}</ref> In late February 2020, Biden won a landslide victory in the ] with the endorsement of House whip ], with more victories on ]. In early March, Clyburn suggested Biden choose a black woman as a running mate, saying, "African American women needed to be rewarded for their loyalty".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/clyburn-calls-democrats-shut-primary-down-if-biden-has-big-n1155131|title=Clyburn calls for Democrats to 'shut this primary down' if Biden has big night|publisher=NBC News|date=March 10, 2020|access-date=July 4, 2020|last1=Timm|first1=Jane C.|last2=Gregorian|first2=Dareh|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730170328/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/clyburn-calls-democrats-shut-primary-down-if-biden-has-big-n1155131|url-status=live}}</ref> In March, Biden committed to choosing a woman for his running mate.<ref>{{cite news|title=Joe Biden commits to picking a woman as his running mate|work=]|url=https://www.axios.com/2020/03/16/joe-biden-woman-running-mate|date=March 16, 2020|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008164423/https://www.axios.com/joe-biden-woman-running-mate-6add0a5b-2600-43b0-8e83-b38d74042881.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


On April 17, 2020, Harris responded to media speculation and said she "would be honored" to be Biden's running mate.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris 'would be honored' to be Joe Biden's running mate|first1=Joe|last1=Garofoli|first2=Tal|last2=Kopan|work=]|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-would-be-honored-to-be-Joe-15209050.php|date=April 17, 2020|access-date=May 3, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008010206/https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-would-be-honored-to-be-Joe-15209050.php|url-status=live}}</ref> In late May, in relation to the ] and ], Biden faced renewed calls to select a black woman as his running mate, highlighting the law enforcement credentials of Harris and ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Minneapolis unrest shakes up VP shortlist|first1=Marc|last1=Caputo|first2=Natasha|last2=Korecki|work=]|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/31/joe-biden-vice-president-george-floyd-291063|date=May 31, 2020|access-date=May 31, 2020|archive-date=October 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005105118/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/31/joe-biden-vice-president-george-floyd-291063|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Public safety ===
====Environmental protection====
]
Harris prioritized environmental protection as attorney general, first securing a comprehensive $44 million settlement to resolve all natural resource damages, penalties, and response costs associated with the 2007 ], where a container ship collided with the Delta Tower of the ] and spilled more than 50,000 gallons of ] into the ] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fimrite |first1=Peter |title=$44 million settles Cosco Busan oil spill in bay|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/44-million-settles-Cosco-Busan-oil-spill-in-bay-2308869.php|accessdate=May 8, 2020 |work=SFGate |date=September 19, 2011}}</ref> In the aftermath of the 2015 ], which deposited about 140,000 gallons of crude oil off the coast of ], Harris toured the coastline and directed her office's resources and attorneys to investigate possible criminal violations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Randol |last2=Bell |first2=Jordan |last3=Osborn |first3=Lisa |title=State Attorney General investigates whether oil spill was result of criminal activity |url=https://www.kcbx.org/post/state-attorney-general-investigates-whether-oil-spill-was-result-criminal-activity |accessdate=November 9, 2018 |work=KCBXfm |date=June 4, 2015}}</ref> Thereafter, operator ] was indicted on 46 criminal charges related to the spill, with one employee indicted on 3 criminal charges.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Doug |last2=Mejia |first2=Brittny |title=Pipeline company indicted in 2015 Santa Barbara County oil spill |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-santa-barbara-county-oil-spill-20160517-snap-story.html |accessdate=November 9, 2018 |newspaper=] |date=May 17, 2016}}</ref> In 2019, a Santa Barbara jury returned a verdict finding Plains guilty of failing to properly maintain its pipeline and another eight misdemeanor charges; they were sentenced to pay over $3 million in fines and assessments.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gorman |first1=Steve| last2=McWilliams |first2=Garry|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-plains-all-amer-oilspill-court/plains-all-american-pipeline-convicted-in-2015-california-oil-spill-idUSKCN1LN2SN|title=Plains All American Pipeline convicted in 2015 California oil spill|accessdate=May 11, 2020 |newspaper=]}}</ref>


On June 12, '']'' reported that Harris was emerging as the front-runner to be Biden's running mate, as she was the only African American woman with the political experience typical of vice presidents.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris, Front-runner (Again)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/briefing/kamala-harris-mark-milley-trump-rally-your-friday-briefing.html/|last=Leonhardt|first=David|work=The New York Times|date=June 12, 2020|access-date=June 12, 2020|archive-date=October 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012054011/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/briefing/kamala-harris-mark-milley-trump-rally-your-friday-briefing.html/|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 26, ] reported that more than a dozen people close to the Biden search process considered Harris one of Biden's top four contenders, along with ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zeleny|first1=Jeff|last2=Merica|first2=Dan|last3=Lee|first3=MJ|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/politics/joe-biden-running-mate/index.html|title=Nation's reckoning on race looms large over final month of Biden's running mate search|publisher=]|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 27, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009131646/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/politics/joe-biden-running-mate/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
From 2015 to 2016, Harris secured multiple multimillion-dollar settlements with fuel service companies ], ], ], ], and ] to resolve allegations they failed to properly monitor the hazardous materials in its underground storage tanks used to store gasoline for retail sale at hundreds of California gas stations.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kimberley|last=Veklerov|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/09/07/chevron-sacramento-district-attorney-job.html| title=Chevron settlement helps Sacramento Co. district attorney avoid job cuts|date=September 16, 2011| work=]|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Kimberley|last=Veklerov|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/BP-Arco-to-pay-14-million-in-suit-over-gas-10621426.php| title=BP, Arco to pay $14 million in suit over gas tanks in California|date=November 17, 2016| work=]|accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/conocophillips-phillips-66-to-spend-115-million-in-california-tank-settlement| title=ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66 to Spend $11.5 Million in California Tank Settlement|date=May 10, 2015| work=]|accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref> In summer 2016, automaker ] agreed to pay up to $14.7 billion to settle a raft of claims related to so-called "]" used to ] on its diesel cars while actually emitting up to 40 times the levels of harmful nitrogen oxides allowed under state and federal law.<ref name="Egelko">{{cite web |first=Bob|last=Egelko|url=
https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Judge-approves-Volkswagen-state-settlement-over-9198583.php| title=Judge approves Volkswagen-state settlement over diesel cheating| date=September 1, 2016| work=]|accessdate=April 28, 2020}}</ref> Harris and the chair of the ], ], announced that California would receive $1.18 billion as well as another $86 million paid to the state of California in civil penalties.<ref name="Egelko"/>


On August 11, 2020, Biden announced he had chosen Harris.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dickinson |first=Tim |title=Kamala Harris, Gen X's Moment, and the Fall of House Boomer |magazine=] |date=August 12, 2020 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kamala-harris-joe-biden-boomers-genx-millenials-1042881/ |access-date=July 23, 2024 |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725000721/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/kamala-harris-joe-biden-boomers-genx-millenials-1042881/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She was the first African American, the first ], and the third woman after ] and ] to be the vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323|title=Biden VP pick: Kamala Harris chosen as running mate|website=BBC News|date=August 11, 2020|access-date=August 11, 2020|archive-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010223842/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53739323|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris is also the first resident of the Western United States to appear on the Democratic Party's national ticket.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ostermeier |first1=Eric |title=Will a Westerner Finally Land on a Democratic Presidential Ticket in 2020? |url=https://smartpolitics.lib.umn.edu/2019/01/23/will-a-westerner-finally-land-on-a-democratic-presidential-ticket-in-2020/ |website=Smart Politics |access-date=November 27, 2022 |date=January 23, 2019 |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725005035/https://smartpolitics.lib.umn.edu/2019/01/23/will-a-westerner-finally-land-on-a-democratic-presidential-ticket-in-2020/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Law enforcement improvements====
]
California's ] mandated law enforcement to collect DNA samples from any adult arrested for a felony and from individuals arrested for certain crimes. In 2012, Harris announced that the California Department of Justice had improved its DNA testing capabilities such that samples stored at the state's crime labs could now be analyzed four times faster, within 30 days. Accordingly, Harris reported that her Rapid DNA Service Team within the Bureau of Forensic Services cleared California's entire DNA backlog for the first time in history, having developed a process that allowed higher volume analysis of 5,400 evidence samples – an increase of 11% from 2010 (4,800) and 24% from 2009 (4,100).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/01/california-dna-evidence-attorney-general.html|title=California attorney general says DNA backlog is gone|newspaper= ]|date=January 25, 2012}}</ref> In April 2014, Harris's team was honored with the ]'s Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/04/08/attorney-general-kamala-harris-honored-for-rape-kit-processing/|title=Attorney General Kamala Harris Honored For Rape Kit Processing|newspaper=]|publisher=]|date=April 8, 2014}}</ref> Harris's office would later be awarded a $1.6 million grant from the ]'s initiative to eliminate the backlogs of untested ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/crime/grant-awarded-to-test-rape-kits/|title=Grant awarded to test rape kits
|newspaper=]|date=September 17, 2015}}</ref>


Harris became the ] after Biden won the ].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Blood|first1=Michael R.|last2=Riccardi|first2=Nicholas|date=December 5, 2020|title=Biden officially secures enough electors to become president|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa|access-date=December 22, 2020|work=]|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201209/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2014, Harris introduced OpenJustice, a first-in-the-nation criminal justice data initiative designed with professor ] making available statewide data on arrest rates, deaths in law enforcement custody, arrest-related deaths, and law enforcement deaths. Subsequent improvements to the platform revealed data pertaining to clearance rates and racial disparities in the criminal justice system.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/02/17/california-dojs-openjustice-platform-makes-local-law-enforcement-data-more-transparent/|title=California's DOJ OpenJustice Platform Makes Local Law Enforcement Data More Transparent|work=]|date=February 17, 2016}}</ref>


== Vice presidency (2021–present) ==
====Sex crimes====
{{See also|Inauguration of Joe Biden|Presidency of Joe Biden}}
In 2011, Harris obtained a guilty plea and a four-year prison sentence from a ] who used ] and ] techniques to illegally access the private photographs of women whose social media accounts he hijacked. Harris commented that the Internet had "opened up a new frontier for crime".<ref>{{cite web|first=Nina|last=Mandell|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/facebook-stalker-years-prison-article-1.156894|title=Facebook stalker turned email hacker sentenced to four years in prison; sent nude photos of victims|publisher=]|location=San Jose|date=July 24, 2011}}</ref>
] on January 20, 2021]]
Later that year, Harris created the eCrime Unit within the California Department of Justice, a 20-attorney unit specifically targeting technology crimes.<ref>{{cite web|first=Shafer|last=Margie|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/12/13/california-attorney-general-creates-ecrime-unit/|title=California Attorney General Creates eCrime Unit|publisher=]|location=San Jose|date=December 11, 2011}}</ref> In 2015, several purveyors of so-called "]" sites based in California were arrested, charged with felonies, and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sara Ashley|last=O'Brien|url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/07/02/technology/revenge-porn-hacker-charlie-evens/index.html|title=Revenge porn hacker pleads gulty, faces 7 years|publisher=CNN|location=New York|date=July 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>
Harris was sworn in as vice president on 11:40&nbsp;a.m. on January 20, 2021, by Justice ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/07/politics/kamala-harris-first-vice-president-female-black-south-asian/index.html|title=Harris bursts through another barrier, becoming the first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect|first1=Brandon|last1=Tensley|last2=Wright|first2=Jasmine|publisher=CNN|date=November 7, 2020|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107194833/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/07/politics/kamala-harris-first-vice-president-female-black-south-asian/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She is the United States' first woman vice president, first African-American vice president, and first Asian-American vice president.<ref name=VPHistory>{{Cite web |title=Kamala Harris: The Vice President |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-harris/ |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=The White House |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120170519/https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-harris/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=harris-senate-presiden>{{Cite web |title=United States in the Senate: California Timeline |url=https://www.senate.gov/states/CA/timeline.htm |access-date=August 3, 2024 |publisher=The United States Senate |quote=2021, January 20: Kamala Harris of Los Angeles became the first woman and the first African American and Asian American to serve as vice president of the United States and president of the U.S. Senate. |archive-date=June 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613015034/https://www.senate.gov/states/CA/timeline.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Horowitz|first1=Juliana Menasce|last2=Budiman|first2=Abby|date=August 18, 2020|title=Key findings about multiracial identity in the U.S. as Harris becomes vice presidential nominee|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/18/key-findings-about-multiracial-identity-in-the-u-s-as-harris-becomes-vice-presidential-nominee/|access-date=November 8, 2020|website=]|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107221446/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/08/18/key-findings-about-multiracial-identity-in-the-u-s-as-harris-becomes-vice-presidential-nominee/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=November 7, 2020|title=Kamala Harris Makes History As First Female, Black, Asian American Vice President|first=Jemima|last=McEvoy|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/11/07/kamala-harris-makes-history-as-first-female-black-asian-american-vice-president/|access-date=November 13, 2020|work=Forbes|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113063528/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/11/07/kamala-harris-makes-history-as-first-female-black-asian-american-vice-president/|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris is the third person with acknowledged non-European ancestry to become president or vice president.{{efn|The other two are President ], and ], a Native American and member of the ], who was vice president under ] from 1929 to 1933.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 12, 2020|title=Here Are The 'Firsts' Kamala Harris Represents With VP Candidacy|first=Andrew|last=Solender|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/08/12/here-are-the-firsts-kamala-harris-represents-with-vp-candidacy/|quote=Harris would not be the first person of color to serve as vice president. That honor belongs to Charles Curtis, President Herbert Hoover's No. 2.|work=]|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=September 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902023222/https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/08/12/here-are-the-firsts-kamala-harris-represents-with-vp-candidacy/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
{{cite web|first=Gordon|last=Larry|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-xpm-2014-feb-14-la-me-ln-porn-extortion-20140214-story.html/|title=Oklahoma man arrested in alleged 'revenge porn' extortion|website=]|date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> In the first prosecution of its kind in the United States, Kevin Bollaert was convicted on 21 counts of identity theft and six counts of extortion and sentenced to 18 years in prison.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dana|last=Littlefield|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-kevin-bollaert-revenge-porn-case-sentencing-2015apr03-story.html|title=Revenge porn site operator gets 18 years|work=]|date=April 3, 2015}}</ref> Harris brought up these cases when California Congresswoman ] was targeted for similar cyber exploitation by her ex-husband and forced to resign in late 2019.<ref>{{cite web|first=Molly Hensley|last=Clancy|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mollyhensleyclancy/kamala-harris-katie-hill-resign-sex-life-cyber-exploitation|title=Let's Also Speak the Truth": Kamala Harris Said Katie Hill is a Victim of "Cyber-Exploitation|website=]|publisher=]|date=October 28, 2019}}</ref>


Her first act as vice president was to swear in three new senators: ] (her successor in the Senate) and Georgia senators ] and ].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hayes|first=Christal|date=January 20, 2021|title=Democrats officially take control of Senate after Harris swears in Ossoff, Warnock and Padilla|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/20/warnock-ossoff-sworn-in-giving-democrats-majority-senate/4217985001/|access-date=January 21, 2021|work=USA Today|location=Washington|archive-date=October 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023171322/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/20/warnock-ossoff-sworn-in-giving-democrats-majority-senate/4217985001/|url-status=live}}</ref> <!-- Disambiguation link intentional to refer to both events -->
In 2016, Harris announced the arrest of ] CEO Carl Ferrer on felony charges of ] a ], pimping, and conspiracy to commit pimping. The arrest warrant alleged that 99% of Backpage's revenue was directly attributable to prostitution-related ads, many of which involved victims of sex trafficking, including children under the age of 18.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/23/backpage-new-pimping-charge-kamala-harris-california/ |title=California attorney general pursues new pimping charges against Backpage site |newspaper=The Guardian|date=Dec 23, 2016|accessdate=May 12, 2020 }}</ref> The pimping charge against Ferrer was dismissed by the California courts in 2016 on the grounds of ], but in 2018 Ferrer pleaded guilty in California to ] and agreed to give evidence against the former co-owners of Backpage.<ref name="Jackman">{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Jackman |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2018/04/13/backpage-ceo-carl-ferrer-pleads-guilty-in-three-states-agrees-to-testify-against-other-website-officials/ |title=Backpage CEO Carl Ferrer pleads guilty in three states, agrees to testify against other website officials |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 13, 2018 |accessdate=April 22, 2020 }}</ref> Ferrer simultaneously pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering and conspiracy to facilitate prostitution in Texas state court and Arizona federal court.<ref name="Jackman"/><ref name="Thompson">{{Cite news|first=Don|last=Thompson|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-backpagecom-ceo-pleads-guilty-to-california-money-charges-2018-4 |title=Backpage.com CEO pleads guilty to California money charges|work=Business Insider|agency=Associated Press|date=April 12, 2018|access-date=April 13, 2018}}</ref> Under pressure, Backpage announced that it was removing its adult section from all of its U.S. sites.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Derek|last=Hawkins|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/10/backpage-com-shuts-down-adult-services-ads-after-relentless-pressure-from-authorities/|title=Backpage.com shuts down adult services ads after relentless pressure from authorities| newspaper = ] |date=January 10, 2017|access-date=January 11, 2017}}</ref> Harris welcomed the move, saying, "I look forward to them shutting down completely."<ref>{{cite news |first=Sarah D. |last=Wire |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-201701-htmlstory.html#sen-kamala-harris-praises-closure-of-backpage-com-adult-section |title=Sen. Kamala Harris praises closure of Backpage.com adult section |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=January 10, 2017 |accessdate=April 22, 2020 }}</ref> The investigations continued after she became a senator, and, in April 2018, Backpage and affiliated sites were seized by federal law enforcement.<ref name="Thompson"/>


===Senate presidency===
====Transnational criminal organizations====
When Harris took office the ]'s Senate was divided 50–50 between ] and ];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/20/democrats-to-take-senate-majority-when-warnock-ossoff-and-padilla-are-sworn-in.html|title=Democrats take Senate majority, sealing control of the White House and Congress|first=Jacob|last=Pramuk|date=January 20, 2021|publisher=CNBC|access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=October 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025210344/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/20/democrats-to-take-senate-majority-when-warnock-ossoff-and-padilla-are-sworn-in.html|url-status=live}}</ref> this meant that she was often called upon to exercise her power to cast ] as ]. Harris cast her first two tie-breaking votes on February 5. In February and March, Harris's tie-breaking votes were required to pass the ] stimulus package Biden proposed, since no Senate Republicans voted for it.<ref>{{cite news |last=Segers |first=Grace |title=Senate passes $1.9 trillion COVID relief resolution after all-night 'vote-a-rama' |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-relief-package-senate-passes-budget-plan/ |publisher=] |date=February 5, 2021 |access-date=February 7, 2021 |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217042330/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-relief-package-senate-passes-budget-plan/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Maanvi |last2=Greve |first2=Joan E. |last3=Belam |first3=Martin |last4=McKernan |first4=Bethan |last5=Levine |first5=Sam |title=Kamala Harris breaks Senate tie to begin Covid relief package debate – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/mar/04/voting-rights-police-reform-george-floyd-for-the-people-joe-biden-covid-coronavirus-live |work=The Guardian |date=March 5, 2021 |access-date=March 5, 2021 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=March 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306133828/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/mar/04/voting-rights-police-reform-george-floyd-for-the-people-joe-biden-covid-coronavirus-live |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 20, Harris broke ]'s record for tie-breaking votes in the first year of a vice presidency<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cohn |first1=Alicia |title=Pence became ultimate tie-breaker in 2017 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366811-pence-became-ultimate-tie-breaker-in-2017 |work=] |date=December 31, 2017 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027133916/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366811-pence-became-ultimate-tie-breaker-in-2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> when she cast the seventh tie-breaking vote in her first six months.<ref name="senate.gov">{{cite web |title=Votes to Break Ties in the Senate |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/TieVotes.htm |website=senate.gov |access-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118145849/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/TieVotes.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> She cast 13 tie-breaking votes during her first year in office, the most tie-breaking votes in a single year in U.S. history, surpassing ], who cast 12 in 1790.<ref name="senate.gov" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/VPTies.pdf|title=Senate.gov: VPTies.pdf|access-date=February 5, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502114129/https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/VPTies.pdf|archive-date=May 2, 2017}}</ref> On December 5, 2023, Harris broke the record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a vice president, casting her 32nd vote, exceeding ], who cast 31 votes during his nearly eight years in office.<ref name="senate.gov" /><ref name="MostTies2">{{cite web|last1=Lebowitz|first1=Megan|last2=Thorp|first2=Frank|last3=Santaliz|first3=Kate|title=Vice President Harris breaks record for casting the most tie-breaking votes|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/president-harris-breaks-record-casting-tie-breaking-votes-rcna123999|publisher=NBC News|date=December 5, 2023|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205185108/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/president-harris-breaks-record-casting-tie-breaking-votes-rcna123999|url-status=live}}</ref><!--Possible source for expansion: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/05/kamala-harris-vice-president-impossible/618890/--> On November 19, 2021, Harris served as ] from 10:10 to 11:35&nbsp;am EST while Biden underwent a ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Zeke |date=November 19, 2021 |title=Biden to have routine colonoscopy, transfer power to Harris |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-health-jen-psaki-70d7e5903ea41636ee6bbe829fa082a2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119212925/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-health-jen-psaki-70d7e5903ea41636ee6bbe829fa082a2 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |access-date=November 19, 2021 |work=Associated Press News |location=Bethesda, MD}}</ref> She was the first woman, and the third person overall, to assume the powers and duties of the presidency as ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Kate|title=For 85 minutes, Kamala Harris became the first woman with presidential power|date=November 19, 2021|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/19/politics/kamala-harris-presidential-power/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 19, 2021|archive-date=May 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510101502/https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/19/politics/kamala-harris-presidential-power/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Feinberg |first=Andrew |date=November 19, 2021 |title='First woman president': Kamala Harris makes history when she briefly assumes powers of presidency during Biden procedure |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/joe-biden-president-kamala-harris-b1960913.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119195940/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/joe-biden-president-kamala-harris-b1960913.html |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |access-date=November 19, 2021 |work=] |location=Washington, DC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=November 19, 2021 |title=Kamala Harris takes on presidential role – briefly – as Biden has colonoscopy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/19/kamala-harris-presidential-powers-biden-colonoscopy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119203654/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/19/kamala-harris-presidential-powers-biden-colonoscopy |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |access-date=November 19, 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
], California.]]
In early 2011, Harris ordered the arrest of three men with ties to the ] suspected of plotting to murder a family in ], seizing two assault weapons, more than 1000 rounds of ammunition, and $20,000 in cash.<ref name="auto15">{{cite web|first=Monica|last=Dean|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/cartel-suspected-in-murder-for-hire-plot/1916017/|title=Murder-for-Hire Plot Tied to Cartel: Feds|website=NBC San Diego|publisher=]|date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> Later that year, Harris ordered three coordinated law enforcement sweeps in ], the ], and ], resulting in hundreds of gang leader arrests of ], ], and the ]. Law enforcement officers also seized vast quantities of methamphetamine, cash, and illegal firearms, including an anti-tank gun and a rocket launcher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/05/04/17-charged-in-east-bay-meth-weapons-bust/|title=17 Charged In East Bay Meth, Weapons Bust|website=CBS Bay Area|date=May 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jesse|last=McKinley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/us/09gang.html|title=California Raids Net Dozens Suspected of Being Gang Members|website=]|date=June 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sbsun.com/2011/10/06/vagos-gang-crackdown-nets-arrests-weapons-drugs/|title=Vagos gang crackdown nets arrests, weapons, drugs'|newspaper=]publisher=]|date=October 6, 2011}}</ref>


As early as December 2021, Harris was identified as playing a pivotal role in the ] owing to her tie-breaking vote in the evenly divided Senate as well as her being the presumed front-runner in 2024 if Biden did not seek reelection.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dorman |first=John L. |title=Kamala Harris' staff turnover driven by burnout and apprehension to being labeled a 'Harris person': Axios |date=December 4, 2021 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-staff-turnover-office-burnout-opportunities-pigeonholed-2024-democrats-2021-12 |access-date=July 23, 2024 |website=Business Insider |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725005233/https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-staff-turnover-office-burnout-opportunities-pigeonholed-2024-democrats-2021-12 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In summer 2012, Harris signed an accord with her counterpart, the ], ], to improve coordination of law enforcement resources targeting transnational gangs engaging in the sale and trafficking of human beings across the ] border crossing. The accord called for closer integration on investigations between offices and sharing best practices.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/porous-mexican-border-allows-alarming-trend-in-human-trafficking-into-us| title=Porous Mexican Border Allows Alarming Trend in Human Trafficking into US|date=October 1, 2012| work=]|accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref> In September 2012, Harris announced that ] had signed into law two bills she sponsored to combat human trafficking.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/09/gov-jerry-brown-signs-bills-targeting-human-trafficking.html| title=Gov. Jerry Brown signs bills targeting human trafficking|date=September 24, 2012| work=]|accessdate=May 11, 2020}}</ref> In November, Harris presented a report titled "The State of Human Trafficking in California 2012" at a symposium attended by ] ] and Attorney General Morales, outlining the growing prevalence of human trafficking in the state, and highlighting the involvement of transnational gangs in the practice.<ref name="auto10">{{cite web|first=Kamala|last=Harris|url=https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/ht/human-trafficking-2012.pdf|title=The State of Human Trafficking in California 2012|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Yussuf|last=Simmonds|url=https://lasentinel.net/attorney-general-harris-takes-on-human-trafficking.html|title=Attorney General Harris takes on Human Trafficking|newspaper=]|date=November 21, 2012|access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref>


=== Immigration ===
In early 2014, Harris issued a report titled, "Gangs Beyond Borders: California and the Fight Against Transnational Crime",<ref>{{cite web|first=Kamala|last=Harris|url=https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/toc/report_2014.pdf|title=Gangs Beyond Borders: California and the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime|publisher=]|date=March 2014}}</ref> addressing the prominent role of drug, weapons, and human trafficking, money laundering, and technology crimes employed by various ] from ], ], ], and ] and offering recommendations for state and local law enforcement to combat the criminal activity.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jeremy|last=White|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article2593534.html|title=California Attorney General Kamala Harris targets transnational organized crime|website=]|date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> Later that year, Harris led a bipartisan delegation of ] to ] to meet with their Mexican counterparts to discuss joint efforts to address transnational crime, culminating in the signing of a letter of intent with the ] and establishing a bi-national working group on enforcement of money laundering.<ref>{{cite web|first=Melanie|last=Mason|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-xpm-2014-feb-19-la-me-pc-kamala-harris-20140219-story.html|title=Atty. Gen. Harris announces trip to Mexico to address gang issue|website=]|date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> Following the visit to Mexico City, Harris convened a summit focused on the use of technology to fight transnational organized crime with state and federal officials from the U.S., Mexico, and ], including ] ] and ] Luis Martinez.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scvnews.com/states-attorneys-general-to-powwow-with-mexican-counterparts/|title=States' Attorneys General to Powwow with Mexican Counterparts|publisher=SCV News|date=March 17, 2014}}</ref>
] at ] beginning a trip to ], June 2021]]
On March 24, 2021, Biden assigned Harris to work with Mexico and ] nations (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) to stem irregular migration to the ] and address the root causes of migration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Egan |first1=Lauren |last2=Gutierrez |first2=Gabe |last3=Gregorian |first3=Dareh |title=Biden tasks Harris with 'stemming the migration' on southern border |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-taps-harris-lead-coordination-efforts-southern-border-n1261952 |date=March 24, 2021 |access-date=July 22, 2024 |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725005245/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-taps-harris-lead-coordination-efforts-southern-border-n1261952 |url-status=live |publisher=NBC News |quote=A senior administration official said Harris' role would focus on 'two tracks': both curbing the current flow of migrants and implementing a long-term strategy that addresses the root causes of migration.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Harris to lead administration's efforts to stem migration at border |publisher=] |date=March 24, 2021 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-immigration-lead-mexico-border-biden-administration/ |first1=Tim |last1=Perry |first2=Ed |last2=O'Keefe |first3=Camilo |last3=Montoya-Galvez |access-date=July 28, 2024 |quote=She is really going to look at two tracks. She is going to work first on the goal of stemming the flow of irregular migrants to the US, but also at the same time, and as part of the broader context, her real goal is establishment of a strategic partnership with these countries that is based on respect and shared values. |archive-date=July 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728132526/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-immigration-lead-mexico-border-biden-administration/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The ] (RCS) was the product of this effort.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2021 |title=FACT SHEET: Strategy to Address the Root Causes of Migration in Central America |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/29/fact-sheet-strategy-to-address-the-root-causes-of-migration-in-central-america/ |publisher=] |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007225911/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/29/fact-sheet-strategy-to-address-the-root-causes-of-migration-in-central-america/ |archive-date=October 7, 2024}}</ref> Multiple news organizations at the time described Harris as a "border czar",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Shawna |title=Harris to visit Mexico and Guatemala to address 'root causes' of border crossings |url=https://www.axios.com/2021/04/14/harris-immigration-visit-mexico-guatemala |website=] |access-date=July 24, 2024 |date=April 14, 2021 |quote=Harris, appointed by Biden as border czar, said she would be looking at the 'root causes' that drive migration |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725010739/https://www.axios.com/2021/04/14/harris-immigration-visit-mexico-guatemala |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Transcripts |publisher=CNN |date=June 25, 2021 |url=https://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/2106/25/nday.06.html |first=Ed |last=Lavandera |quote=Well, the vice president is expected to land here in El Paso in about an hour and a half. It will be a four-hour visit. And this will be her first visit to the U.S./Mexico border region since she was appointed as the border czar by President Biden. |access-date=July 28, 2024 |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731093625/https://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/2106/25/nday.06.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 24, 2021 |title=Biden tasks Harris with tackling migrant influx on US–Mexico border |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56516332 |access-date=July 25, 2024 |website=BBC News |quote=US President Joe Biden has put Vice-President Kamala Harris in charge of controlling migration at the southern border following a big influx of new arrivals. Mr Biden said he was giving her a 'tough job' but that she was 'the most qualified person to do it'. Announcing Ms Harris's appointment as his immigration czar |archive-date=July 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727150933/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56516332 |url-status=live }}</ref> though Harris rejected the title and never actually held it.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Paz |first1=Christian |title=Kamala Harris and the border: The myth and the facts |url=https://www.vox.com/politics/361635/kamala-harris-border-czar-immigration-mexico-guatemala-rnc |website=] |date=July 18, 2024 |quote=If Vice President Kamala Harris becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, Republicans have a ready-made case against her: They can say she was President Joe Biden's 'border czar', in charge of immigration and the border, and she failed ... There's just one problem. The vice president was never in charge of the border. |access-date=July 22, 2024 |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722142513/https://www.vox.com/politics/361635/kamala-harris-border-czar-immigration-mexico-guatemala-rnc |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Bergengruen |first1=Vera |date=July 23, 2024 |title=Kamala Harris Wasn't the 'Border Czar'. Here's What She Did |url=https://time.com/7001817/kamala-harris-immigration/ |magazine=Time |access-date=July 27, 2024 |archive-date=July 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727120848/https://time.com/7001817/kamala-harris-immigration/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Keith |first=Tamara |date=June 25, 2021 |title=Harris Visits The Southern Border After Trying To Keep The Focus Away From It |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/06/25/1009939218/harris-is-visiting-the-southern-border-after-trying-to-keep-the-focus-away-from- |access-date=July 28, 2024 |publisher=NPR |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731093610/https://www.npr.org/2021/06/25/1009939218/harris-is-visiting-the-southern-border-after-trying-to-keep-the-focus-away-from- |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Alvarez |first=Priscilla |date=February 6, 2023 |title=Harris' mission to tackle migration root causes scores big money support but border crossings remain high |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/06/politics/kamala-harris-migration/index.html |access-date=July 28, 2024 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=July 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703163607/https://cnn.com/cnn/2023/02/06/politics/kamala-harris-migration |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wootson |first=Cleve R. Jr. |date=April 16, 2021 |title=Republicans try to crown Harris the 'border czar.' She rejects the title |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/harris-gop-border/2021/04/16/c3a2f63e-9e24-11eb-8005-bffc3a39f6d3_story.html |access-date=July 27, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725124219/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/harris-gop-border/2021/04/16/c3a2f63e-9e24-11eb-8005-bffc3a39f6d3_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=October 2024}} Republicans and other critics began using the term "border czar" to tie Harris to the ], including in a July 2024 House resolution, despite her having no authority over the border itself.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kight |first1=Stef W. |date=July 24, 2024 |title=Harris border confusion haunts her new campaign |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/07/24/kamala-harris-border-czar-immigratin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724080958/https://www.axios.com/2024/07/24/kamala-harris-border-czar-immigratin |archive-date=July 24, 2024 |access-date=July 24, 2024 |website=] |quote=The announcement led to near-immediate confusion in the media and in the White House over how involved Harris would be, with Republicans and some news outlets, including Axios, giving Harris the unofficial monicker of 'border czar'. ... This article has been updated and clarified to note that Axios was among the news outlets that incorrectly labeled Harris a 'border czar' in 2021.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Uribe |first=Maria Ramirez |date=July 24, 2024 |title='Border czar'? GOP talking point distorts VP Harrris' role |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/jul/24/republican-national-committee-republican/border-czar-kamala-harris-assigned-to-tackle-immig/ |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=politifact |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725234440/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/jul/24/republican-national-committee-republican/border-czar-kamala-harris-assigned-to-tackle-immig/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dale |first=Daniel |date=July 25, 2024 |title=Fact check: Trump made at least 10 false claims about Kamala Harris in a single rally speech |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/25/politics/fact-check-trump-false-claims-kamala-harris/index.html |access-date=July 27, 2024 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=July 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727000235/https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/25/politics/fact-check-trump-false-claims-kamala-harris/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schnell |first=Mychael |date=July 25, 2024 |title=House GOP approves resolution condemning Kamala Harris as 'border czar' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4792373-harris-border-czar-house-gop-resolution/ |access-date=July 27, 2024 |newspaper=The Hill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ulloa |first1=Jazmine |last2=Nehamas |first2=Nicholas |date=July 18, 2024 |title=Why Republicans Keep Calling Kamala Harris the 'Border Czar' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/us/politics/kamala-harris-border-czar.html |access-date=July 28, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728134206/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/us/politics/kamala-harris-border-czar.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=October 2024}}] during her first foreign trip as vice president, June 2021]]Harris conducted her first international trip as vice president in June 2021, visiting Guatemala and Mexico in an attempt to address the root causes of an ].<ref>{{cite news |last=Egan |first=Lauren |title=Harris takes first steps onto world stage, into migration spotlight |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/harris-takes-her-first-steps-world-stage-migration-policy-spotlight-n1269789 |publisher=] |date=June 7, 2021 |access-date=June 9, 2021 |archive-date=June 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617215045/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/harris-takes-her-first-steps-world-stage-migration-policy-spotlight-n1269789 |url-status=live }}</ref> During her visit, in a joint press conference with Guatemalan president ], Harris issued an appeal to potential migrants: "I want to be clear to folks in the region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border: Do not come. Do not come."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez |first1=Sabrina |title=Harris' blunt message in Guatemala: 'Do not come' to U.S. |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/07/harris-message-in-guatemala-do-not-come-492047 |newspaper=] |date=June 7, 2021 |access-date=June 9, 2021 |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911174620/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/07/harris-message-in-guatemala-do-not-come-492047 |url-status=live }}</ref> Her work in Central America led to creation of:
* Task forces on corruption and ]
* The ]<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 9, 2024 |title=Partnership For Central America |url=https://www.centampartnership.org/ |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=Partnership For Central America |language=en-US}}</ref>
* The women's empowerment program in Her Hands, part of the Partnership for Central America<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Her Hands |url=https://www.centampartnership.org/in-her-hands |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=Partnership For Central America |language=en-US |archive-date=August 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240804232221/https://www.centampartnership.org/in-her-hands |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Investment funds for housing and businesses<ref name="Rothkopf">{{cite news |last=Rothkopf |first=David |date=December 17, 2021 |title=Kamala's Conundrum: She's Doing a Great Job But Her Story's Not Getting Out |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/kamala-harris-conundrum-shes-doing-a-great-job-but-her-storys-not-getting-out |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102182753/https://www.thedailybeast.com/kamala-harris-conundrum-shes-doing-a-great-job-but-her-storys-not-getting-out |archive-date=January 2, 2022 |access-date=January 2, 2022 |work=]}}</ref>


=== Foreign policy ===
In 2015, Harris ordered the arrest of 75 individuals in ] and 52 individuals in ] affiliated with the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc30.com/norteo-gang-norteno-tulare-county-visalia/1012269/|title=52 arrested in Tulare County Norteño gang sweep|website = ]|date=October 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/crime/article22510827.html|title=75 arrests, guns and drugs seized in Merced gang take down|website=]|date=May 28, 2015}}</ref> Harris's office also broke up a massive identity theft and tax fraud scam perpetrated by ] in ]. 32 members were arrested on charges that included 283 counts of criminal conspiracy, 299 counts of identity theft, and 226 counts of grand theft, amounting to over $3.3 million stolen by an identity theft scheme and $11 million stolen by a tax fraud scheme.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/08/10/32-gang-members-associates-indicted-in-14-3m-id-theft-tax-fraud-scheme/|title=32 Gang Members, Associates Indicted In $14.3M ID Theft, Tax Fraud Scheme|website=]|date=August 10, 2015}}</ref>
] in ] with Ukrainian president ], February 2024]]Harris met with French president ] in November 2021 to strengthen ] after the ] of a ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Rogers|first=Katie|date=November 10, 2021|title=Harris Meets Macron, Signaling a 'New Era' After Sub Snub, Both Say|work=]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/10/world/europe/france-kamala-harris-macron.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110225005/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/10/world/europe/france-kamala-harris-macron.html |archive-date=November 10, 2021 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=January 2, 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Another meeting was held in November 2022 during Macron's visit to the U.S., resulting in an agreement to strengthen U.S.–France space cooperation across civil, commercial, and national security sectors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cowing |first=Keith |date=November 30, 2022 |title=Vice President Harris' Meeting At NASA With President Macron |url=https://spaceref.com/science-and-exploration/vice-president-harris-meeting-at-nasa-with-president-macron/ |access-date=July 23, 2024 |website=SpaceRef |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725004354/https://spaceref.com/science-and-exploration/vice-president-harris-meeting-at-nasa-with-president-macron/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


In April 2021, Harris said she was the last person in the room before Biden decided to ], adding that Biden had "an extraordinary amount of courage" and "make decisions based on what he truly believes ... is the right thing to do."<ref>{{cite news |last=Bice |first=Allie |date=April 25, 2021 |title=Harris says she had key role in Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal decision |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/25/harris-afghanistan-biden-withdrawal-decision-484581 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823064520/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/25/harris-afghanistan-biden-withdrawal-decision-484581 |archive-date=August 23, 2021 |accessdate=August 20, 2021 |website=]}}</ref> National Security Advisor ] said that Biden "insists she be in every core decision-making meeting. She weighs in during those meetings, often providing unique perspectives."<ref name="Rothkopf" /> Harris assumed a "key diplomatic role" in the Biden administration, particularly after the ] in February 2022, after which she was dispatched to Germany and Poland to rally support for arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.<ref name="Tomlinson">{{cite news |last=Tomlinson |first=Hugh |date=March 17, 2022 |title=Fresh woe for Kamala Harris as another adviser quits |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fresh-woe-for-kamala-harris-as-another-adviser-quits-zssczgzlt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318063019/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fresh-woe-for-kamala-harris-as-another-adviser-quits-zssczgzlt |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2022 |newspaper=]}}</ref>
In 2016, Harris announced wide-sweeping arrests of over 50 members of the ], a.k.a. La Eme, seizing more than 60 firearms, more than $95,000 in cash, and $1.6 million worth of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.highlandnews.net/news/public_safety/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-announces-bust-of-corona-varrio-locos-and-la-eme-gangs/article_18de916c-2e95-11e6-84b8-cb0981f66017.html|title=Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Announces Bust of Corona Varrio Locos and La Eme Gangs Operating in Riverside County|website=Highland Community News|date=June 9, 2016}}</ref> Later that year, Harris's office coordinated with federal agents in a raid on dozens of businesses in the ] operating as a major money-laundering hub for narcotics traffickers in Mexico, arresting nine people on charges of money laundering through a black market peso exchange scheme and seizing nearly $65 million in illegal proceeds.<ref name="auto4">{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Fashion District raided in drug money-laundering probe|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fashion-raids/los-angeles-fashion-district-raided-in-drug-money-laundering-probe-idUSKBN0H52GZ20140910|first=Steve |last=Gorman |agency=Reuters |date=September 10, 2014}}</ref>


] at the White House on July 25, 2024]]
=== Obama appointment speculation ===
]]]
During Obama's presidency, Harris was mentioned as a possible nominee for U.S. Attorney General.<ref>{{cite web |first=Catalina|last=Camia|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/09/25/eric-holder-attorney-general-replacements/16203345/ | title=After Eric Holder: Potential attorney general choices | newspaper=] |location=Mclean, Virginia|date=September 25, 2014 | accessdate=September 25, 2014 }}</ref> Harris publicly stated she was not interested in the job.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-harris-holder-20140925-story.html|title=State Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris says she doesn't want Eric Holder's job|newspaper=]|date=September 25, 2014}}</ref>


In April 2023, Harris visited ] in Maryland with South Korean president ] and agreed to work to strengthen the space alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. "We renew our commitment to strengthen our cooperation in the next frontier of our expanding alliance, and of course that is space," Harris said at a joint news conference with Yoon.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2023 |title=Yoon, Harris agree to strengthen 'space alliance' in visit to NASA center |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/04/26/national/politics/Korea-Yoon-Suk-Yeol-space-cooperation/20230426081803875.html |work=] |access-date=July 24, 2024 |archive-date=July 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723190739/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/04/26/national/politics/Korea-Yoon-Suk-Yeol-space-cooperation/20230426081803875.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
After the death of ] Justice ] in 2016, Harris was speculated to be his replacement as an ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/11/11/164916287/odds-in-favor-of-a-new-supreme-court-justice-in-obamas-second-term |title=What Happens To Supreme Court In Obama's Second Term?: The Two-Way |publisher=NPR |date=November 11, 2012 |accessdate=January 11, 2014}}</ref> However, as her campaign had already begun, Harris publicly stated she was only interested in running for the ] and did not wish to be considered.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kqed.org/news/10867031/kamala-harris-not-interested-in-a-u-s-supreme-court-nomination.html|title=Kamala Harris Not Interested in a U.S. Supreme Court Nomination|publisher=]|date=February 16, 2016}}</ref>


In November 2023, Harris pledged that the Biden administration would place no conditions on ] in its war with ] in ].<ref>{{cite news |title=US will not impose conditions on support for Israel to defend itself – VP Harris |first=William |last=James |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-will-not-impose-conditions-support-israel-defend-itself-vp-harris-2023-11-02/ |work=Reuters |date=November 2, 2023 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |archive-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312135636/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-will-not-impose-conditions-support-israel-defend-itself-vp-harris-2023-11-02/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2024, she criticized Israel's actions during the ], saying, "Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks...This will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in."<ref>{{cite news |title=US VP Harris calls for 'immediate' Gaza truce in rare rebuke of Israel |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/4/us-vp-harris-calls-for-immediate-gaza-ceasefire-in-rare-rebuke-of-israel |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=March 4, 2024 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |archive-date=May 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524163658/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/4/us-vp-harris-calls-for-immediate-gaza-ceasefire-in-rare-rebuke-of-israel |url-status=live }}</ref>{{anchor|"Coconut tree" meme}}
== U.S. Senate (2017–present) ==


===2016 election=== == 2024 presidential election ==
{{Main|Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign}}
{{Main|2016 United States Senate election in California}}
] at a ] rally at ] in ], August 2024]]
]
In April 2023, incumbent president Joe Biden announced ], with Harris as his running mate. After the ], the pair became the party's presumptive nominees in the ]. ] persisted throughout Biden's first term, with renewed scrutiny after his performance in the ], on June 27.
After 24 years as California's ], Senator ] (D-CA) announced her intention to retire from the ] at the end of her term in 2016. Harris was the first candidate to declare her intention to run for Boxer's senate seat. Harris officially announced the launch of her campaign on January 13, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-harris-launches-us-senate-bid-begins-raising-money-20150113-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Kamala Harris launches U.S. Senate bid, begins raising money|first=Seema|last=Mehta|date=January 13, 2015|accessdate=January 13, 2015}}</ref> Harris was a top contender from the beginning of her campaign: weeks after she announced her campaign, a survey by ] showed her leading in a hypothetical match-up against Los Angeles Mayor ], 41% to 16%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/poll-kamala-harris-barbara-boxer-seat-114533 |first=Tarini |last=Parti |title=Internal poll puts Harris well ahead in California Senate race|date=January 23, 2015|work=]}}</ref> Current and former statewide elected officials ], ], ], ], and ] declined to run.<ref name=chiangdeclines>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-chiang-senate-20150123-story.html | title=Treasurer John Chiang declines Senate run, Willie Brown backs Harris | date=January 23, 2015 | accessdate=January 24, 2015 | first=Michael | last=Finnegan | work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/fairfield/garamendi-will-consider-u-s-senate-run | title=Garamendi will consider U.S. Senate run | work=] | last=McCarthy | first=Ryan | date=January 9, 2015 | accessdate=February 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name=tippingoff>{{cite web |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/barbara-boxer-to-retire | title=Barbara Boxer to retire, tipping off blockbuster Senate race | date=January 8, 2015 | accessdate=January 8, 2015 | first=Alex | last=Seitz-Wald | publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article6076293.html | title=Gavin Newsom won't run for Boxer Senate seat | first=Christopher | last=Cadelago | date=January 12, 2015 | accessdate=January 12, 2015 | work=The Sacramento Bee}}</ref>


===Presidential campaign===
In February 2016, the ] voted at its convention to endorse Harris, who received nearly 80% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article62985987.html |first=Christopher |last=Cadelago |title=Kamala Harris receives California Democratic Party endorsement|date=February 27, 2016|work=The Sacramento Bee}}</ref> Three months later, Governor Jerry Brown endorsed her.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-jerry-brown-kamala-harris-endorsement-htmlstory.html|title=California Gov. Jerry Brown backs Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate|date=May 23, 2016|first=Phil|last=Willon}}</ref>
]
On July 21, 2024, Biden ] his reelection campaign and endorsed Harris for president.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Samuels |first1=Brett |last2=Gangitano |first2=Alex |date=July 21, 2024 |title=Biden Endorses Harris as Democratic Nominee After Ending His Candidacy |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4784460-joe-biden-endorses-kamala-harris/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723214700/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4784460-joe-biden-endorses-kamala-harris/ |archive-date=July 23, 2024 |work=] |access-date=July 24, 2024}}</ref> She was also endorsed by ], ] and ], ] and ], the ], and ].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Gamio |first1=Lazaro |last2=Keefe |first2=John |last3=Kim |first3=June |last4=McFadden |first4=Alyce |last5=Park |first5=Andrew |last6=Yourish |first6=Karen |date=July 22, 2024 |title=Many Elected Democrats Quickly Endorsed Kamala Harris. See Who Did. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/22/us/politics/kamala-harris-democrats-endorsement-list.html |access-date=July 22, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722072026/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/22/us/politics/kamala-harris-democrats-endorsement-list.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Democrats who have endorsed Kamala Harris to replace Biden as nominee |first1=Hayden |last1=Godfrey |first2= Adrián |last2=Blanco |first3=Kati |last3=Perry |first4=Hannah |last4=Dormido |first5=Eric |last5=Lau |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2024/kamala-harris-endorsements/ |date=July 21, 2024 |access-date=August 5, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Ebony |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris for president |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/26/politics/barack-michelle-obama-kamala-harris-endorsement/index.html |access-date=August 5, 2024 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=August 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805160641/https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/26/politics/barack-michelle-obama-kamala-harris-endorsement/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bluestein |first1=Greg |date=August 3, 2024 |title=Jimmy Carters next goal is voting for Kamala Harris for president |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/jimmy-carters-next-goal-is-voting-for-kamala-harris/UKCLDIUSSJC6JM4NP7HGOEDCNY/ |access-date=August 3, 2024 |work=] |archive-date=August 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803125750/https://www.ajc.com/politics/jimmy-carters-next-goal-is-voting-for-kamala-harris/UKCLDIUSSJC6JM4NP7HGOEDCNY/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the first 24 hours of her candidacy, her campaign raised $81&nbsp;million in small-dollar donations, the highest single-day total of any presidential candidate in history.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Samuels |first1=Brett |date=July 22, 2024 |title=Harris breaks 24-hour fundraising record after Biden drops out |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4786610-harris-breaks-fundraising-record/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722220814/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4786610-harris-breaks-fundraising-record/ |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |access-date=July 22, 2024 |newspaper=]}}</ref> Had she won, Harris would have been the first female and first Asian-American president of the United States, and the second African-American president after Obama.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 21, 2024 |title=Harris could become the first female president after years of breaking racial and gender barriers |first1=Chris |last1=Megerian |url=https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-president-democrat-biden-96df4c46fab767269056511037776b15 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |work=Associated Press News |archive-date=August 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807074158/https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-president-democrat-biden-96df4c46fab767269056511037776b15 |url-status=live }}</ref> Harris is the first nominee who did not participate in the ] since Vice President ] in ]. She also had shortest general-election presidential campaign in history, at 107 days.


By August 5, Harris had officially secured the nomination via a virtual roll call of delegates.<ref name="KHnom">{{Cite news|last=Kim|first=Seung Min|title=Kamala Harris is now Democratic presidential nominee, will face off against Donald Trump this fall|url=https://apnews.com/article/harris-democratic-presidential-nomination-eb43b6b346cc644b2d195315cb2bfb20|work=Associated Press News|date=August 5, 2024|access-date=August 5, 2024|archive-date=August 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808041440/https://apnews.com/article/harris-democratic-presidential-nomination-eb43b6b346cc644b2d195315cb2bfb20|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Nehamas |first=Nicholas |date=August 6, 2024 |title=Harris Officially Secures Democratic Party's Nomination for President |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/06/us/politics/kamala-harris-president-campaign-2024.html |access-date=August 6, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806062412/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/06/us/politics/kamala-harris-president-campaign-2024.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="HarrisClinches2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-23/harris-crosses-delegate-threshold-in-sign-nomination-is-hers|title=Harris Has Enough Delegates to Clinch Nomination for President |first1=Gregory |last1=Korte |first2=Jordan |last2=Fabian|date=July 22, 2024|access-date=July 22, 2024|publisher=]|archive-date=July 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723020348/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-23/harris-crosses-delegate-threshold-in-sign-nomination-is-hers?srnd=homepage-uk|url-status=live}}</ref> The next day, she announced Minnesota governor ] as ].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Parnes|first1=Amie|last2=Samuels|first2=Brett|last3=Conradis|first3=Brandon|date=August 6, 2024|title=Harris picks Walz for vice president|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4789021-kamala-harris-vp-tim-walz-minnesota/|access-date=August 6, 2024|newspaper=The Hill|archive-date=August 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806130648/https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4789021-kamala-harris-vp-tim-walz-minnesota/|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 22, the fourth day of the ], Harris officially accepted the Democratic nomination for president.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yilek |first=Caitlin |title=12 highlights from the 2024 Democratic National Convention |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dnc-highlights-2024/ |access-date=October 31, 2024 |publisher=CBS News |date=August 23, 2024 |archive-date=September 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927214338/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dnc-highlights-2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She participated in a debate with Trump on September 10; it was widely reported that Harris won the debate.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reinstein |first=Julia |title=Harris and Trump meet for the first time, and shake hands |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/harris-trump-shake-hands-debate-stage/story?id=113569492 |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911013032/https://abcnews.go.com/US/harris-trump-shake-hands-debate-stage/story?id=113569492 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Collinson |first=Stephen |date=September 11, 2024 |title=Analysis: Harris bests Trump in debate but there's no guarantee it will shape the election {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/11/politics/harris-trump-debate-analysis/index.html |access-date=September 27, 2024 |publisher=CNN |language=en |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911083643/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/11/politics/harris-trump-debate-analysis/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Griffiths |first=Brent D. |title=All the signs Trump lost the debate |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-lost-debate-polls-prediction-market-reaction-taylor-swift-rematch-2024-9 |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911182957/https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-lost-debate-polls-prediction-market-reaction-taylor-swift-rematch-2024-9 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barabak |first= Mark Z. |date=September 11, 2024 |title=Column: Trump was Trump in his debate with Kamala Harris — which is why he came across so poorly |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-09-11/trump-harris-presidential-debate-analysis-barabak |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=September 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927055644/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-09-11/trump-harris-presidential-debate-analysis-barabak |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 30, she delivered a half-hour speech at ] in ], intended as a "closing argument" for her campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krieg |first=Gregory |date=October 30, 2024 |title=Harris tries to paint contrast with Trump, arguing 'it doesn't have to be this way' at Ellipse rally {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/29/politics/kamala-harris-ellipse-rally/index.html |access-date=November 2, 2024 |publisher=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fact check: Kamala Harris's speech at the White House Ellipse |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/30/fact-check-kamala-harriss-speech-at-the-white-house-ellipse |access-date=November 6, 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>
In the June 7 primary, Harris came in first with 40% of the vote and won by pluralities in most counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-primary/75-us-senate-formatted.pdf|title=United States Senator (primary results)|publisher=]|date=July 2016}}</ref> On July 19, President ] and Vice President ] endorsed Harris.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Willon|first1=Phil|title=Obama, Biden endorse Kamala Harris for U.S. Senate|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-sac-essential-politics-updates-obama-biden-endorse-kamala-harris-for-1468889660-htmlstory.html|website=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=July 19, 2016|date=July 19, 2016}}</ref>


Harris lost the ] to Trump,<ref>{{cite news |last=Associated Press |title=Trump wins the White House in political comeback rooted in appeals to frustrated voters |url=https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2 |work=AP News |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=November 6, 2024 |archive-date=November 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107003326/https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2 |url-status=live }}</ref> conceding the next day in a speech at her alma mater, Howard University.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2024 |title=Harris concedes before an emotional crowd at her alma mater |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/harris-concedes-presidential-race-trump-emotional-crowd-rcna176106 |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> Losses in the "]" states of ], ], and ] were considered key to her defeat, in addition to losing the swing states of ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last= |first= |date=2024-11-06 |title=Read Vice President Kamala Harris' Full Concession Speech |url=https://time.com/7173617/kamala-harris-concession-speech-full-transcript/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref> Harris's loss in 2024 was part of a global backlash against incumbent parties,<ref name="graveyard">{{Cite news |last=Burn-Murdoch |first=John |date=2024-11-07 |title=Democrats join 2024's graveyard of incumbents |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e8ac09ea-c300-4249-af7d-109003afb893 |access-date=2024-12-05 |work=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2024-elections/383208/donald-trump-victory-kamala-harris-global-trend-incumbents|title=The global trend that pushed Donald Trump to victory|website=Vox|first1=Zack|last1=Beauchamp|date=November 6, 2024|quote=Incumbents everywhere are doing poorly. America just proved it's not exceptional.}}</ref> in part due to the ].<ref name="Global Politics">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/global-politics-conservative-right-shift-ea0e8d05|title=The Progressive Moment in Global Politics is Over|date=December 27, 2024|access-date=December 27, 2024|first1=Bertrand|last1=Benoit|first2=David|last2=Luhnow|first3=Vipal|last3=Monga|website=The Wall Street Journal|quote=Weak economic growth and record immigration are driving gains by the right, especially populists.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Burn-Murdoch |first=John |date=2024-12-29 |title=What the 'year of democracy' taught us, in 6 charts
Harris faced Congresswoman, and fellow Democrat, ], in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-senate-primary-election-20160607-snap-story.html|title=Kamala Harris wins U.S. Senate primary|date=June 7, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> It was the first time a Republican did not appear in a general election for the Senate since California began directly electing senators in 1914.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-senate-primary-election-20160607-snap-story.html|title=Two Democrats will face off for California's U.S. Senate seat, marking first time a Republican will not be in contention|last=Myers|first=John|work=]|date=June 8, 2016}}</ref> In the ], Harris defeated Sanchez, capturing over 60% of the vote, carrying all but four counties.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://graphics.latimes.com/la-na-pol-2016-election-results-california/|title=Live California election results|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> Following her victory, she promised to protect immigrants from the policies of President-elect ] and announced her intention to remain Attorney General through the end of 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-senate-kamala-harris-trump-20161110-story.html|title=Newly elected Kamala Harris vows to defy Trump on immigration|date=November 10, 2016|first=Phil|last=Willon|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-kamala-harris-plans-to-keep-her-day-job-1478832067-htmlstory.html|title=Essential Politics November archives|last=Willon|first=Phil|date=December 1, 2016|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|issn=0458-3035|access-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref>
|url=https://www.ft.com/content/350ba985-bb07-4aa3-aa5e-38eda7c525dd |access-date=2024-12-30 |work=Financial Times|quote=The billions who voted in 2024 sent an angry message to incumbents, and warmed to populists on left and right}}</ref> All 50 states and ] trended rightward compared to the 2020 presidential election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/how-the-states-vote-relative-to-the-nation-a-2024-update/|title=How the States Vote Relative to the Nation: A 2024 Update|first1=Kyle|last1=Kondik|date=December 19, 2024|access-date=January 6, 2025|website=Sabato's Crystal Ball}}</ref> On January 6, 2025, Harris oversaw the ] of Trump and Vance as the winners of the election.


=== 2017 === == Political positions ==
{{Main|Political positions of Kamala Harris}}
]
Harris's domestic platform supports national ], ], stricter ], and limited legislation to address ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2024 |title=Where does Kamala Harris stand on climate change? |url=https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/08/30/kamala-harris-vs-climate-where-she-stands-on-the-green-new-deal-fossil-fuels-and-pollution |access-date=September 5, 2024 |website=euronews |language=en |archive-date=September 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906235200/https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/08/30/kamala-harris-vs-climate-where-she-stands-on-the-green-new-deal-fossil-fuels-and-pollution |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{cite news |last1=Astor |first1=Maggie |date=July 21, 2024 |title=Where Kamala Harris Stands on the Issues: Abortion, Immigration and More |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/us/politics/kamala-harris-abortion-immigration-economy-israel.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721215822/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/21/us/politics/kamala-harris-abortion-immigration-economy-israel.html |archive-date=July 21, 2024 |access-date=July 22, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="SenateStances" /> On immigration, she supports an earned ] and increases in border security, as well as addressing the root causes of illegal immigration by means of the RCS program.<ref name="b533">{{cite news | last1=Sacchetti | first1=Maria | last2=Rivera | first2=Anthony | last3=Cheeseman | first3=Abbie | last4=McDaniel | first4=Justine | title=Kamala Harris's immigration policies, explained | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=September 10, 2024 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2023/presidential-candidates-2024-policies-issues/kamala-harris-immigration/ | access-date=September 10, 2024 | archive-date=September 12, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912195309/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2023/presidential-candidates-2024-policies-issues/kamala-harris-immigration/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=April 19, 2022 |title=Report on the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root causes of Migration in Central America |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/19/report-on-the-u-s-strategy-for-addressing-the-root-causes-of-migration-in-central-america/ |access-date=October 17, 2024 |website=The White House |language=en-US |archive-date=September 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917100909/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/19/report-on-the-u-s-strategy-for-addressing-the-root-causes-of-migration-in-central-america/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 28, after Trump signed ], barring citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days, she condemned the order and was one of many to describe it as a "Muslim ban".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/27/politics/trump-plans-to-sign-executive-action-on-refugees-extreme-vetting/index.html|title=Trump signs executive order to keep out 'radical Islamic terrorists'|date=January 30, 2017|first=Dan|last=Merica}}</ref> She called ] ] at home to gather information and push back against the executive order.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ting |first1=Eric |title=Kamala Harris says John Kelly got mad when she called him at home during the travel ban |url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-2020-John-Kelly-travel-ban-book-13518859.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=January 8, 2019}}</ref>


On foreign policy, Harris supports continued military aid to ] and ] in their respective wars, but insists that Israel should agree to ] and work toward a ].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Al-Sheikh |first1=Y. L. |last2=Fayyazi |first2=Nickan |date=July 26, 2024 |title=Kamala Harris Will Shift on Gaza Only if We Make Her |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/kamala-harris-gaza-policy-pressure/ |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=] |issn=0027-8378 |archive-date=July 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727215050/https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/kamala-harris-gaza-policy-pressure/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She opposes an ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2024 |title=Harris Says She Will Not Impose Stricter Conditions On Weapons For Israel |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-gaza-war-biden-arms-policy_n_66d12f4ee4b0099ccb749660 |access-date=September 5, 2024 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911222006/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kamala-harris-gaza-war-biden-arms-policy_n_66d12f4ee4b0099ccb749660 |url-status=live }}</ref> Harris has departed from Biden on economic issues, proposing what has been called a "populist" economic agenda.<ref name="politicoAug16">{{Cite news |date=August 16, 2024 |title=Harris breaks from 'Bidenomics' in North Carolina |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/16/kamala-harris-economic-policy-north-carolina-00174451 |website=] |language=en-US |access-date=August 30, 2024 |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822214005/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/16/kamala-harris-economic-policy-north-carolina-00174451 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wapoaug16">{{Cite news |date=August 16, 2024 |title=Kamala Harris unveils populist policy agenda, with $6,000 credit for newborns |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/08/16/kamala-harris-2024-policy-child-tax-credit/ |newspaper=] |language=en-US |access-date=August 30, 2024 |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817013422/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/08/16/kamala-harris-2024-policy-child-tax-credit/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In February, Harris spoke in opposition to Trump's cabinet picks ], for ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-201702-htmlstory.html |title=Sen. Kamala Harris speaks out against Betsy DeVos as part of Democrats' 24-hour blitz on Senate floor|date=February 6, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> and ], for ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newsone.com/3661775/sen-kamala-harris-will-argue-against-confirming-sessions/ |accessdate=April 22, 2020 |title=Sen. Kamala Harris: 'You Deserve An Attorney General Who Recognizes The Full Human Quality Of All People'|date=February 8, 2017|publisher=newsone.com}}</ref> In early March, she called on Sessions to resign, after it was reported that Sessions spoke twice with ] ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article135980818.html|title=Kamala Harris calls on attorney general to resign over contacts with the Russians|date=March 2, 2017|newspaper=Sacramento Bee|first=Sean|last=Cockerham}}</ref>


===Abortion===
In April, Harris voted against the confirmation of ] to the ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adam Liptak|author-link=Adam Liptak |last2=Matt Flegenheimer |title=Neil Gorsuch Confirmed by Senate as Supreme Court Justice |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/politics/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court.html |accessdate=April 15, 2017 |work=] |date=April 8, 2017 |page=A1}}</ref> Later that month, Harris took her first foreign trip to the Middle East, visiting California troops stationed in ] and the ] in Jordan, the largest camp for Syrian refugees.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sen. Kamala Harris visits troops, refugee camp in Middle East
Harris supports ], and reproductive health care was central to her presidential campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Jasmine |date=2023-06-24 |title=Kamala Harris found her voice on abortion rights in the year after Dobbs. Now she's making it central to her 2024 message |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/24/politics/kamala-harris-abortion-rights/index.html |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Issues – Kamala Harris for President |url=https://kamalaharris.com/issues/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128072109/https://kamalaharris.com/issues/ |archive-date=November 28, 2024 |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=Harris-Walz }}</ref> She has been called "the Biden administration's voice for reproductive rights"<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mullin |first=Emily |title=Abortion Rights Groups Rush to Back Kamala Harris |date=23 July 2024 |url=https://www.wired.com/story/kamala-harris-2024-election-reproductive-rights-abortion/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |magazine=] |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> and "the White House’s voice of unflinching support for reproductive health rights."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Armour |first=Stephanie |date=2024-07-21 |title=Harris, Once Biden's Voice on Abortion, Would Take an Outspoken Approach to Health |url=https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/kamala-harris-health-agenda-abortion-womens-health-2024-election/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=KFF Health News |language=en-US}}</ref> Several abortion rights and women's organizations supported her after Biden withdrew from the race, with ] saying "there is nobody who has fought as hard for abortion rights and access" and ] calling her "our most powerful advocate and messenger" on reproductive rights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 2024 |last=Durkee |first=Alison |title=Kamala Harris Could Make Abortion A Bigger Issue In Election Over Biden—Here's Why |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/07/22/kamala-harris-could-make-abortion-a-bigger-issue-in-election-over-biden-heres-why/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>
|url=https://abc7.com/sen-kamala-harris-syria-refugees-town-hall/1885500/ |accessdate=May 16, 2019 |work=] |date=April 17, 2017 }}</ref>


As of 2020, Harris had a 100% rating from the ] advocacy group ], and a 0% rating from the ] group ].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/120012/kamala-harris |access-date=27 August 2024 |title=Kamala Harris's Ratings and Endorsements |date=July 15, 2018 |website=]}}</ref> EMILY's List endorsed her in 2015, during her senatorial campaign.<ref name="Emily">{{cite news |first=Seema |last=Mehta |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-emilys-list-backs-kamala-harris-senate-bid-20150318-story.html |title=Emily's List backs Kamala Harris' Senate bid |work=] |date=March 19, 2015 |access-date=27 August 2024 }}</ref>
In June, Harris garnered media attention for her questioning of ], the ], over the role he played in the ] of ], the ].<ref name="Harris reminded">{{cite news |last=Jalonick |first=Mary Clare |agency=Associated Press |date=June 7, 2017 |title=Harris Reminded to Be Respectful During Intel Hearing |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-06-07/gop-senator-admonishes-democrat-for-persistent-questioning |work=U.S. News & World Report |location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref> The prosecutorial nature of her questioning caused Senator ], an '']'' member of the Intelligence Committee, and Senator ], the committee chairman, to interrupt her and request that she be more respectful of the witness. A week later, she questioned ], the ], on the same topic.<ref name="Sessions nervous">{{cite news |last=Finnegan |first=Michael |date=June 14, 2017 |title=Sen. Kamala Harris leaves Sessions 'nervous' in interrogation over his refusal to disclose conversations with Trump |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-essential-washington-updates-sen-kamala-harris-and-sessions-face-1497387259-htmlstory.html |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Sessions stated that her questioning "makes me nervous". Burr's singling out of Harris sparked suggestion in the news media that his behavior was sexist, with commentators arguing that Burr would not treat a male Senate colleague in a similar manner.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ansari |first=M. K. |date=June 8, 2017 |title=The Silencing Of Kamala Harris During The Senate Hearing Was Sexist: Why do people take issue when a woman asks direct questions? |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sen-kamala-harris-shushed-women-politicians-are_us_593983bce4b094fa859f1668 |work=HuffPost |location=New York}}</ref>


=== LGBT rights ===
In December, Harris called for the resignation of Senator ], asserting on Twitter, "Sexual harassment and misconduct should not be allowed by anyone and should not occur anywhere."<ref>Casey Tolan, "", ''San Jose Mercury News'', December 6, 2017.</ref> Twelve months later, longtime aide Larry Wallace resigned from Harris's Senate staff after ''The Sacramento Bee'' uncovered a $400,000 settlement paid by the State of California for Wallace's sexual harassment of his executive assistant while both worked in Harris's Attorney General office.<ref>Alexei Koseff, "", ''Sacramento Bee'', December 5, 2018.</ref>
As California Attorney General, Harris refused to defend ] in federal court, and after Prop 8 was struck down in ] in 2013, she ordered the Los Angeles County Clerk's office to "start the marriages immediately". She officiated at the wedding of the plaintiffs in the case, Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, at ].<ref>{{Cite web |work=Queerty |first=Alex |last=Reimer |url=https://www.queerty.com/watch-2013-clip-of-kamala-harris-ordering-clerks-to-issue-marriage-licenses-to-gay-couples-immediately-resurfaces-20240723 |date=2024-07-23 |title=WATCH: 2013 clip of Kamala Harris ordering clerks to issue marriage licenses to gay couples 'immediately' resurfaces |access-date=4 October 2024 }}</ref>


As a member of the U.S. Senate, Harris co-sponsored the ].<ref name=":10">{{Cite news|first=Chris |last=Johnson |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/10/25/kamala-harris-rises-as-lgbt-favorite-for-2020-theres-just-one-thing/ |title=Kamala Harris rises as LGBT favorite for 2020{{snd}}there's just one thing |newspaper=] |date=October 25, 2017 |access-date=16 October 2024 }}</ref>
===2018===
]
In January, Harris was appointed to the ] after the resignation of former Senator ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2018/01/09/democrats-add-harris-booker-to-senate-judiciary-committee/ |title=Democrats add Harris, Booker to Senate Judiciary Committee| newspaper=The Washington Post | accessdate=May 12, 2020| date=January 9, 2018 }}</ref> Later that month, Harris questioned ] ] for favoring Norwegian immigrants over others and claiming to be unaware that Norway is a predominantly white country.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Victoria |title=Kamala Harris Calls Bullsh*t on Homeland Security Secretary for Supporting Trump's Alleged 'Sh*thole' Remarks |url=https://www.complex.com/life/2018/01/kamala-harris-homeland-security-secretary-kirstjen-nielsen-trump-shithole |accessdate=November 9, 2018 |work=Complex |date=January 16, 2018}}</ref>{{Better source|reason=Citation is to Complex.com, which may not be WP:RS and may not be entirely objective (note the "All we know is we're ready for the Winfrey-Harris ticket, or should it be Harris-Winfrey?" editorial comment within the source article).|date=July 2020}}


In July 2018, Harris led her colleagues in introducing the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2018, a nationwide bill that would curtail the effectiveness of the so-called ], an issue she pioneered as District Attorney of San Francisco.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-ban-use-of-gay-and-trans-panic-defense |title=Harris, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Ban Use of Gay and Trans Panic Defense |publisher=Senator Kamala Harris |access-date=May 8, 2020 |date=July 16, 2018 |archive-date=January 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125063404/https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-ban-use-of-gay-and-trans-panic-defense|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In April and May, Harris questioned Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for ] and whistleblower ] on reports that ] misappropriated the data from 87 million Facebook users to suppress the votes of African Americans and the extent to which Facebook violated the privacy of its users.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coldewey |first1=Devin |title=Sen. Harris puts Zuckerberg between a rock and a hard place for not disclosing data misuse |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/10/sen-harris-puts-zuckerberg-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-for-not-disclosing-data-misuse/ |accessdate=November 9, 2018 |work=Techcrunch |date=April 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lapowsky |first1=Issie |title=Senators Grill Whistleblower on Cambridge Analytica's Inner Workings|url=https://www.wired.com/story/christopher-wylie-cambridge-analytica-senate-testimony/|accessdate=May 12, 2020 |work=Wired |date=May 16, 2018}}</ref>


In October 2019, Harris participated in a CNN/Human Rights Campaign town hall on LGBTQ rights and pledged her support for "all of the folks who are fighting for equality" in cases that would determine whether gay and transgender people are protected under laws banning federal workplace discrimination.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/465347-democratic-2020-hopefuls-push-lgbtq-agenda-at-town-hall/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |title=Democratic 2020 hopefuls tout LGBTQ plans at town hall|first=Julia|last=Manchester|date=October 10, 2019|work=] }}</ref> Harris drew attention to the epidemic of ]s committed against Black ] (at the time 20 killed that year), noting that LGBTQ people of color are doubly discriminated against.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0BiwOZvvkc |access-date=16 October 2024 |title=Kamala Harris at CNN's LGBTQ Town Hall|date=October 10, 2019 |via=] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2020/08/12/kamala-harris-trans-rights-trangender-pose-angelica-ross-lgbt/ |access-date=4 October 2024 |first=Reiss |last=Smith |title=Pose star Angelica Ross believes Kamala Harris 'holds herself accountable' on her uneven trans rights record|website=] |date=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
In May, Harris heatedly questioned Secretary Nielsen about the ], under which children were separated from their families when the parents were taken into custody for illegally entering the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/05/16/homeland-security-chief-defends-policy-separates-families-entering-u-s/614505002/ |title=Homeland Security chief defends policy that separates families entering U.S. illegally |work=] |date=May 16, 2018 |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |author=Bacon, John}}</ref> In June, after visiting one of the detention facilities near the border in San Diego,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sloss |first1=Jason |title='Utter despair': Sen. Harris visits migrant mothers separated from children in San Diego |url=https://fox5sandiego.com/2018/06/22/sen-kamala-harris-to-visit-migrant-mothers-separated-from-children-in-san-diego/ |accessdate=November 9, 2018 |work=Fox 5 San Diego |date=June 22, 2018}}</ref> Harris became the first senator to demand Nielsen's resignation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Byrne |first1=Trapper |title=Kamala Harris says DHS chief should resign over immigrant family separations |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-says-DHS-chief-should-resign-over-13004563.php |accessdate=May 8, 2020 |work=Advocate |date=June 18, 2018}}</ref>


Harris has since been criticized for a 2015 federal court motion she filed to block gender-affirming medical care for a transgender inmate serving in a California state prison while she was California Attorney General, after the ] had ruled that denying that treatment violated the ]'s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Chris |title=Harris seeks to block gender reassignment for trans inmate |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/05/05/harris-renews-effort-to-block-gender-reassignment-for-trans-inmate/ |access-date=23 July 2024 |work=Washington Blade |date=5 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722133824/https://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/05/05/harris-renews-effort-to-block-gender-reassignment-for-trans-inmate/ |archive-date=July 22, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sosin |first1=Kate |title=Kamala Harris is a complicated choice for some LGBTQ+ people |url=https://19thnews.org/2020/08/kamala-harris-complicated-lgbtq-choice/ |website=The 19th News |date=August 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723035303/https://19thnews.org/2020/08/kamala-harris-complicated-lgbtq-choice/ |access-date=23 July 2024|archive-date=July 23, 2024 }}</ref>
In the September and October, ], Harris questioned ] about a meeting he may have had regarding the Mueller Investigation with a member of ], the law firm founded by the President's personal lawyer ]. Kavanaugh was unable to answer and repeatedly deflected.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zhou |first1=Li |title=Kamala Harris's mysterious Kasowitz question during the Kavanaugh hearings, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2018/9/6/17826498/kamala-harris-kasowitz-question-kavanaugh-hearings |accessdate=May 4, 2020 |work=Vox |date=September 6, 2018}}</ref> Harris also participated in questioning the FBI Director's limited scope of the investigation on Kavanaugh regarding allegations of sexual assault.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ring |first1=Trudy |title=FBI Head Stonewalls as Kamala Harris Grills Him on Kavanaugh Probe |url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/2018/10/10/fbi-head-stonewalls-kamala-harris-grills-him-kavanaugh-probe |accessdate=November 9, 2018 |work=Advocate |date=October 10, 2018}}</ref> She joined her colleagues in voting against his confirmation.


=== Criminal justice ===
Harris was a target of the ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Sam |last2=McGough |first2=Mike |last3=Yoon-Hendricks |first3=Alex |title=Suspicious package in Sacramento addressed to Sen. Kamala Harris, sources say |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article220670830.html |accessdate=May 15, 2020 |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=October 26, 2018}}</ref>
In December 2018, Harris voted for the ], legislation aimed at reducing ] rates among federal prisoners by expanding job training and other programs, in addition to forming an expansion of early release programs and modifications on sentencing laws such as ]s for nonviolent drug offenders, "to more equitably punish drug offenders".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/us/politics/senate-criminal-justice-bill.html |access-date=16 October 2024 |title=Senate Passes Bipartisan Criminal Justice Bill|first=Nicholas|last=Fandos|date=December 18, 2018|newspaper=]}}</ref>


In March 2020, Harris was one of 15 senators to sign a letter to the ] and private prison companies ], ], and ] requesting information on their strategy to address the ], asserting that it was "critical that have a plan to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus to incarcerated individuals and correctional staff, along with their families and loved ones, and provide treatment to incarcerated individuals and staff who become infected."<ref>{{cite news|first=Zack|last=Budryk|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/486907-democratic-senators-ask-prison-operators-for-answers-on-coronavirus-plans/ |access-date=4 October 2024 |title=Democratic senators ask prison operators for answers on coronavirus plans|date=March 10, 2020|work=]}}</ref>
In December, the Senate passed the ] (S. 3178), sponsored by Harris.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/us/lynching-federal-hate-crime.html|title=Senate Unanimously Passes Bill Making Lynching a Federal Crime|last=Zaveri|first=Mihir|date=December 20, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 6, 2018|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The bill, which died in the House, would have made lynching a federal hate crime.<ref>"," Congress.gov.</ref>


In June 2020, after a campaign by a coalition of community groups, including ], Los Angeles Mayor ] announced ] budget cuts of $150&nbsp;million.<ref name=LAPD>{{cite news |title=Growing the LAPD was gospel at City Hall. George Floyd changed that |first1=James |last1=Rainey |first2=Dakota |last2=Smith |first3=Cindy |last3=Chang |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-05/eric-garcetti-lapd-budget-cuts-10000-officers-protests |work=] |date=June 5, 2020 |access-date=16 October 2024 }}</ref> Harris supported the decision:<ref name=Garcetti>{{cite news |title=Sen. Kamala Harris voices support of LA Mayor Garcetti's call for police reform, budget cuts |url=https://abc7.com/george-floyd-death-kamala-harris-protests-police-brutality/6239699/ |work=ABC7 News |date=June 10, 2020 |access-date=4 October 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Alexander |last=Bolton |title=Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/502187-harris-grapples-with-defund-the-police-movement-amid-veep-talk/ |access-date=16 October 2024 |work=] |date=June 11, 2020}}</ref>
===2019===
]


In 2020 Harris tweeted in support of donations to the ], a ] assisting those arrested in the ], though she did not donate to the fund herself.<ref name="e039">{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Esme |title=Despite Trump claim and 2020 tweet showing support, Harris never donated to Minnesota Freedom Fund |website=CBS Minnesota |date=2024-07-25 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/donald-trump-kamala-harris-minnesota-freedom-fund-donation/ |access-date=2024-07-26}}</ref>
On March 22, Harris called for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to testify before Congress about Special Counsel ]'s investigation after he submitted his report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. "We need total transparency here," Harris said.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/2020-democrats-demand-mueller-report-be-made-public-n986511 |title='Release the report. Release the report. Release the report.' 2020 Dems demand Mueller report be made public. |publisher=] |date=March 22, 2019 |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |author=Clark, Dartunorro}}</ref> Two days later, Barr released a 4-page "summary" of the redacted ], which was criticized as a deliberate mischaracterization of its conclusions.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/media-beware-impeachment-hearings-will-be-the-trickiest-test-of-covering-trump/2019/11/08/1f2b0aac-0239-11ea-8501-2a7123a38c58_story.html |title=Media beware: Impeachment hearings will be the trickiest test of covering Trump |first=Margaret |last=Sullivan |date=November 10, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=November 11, 2019 }}</ref> Later that month, Harris was one of twelve Democratic senators to sign a letter led by ] that questioned the decision of Attorney General Barr to offer "his own conclusion that the President's conduct did not amount to obstruction of justice" and called for an investigation into whether Barr's summary of the Mueller Report and his April 18 news conference were misleading.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/30/william-barr-investigation-mueller-1293214|title=Senate Dems call on DOJ watchdog to investigate Barr|first=Marianne|last=Levine|date=April 30, 2019|work=Politico}}</ref>


Harris's criminal justice record has been seen as mixed, with critics calling her "tough on crime" even though she called herself a "progressive prosecutor", citing her reluctance to release prisoners and anti-truancy policies. In her 2009 book, Harris criticized liberals for what she called "biases against law enforcement".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lopez|first=German|date=2019-01-23|title=Kamala Harris's controversial record on criminal justice, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2019/1/23/18184192/kamala-harris-president-campaign-criminal-justice-record|access-date=2021-09-04|website=Vox|language=en}}</ref>
On May 1, 2019, Barr testified before the ] one day after it was reported that ] ] told Barr his 4-page summary of the ] failed to "fully capture the findings".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/mueller-complained-that-barrs-letter-did-not-capture-context-of-trump-probe/2019/04/30/d3c8fdb6-6b7b-11e9-a66d-a82d3f3d96d5_story.html |title=Mueller complained that Barr's letter did not capture 'context' of Trump probe |date=April 30, 2019 |work=] |accessdate=May 16, 2020}}</ref> During the hearing, Barr remained defiant about the misrepresentations in the four-page summary he released ahead of the full report.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barr defiant amid furor over his handling of Mueller report|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/30/politics/bill-barr-hearing-congress-senate/index.html |first=Laura |last=Jarrett|publisher=] |date=May 2, 2019}}</ref> First, Harris asked whether Barr had reviewed the underlying evidence before deciding not to charge the President with obstruction of justice, to which Barr admitted that neither he, ], nor anyone in his office reviewed the evidence supporting the report before making the charging decision.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamala Harris Guts Barr Like a Fish, Leaves Him Flopping on the Deck |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/05/kamala-harris-william-barr |first=Bess |last=Levin|work=] |date=May 1, 2019}}</ref> Harris then asked:


== Personal life ==
{{quote|"Has the President or anyone at the White House ever asked or suggested that you open an investigation of anyone? Yes or no, please, sir."}}
{{see also|Family of Kamala Harris}}
] Doug Emhoff at the White House, May 2024]]
In the 1990s, Harris dated ], ] (1980–1995) and then ] (1996–2004).<ref name="latimes-brown-harris" /> In 2001, she briefly dated talk show host ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insideedition.com/kamala-harris-once-dated-talk-show-host-montel-williams-55097|title=Kamala Harris Once Dated Talk Show Host Montel Williams|website=Inside Edition|date=August 8, 2019|access-date=August 8, 2020|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518081741/https://www.insideedition.com/kamala-harris-once-dated-talk-show-host-montel-williams-55097|url-status=live}}</ref>


Harris met her husband, attorney ], through a mutual friend who set them up on a blind date in 2013.<ref name="Wright">{{Cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Jasmine|last2=Stracqualursi|first2=Veronica|date=January 15, 2021|title=Harris and Emhoff recall first date: 'It felt like we had known each other forever'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/15/politics/kamala-harris-doug-emhoff-first-date-cnntv/index.html|access-date=January 18, 2021|publisher=CNN|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117231947/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/15/politics/kamala-harris-doug-emhoff-first-date-cnntv/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Emhoff, who was born in a Jewish family, was an entertainment lawyer who became partner-in-charge at ]'s Los Angeles office.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wright|first1=Jasmine|date=November 20, 2021|title=Second family becomes first to affix a mezuzah on executive home'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/20/politics/mezuzah-vice-president-home/index.htmll|access-date=January 18, 2024|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref name="Wright" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.venable.com/douglas-c-emhoff/|title=Douglas C. Emhoff|publisher=]|access-date=May 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706110444/https://www.venable.com/douglas-c-emhoff/|archive-date=July 6, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Harris and Emhoff married on August 22, 2014, in ].<ref>{{cite news|first1=David |last1=Siders|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article2607685.html|title=Kamala Harris married in Santa Barbara ceremony|work=]|date=August 25, 2014|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817181737/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article2607685.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris is stepmother to Emhoff's two children, Cole and ], from his previous marriage to the film producer ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a27422434/kamala-harris-stepmom-mothers-day/|title=Sen. Kamala Harris on Being 'Momala' |last1=Harris |first1=Kamala |date=May 10, 2019|website=Elle|access-date=May 11, 2019|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812185005/https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a27422434/kamala-harris-stepmom-mothers-day/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{as of|2024|08|df=US}}, Harris and her husband had an estimated net worth of $8{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2024/05/26/heres-how-much-kamala-harris-is-worth/ |first1=Kyle |last1=Khan-Mullins |date=May 26, 2024 |title=Here's How Much Kamala Harris is Worth |website=] |access-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822075348/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2024/05/26/heres-how-much-kamala-harris-is-worth/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Simmone |last1=Shah |url=https://time.com/7001574/kamala-harris-net-worth/ |title=What We Know About Kamala Harris' Net Worth |date=July 23, 2024 |magazine=] |access-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822092809/https://time.com/7001574/kamala-harris-net-worth/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Barr stuttered, unable to answer her question. Thereafter, Harris called for Barr to resign, adding that he refused to answer her questions because he could open himself up to ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamala Harris accuses Barr of not answering her question to avoid exposure to perjury|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/02/politics/kamala-harris-bill-barr-hearing-cnntv/index.html |first=Veronica |last=Stracqualursi|publisher=] |date=May 2, 2019}}</ref> Later that day, Harris said Barr's responses to her questions disqualified him from serving as U.S. attorney general.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/dems-grill-barr-amid-reports-mueller-s-frustration-n1000546 |title=Barr defends himself amid calls for resignation, slights Mueller's 'snitty' letter |publisher=] |date=May 1, 2019 |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |author=Shabad, Rebecca}}</ref> Two days later, Harris demanded again that the Department of Justice Inspector General ] investigate whether Attorney General Barr acceded to pressure from the White House to investigate his political enemies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Harris urges DOJ watchdog to probe whether Trump asked Barr to investigate 'enemies'|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/03/kamala-harris-barr-trump-1301502 |work=] |date=May 3, 2019}}</ref> In the aftermath of her questioning, President Trump reportedly called Harris "nasty".<ref>{{cite news |title=Trump's New 'Nasty' Woman: Kamala Harris|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/02/us/politics/trump-kamala-harris-barr.html |newspaper=] |date=May 2, 2019}}</ref>


Harris is a ], holding membership of the ], a ] of the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kamala Harris talks about her own faith and how it might influence a Biden-Harris White House |url=https://religionnews.com/2020/10/28/kamala-harris-talks-about-her-own-faith-and-how-it-might-influence-a-biden-harris-white-house/ |access-date=November 9, 2020 |last1=Mwaura |first1=Maina |website=Religion News Service |date=October 28, 2020 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107114102/https://religionnews.com/2020/10/28/kamala-harris-talks-about-her-own-faith-and-how-it-might-influence-a-biden-harris-white-house/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Harris brings Baptist, interfaith roots to Democratic ticket |access-date=August 13, 2020 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/harris-brings-baptist-interfaith-roots-to-democratic-ticket/2020/08/12/2d319e6a-dc57-11ea-b4f1-25b762cdbbf4_story.html |last1=Schor |first1=Elana |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 12, 2020 |archive-date=September 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903200811/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/harris-brings-baptist-interfaith-roots-to-democratic-ticket/2020/08/12/2d319e6a-dc57-11ea-b4f1-25b762cdbbf4_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=5 faith facts about Biden's veep pick, Kamala Harris – a Baptist with Hindu family |first1=Yonat |last1=Shimron |url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/08/12/faith-facts-about-bidens/ |date=August 12, 2020 |access-date=August 13, 2020|website=The Salt Lake Tribune|archive-date=August 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812175945/https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/08/12/faith-facts-about-bidens/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Find A Church|url=https://www.abc-usa.org/find-a-church/|access-date=August 13, 2020|website=ABCUSA|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806062430/https://www.abc-usa.org/find-a-church/|url-status=live}}</ref> She is a member of ], an invitation-only social and service organization of prominent Black American women.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 22, 2020|title=America's black upper class and Black Lives Matter|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/08/22/americas-black-upper-class-and-black-lives-matter|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=February 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207154050/https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/08/22/americas-black-upper-class-and-black-lives-matter|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Pitts |first1=Myron B. |title=Myron B. Pitts: Sen. Kamala Harris, VP-elect, shines light on The Links |date=November 14, 2020 |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/columns/2020/11/14/myron-b-pitts-sen-kamala-harris-vp-elect-shines-light-links/6180696002/|access-date=February 7, 2022|website=]|archive-date=February 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207185038/https://www.fayobserver.com/story/news/columns/2020/11/14/myron-b-pitts-sen-kamala-harris-vp-elect-shines-light-links/6180696002/|url-status=live}}</ref> Harris is a gun owner.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Megerian |first1=Chris |title=Kamala Harris, gun owner, talks firearms at debate |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/kamala-harris-gun-owner-talks-firearms-debate-113587365 |newspaper=] |access-date=September 11, 2024 |date=September 10, 2024 |archive-date=September 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911155136/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/kamala-harris-gun-owner-talks-firearms-debate-113587365 |url-status=live }}</ref>
That December, Harris led a group of Democratic Senators and civil rights organizations in demanding the removal of White House senior adviser ] after emails published by the ] revealed frequent contacts with ] website editors concerning racial and immigration issues.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamala Harris Leads Senators In Demanding 'Immediate Removal' Of Stephen Miller|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/stephen-miller-kamala-harris-senators-letter-white-nationalist_n_5ded8571e4b00563b8534265 |first=Christopher |last=Mathias|work=] |date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>


===2020=== == Public image ==
{{Main|Public image of Kamala Harris}}Though the public had an unfavorable view of Harris as vice president, setting a record low,<ref name=":1" /> her public image improved after Biden withdrew his candidacy for reelection. Notably, her approval rating rose 13% among Democrats.<ref>{{cite web |last=Brenan |first=Megan |date=August 22, 2024 |title=Democrats Give Harris Nearly Unanimous Positive Ratings |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/649127/democrats-give-harris-nearly-unanimous-positive-ratings.aspx |access-date=August 23, 2024 |website=Gallup.com |language=en |archive-date=August 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822235159/https://news.gallup.com/poll/649127/democrats-give-harris-nearly-unanimous-positive-ratings.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>]" during a speech on May 10, 2023.]]
]
Ahead of the ] on January 16, 2020, Harris delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate, stating her views on the integrity of the American justice system and the principle that nobody is above the law:


Harris's term as vice president has seen high staff turnover—including the departures of her chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, press secretary, deputy press secretary, communications director, and chief speechwriter<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cadelago |first1=Christopher |last2=Lippman |first2=Daniel |last3=Daniels |first3=Eugene |date=December 4, 2021 |title='Not a healthy environment': Kamala Harris' office rife with dissent |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/30/kamala-harris-office-dissent-497290 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624123821/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/30/kamala-harris-office-dissent-497290 |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |access-date=June 27, 2022 |newspaper=] }}</ref>—which critics allege reflects dysfunction and demoralization.<ref name="Tomlinson" /> ''Axios'' reported that at least some of the turnover was due to exhaustion from a demanding transition into the new administration, as well as financial and personal considerations.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Alexi |last1=McCammond |first2=Sarah |last2=Mucha |url=https://www.axios.com/2021/12/03/harris-turnover |title=Burnout, money, fear drive turnover in Harris's office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221191337/https://www.axios.com/2021/12/03/harris-turnover |archive-date=February 21, 2024 |work=Axios |date=December 3, 2021 |access-date=August 18, 2024 }}</ref> For most of her tenure, Harris had one of the lowest approval ratings of any vice president.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fossett |first=Katelyn |title=What's going on with Kamala's poll numbers? |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/women-rule/2021/11/12/whats-going-on-with-kamalas-poll-numbers-495086 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131143808/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/women-rule/2021/11/12/whats-going-on-with-kamalas-poll-numbers-495086 |date=November 12, 2021 |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |access-date=January 31, 2023 |newspaper=Politico }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ting |first=Eric |date=November 8, 2021 |title=Kamala Harris has a comically bad approval rating, poll finds |url=https://www.sfgate.com/national-politics/article/Kamala-Harris-approval-rating-poll-history-Biden-16602512.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131143807/https://www.sfgate.com/national-politics/article/Kamala-Harris-approval-rating-poll-history-Biden-16602512.php |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |access-date=January 31, 2023 |work=] }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Oshin |first=Olafimihan |date=June 26, 2023 |title=Poll: Kamala Harris sets record low for Vice President net favorability |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4069023-poll-kamala-harris-sets-record-low-for-vice-president-net-favorability/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627015642/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4069023-poll-kamala-harris-sets-record-low-for-vice-president-net-favorability/ |archive-date=June 27, 2023 |access-date=June 26, 2023 |newspaper=The Hill}}</ref> According to a '']'' polling average, a record low of 34.8% of Americans had a favorable view of her in August 2022, but this number rose rapidly after she became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in July 2024. Harris had a net favorable rating by September 9.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kamala Harris Favorable/Unfavorable Ratings Polls |url=https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/favorability/kamala-harris |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806232508/https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/favorability/kamala-harris |archive-date=August 6, 2024 |access-date=August 6, 2024 |website=RealClearPolling}}</ref>
{{quote|"We now face a choice: will we insist that we have one system of justice that applies equally to all? Or will we continue to have two systems of justice, in which some are above the law? The Senate is charged with deciding whether the President of the United States, with all of his power and supposed wealth, will be held accountable for his actions – or whether we will finally live up to the principle: ‘Equal Justice Under Law.’"}}


In 2024, a video clip from 2023 ] of Harris saying "] You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you" at a White House event.<ref>{{Cite news |last=DeLetter |first=Emily |date=July 21, 2024 |title='You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?' Kamala Harris meme resurfaces after Biden drops out |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/21/coconut-tree-meme-kamala-harris/74466581007/ |access-date=July 22, 2024 |newspaper=USA Today |archive-date=July 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721231308/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/21/coconut-tree-meme-kamala-harris/74466581007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the launch of her 2024 presidential campaign, that and other Harris remarks have been widely shared as memes, resulting in press coverage of her public image.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Touma |first1=Rafqa |last2=Cassidy |first2=Caitlin |date=July 22, 2024 |title=What is the Kamala Harris coconut tree meme and why is everyone sharing it? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/article/2024/jul/22/kamala-harris-coconut-tree-meme |access-date=July 22, 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-date=July 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731093605/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/article/2024/jul/22/kamala-harris-coconut-tree-meme |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Amanda |last1=Hess |date=July 23, 2024 |title=The Triumphant Comeback of the Kamala Harris Meme |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/23/arts/kamala-harris-tiktok-trump.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723165630/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/23/arts/kamala-harris-tiktok-trump.html |archive-date=July 23, 2024 |access-date=July 23, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>
Harris later asked Senate Judiciary Chairman ] to halt all judicial nominations during the impeachment trial, to which Graham acquiesced.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate Judiciary Pauses Nominations for Impeachment Trial (1)|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/senate-judiciary-pauses-nominations-for-impeachment-trial |first=Madison |last=Adler |work=] |date=January 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/kamala-harris-calls-for-halt-to-advancement-of-judicial-nominees-during-impeachment-proceedings |title=Sen. Kamala Harris calls for halt to advancement of judicial nominees; is it happening? |work=] |date=January 16, 2020 |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |author=Weiss, Debra Cassens}}</ref> Harris voted to convict the President on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.<ref>{{cite news |title=How senators voted on Trump's impeachment|url=https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/ |work=] |date=February 5, 2020}}</ref>


Harris's often boisterous laughter{{efn|In terms of its type, it is often described as a cackle or guffaw.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/07/30/kamala-harriss-powerful-laughter-face-weirdness/|title=Kamala Harris's powerful laughter in the face of weirdness|date=July 30, 2024|last=Givhan|first=Robin|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 2, 2024|archive-date=July 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731004517/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/07/30/kamala-harriss-powerful-laughter-face-weirdness/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-07-24/kamala-harris-memes-coconut-brat-summer|title=Coconuts, 'brat summer' and that laugh: The memeing of Kamala Harris|date=July 24, 2024|last1=Ebeledike|first1=Neenma|last2=Bonilla|first2=Emely|last3=Hayempour|first3=Kayla|last4=Branson-Potts|first4=Hailey|access-date=August 2, 2024|archive-date=July 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725000607/https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-07-24/kamala-harris-memes-coconut-brat-summer|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/28/arts/kamala-harris-laugh.html|title=Kamala Harris's Laugh Is a Campaign Issue. Our Comedy Critic Weighs in|date=July 28, 2024|newspaper=The New York Times|last=Zinoman|first=Jason|access-date=August 2, 2024|archive-date=August 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802205027/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/28/arts/kamala-harris-laugh.html|url-status=live}}</ref> An example of it can be seen in the "coconut tree" video exhibited on the right of this section.}} has been called one of her "most defining and most dissected personal traits".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/2024/07/31/kamala-harris-laugh/|title=What's in Kamala Harris's laugh?|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 31, 2024|last1=Judkis|first1=Maura|last2=Voght|first2=Kara|access-date=August 2, 2024|archive-date=July 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731123220/https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/2024/07/31/kamala-harris-laugh/|url-status=live}}</ref> She says she got her laugh from her mother.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/kamala-harris-drew-barrymore-interview-laugh-v0nn2v5tr|title=Kamala Harris defends 'cackle' derided by her rivals|last=Southern|first=Keiran|date=April 30, 2024|newspaper=The Times|access-date=August 2, 2024|archive-date=August 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802205027/https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/kamala-harris-drew-barrymore-interview-laugh-v0nn2v5tr|url-status=live}}</ref>
Harris has worked on bipartisan bills with Republican co-sponsors, including a bail reform bill with Senator ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rand-paul-kamala-harris-team-reform-bail-practices-n794031|title=Rand Paul and Kamala Harris Team Up to Reform Bail Practices|publisher=NBC News|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> an election security bill with Senator ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/22/election-security-bill-congress-437472|title=Lawmakers gather behind election security bill — at last|website=Politico|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> and a workplace harassment bill with Senator ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mollyhensleyclancy/kamala-harris-lisa-murkowski-sexual-harassment-nda-bill|title=Two Women Senators Will Introduce A New Bill About Workplace Harassment|website=BuzzFeedNews|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> Other Republican Senators working with Harris on the ], including ], ], and ], have also praised her as "well-prepared", "effective", and "a quick study".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emmaloop/kamala-harris-intelligence-committee-russia-republicans-2020|title=Kamala Harris Has Thrived On The Senate's Most Secretive Committee. Even Republicans Say So.|website=BuzzfeedNews|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> Senate Judiciary Chairman ] said of Harris: "She's hard-nosed. She's smart. She's tough."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/shes-tough-lindsey-graham-says-kamala-harris-is-likely-bidens-vice-presidential-pick/ar-BB14IJk9?ocid=st2|title='She's tough': Lindsey Graham says Kamala Harris is likely Biden's vice presidential pick|website=MSN|access-date=May 28, 2020}}</ref>


== Publications ==
Harris voted against Senator ]' amendment to reduce the size of the $740 billion ].<ref>{{cite news |title=We Can No Longer Afford the Military-Industrial Complex |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/house-senate-defense-spending/ |work=The Nation |date=July 22, 2020}}</ref>
Harris has written two nonfiction books and one children's book.
* {{cite book |last1=Harris |first1=Kamala |last2=O'C. Hamilton |first2=Joan |year=2009 |title=Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor's Plan to Make Us Safer |title-link=Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor's Plan to Make Us Safer |location=San Francisco |publisher=Chronicle Books |isbn=978-0-8118-6528-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Harris |first=Kamala |date=January 8, 2019 |title=The Truths We Hold: An American Journey |title-link=The Truths We Hold |location=London |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-1-9848-8622-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Harris |first=Kamala |date=January 8, 2019 |title=Superheroes Are Everywhere |title-link=Superheroes Are Everywhere |location=London |publisher=Penguin Young Readers Group |isbn=978-1-9848-3749-3}}


=== Committee assignments === == See also ==
* ]
Harris is a member of the following committees:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-201612-htmlstory.html |first=John |last=Myers |date=December 19, 2016 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=April 22, 2020 |title=Kamala Harris nabs national security, environment assignments in the U.S. Senate }}</ref>
* ]
* ''']'''
* ]
* ''']'''
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
* ''']'''
* ]
* ''']'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-announces-updated-senate-democratic-committee-memberships-for-the-115th-congress-2nd-session|title=Schumer Announces Updated Senate Democratic Committee Memberships for the 115th Congress, 2nd Session|website=democrats.senate.gov|access-date=January 10, 2018}}</ref>
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]
* ]
** ]


=== Caucus memberships === == Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
* ]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://cbc.house.gov/membership/|publisher=Congressional Black Caucus|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref>
* ]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://capac-chu.house.gov/members|publisher=Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus|accessdate=May 17, 2018}}</ref>
* ]


== References ==
==2020 presidential campaign==
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Main|Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign}}
<!--<ref>{{cite news
] in the 2020 election, January 27, 2019]]
| url = https://cbc.ca/player/play/1816926275902
Harris had been considered a top contender and potential frontrunner for the ].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beckett |first1=Lois |title=Kamala Harris: young, black, female – and the Democrats' best bet for 2020? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/22/kamala-harris-democratic-candidate-for-2020 |website=The Guardian |accessdate=July 10, 2018 |date=July 22, 2017}}</ref> In June 2018, she was quoted as "not ruling it out".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/sen-kamala-harris-not-ruling-out-2020-white-house-run-n886166 |title=Sen. Kamala Harris not ruling out 2020 White House run |publisher=] |date=June 24, 2018 |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |author=Hunt, Kasie}}</ref> In July 2018, it was announced that she would publish a memoir, a sign of a possible run.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/17/politics/kamala-harris-book-deal/index.html|title=Kamala Harris signs book deal amid 2020 speculation|first=Eric |last=Bradner|accessdate=October 12, 2018}}</ref> On January 21, 2019, Harris officially announced her ] for ] in the ].<ref name="harris announcement">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/21/politics/kamala-harris-president-2020/index.html?cid=web-alerts&nsid=94986245|title=Kamala Harris to run for president in 2020|last=Reston|first=Maeve|date=January 21, 2019|publisher=CNN|access-date=January 21, 2019}}</ref> In the first 24 hours after her candidacy announcement, she tied a record set by ] in 2016 for the most donations raised in the day following an announcement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamala Harris raises $1.5 million in first 24 hours; ties record set by Sanders in 2016 |url=http://2020election.co/2019/01/23/kamala-harris-raises-1-5-million-in-first-24-hours-ties-record-set-by-sanders-in-2016/ |accessdate=January 23, 2019 }}{{dead link|date=March 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Over 20,000 people attended her formal campaign launch event in her hometown of Oakland, California, on January 27, according to a police estimate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamala Harris kicks off 2020 campaign with hometown Oakland rally |work=] |last=Beckett |first=Lois |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/27/kamala-harris-2020-campaign-oakland-rally-democrats |date=January 27, 2019 |accessdate=July 4, 2019}}</ref>
| title = Kamala Harris's friend reacts to her historic win
| work = ]
| date = November 7, 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201107212814/https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1816926275902
| archive-date = November 7, 2020
| access-date = November 7, 2020
| url-status = live
| quote = Wanda Kagan has known vice president-elect Kamala Harris for nearly 40 years. Kagan says that in their most recent conversation, Harris credited her for inspiring her career path.
}}


Wanda Kagan's account of telling Kamala – her best friend – that she was being abused by her step-father, at 1:15 into the video.
During the first Democratic ] in June 2019, Harris scolded former vice president ] for "hurtful" remarks he made, speaking fondly of Senators who opposed integration efforts in the 1970s and working with them to oppose mandatory school bussing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Flegenheimer |first1=Matt |last2=Burns |first2=Alexander |title=Kamala Harris Makes the Case That Joe Biden Should Pass That Torch to Her |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/27/us/politics/kamala-harris-busing-joe-biden.html |website=The New York Times |date=June 27, 2019}}</ref> Harris's support rose by between 6 and 9 points in polls following that debate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/01/politics/2020-democratic-candidates-poll/index.html|title=CNN Poll: Harris and Warren rise and Biden slides after first Democratic debates|date=July 1, 2019|publisher=CNN|last=Agiesta|first=Jennifer}}</ref> In the second debate in August, Harris was confronted by Congresswoman ] and Vice President ] over her record as Attorney General.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tulsi-gabbard-kamala-harris-criminal-justice-record_n_5d424340e4b0aca3411841fb|title=Tulsi Gabbard Takes Kamala Harris To Task On Marijuana Prosecution Record|first=Alanna|last=Vagianos|date=July 31, 2019|website=HuffPost}}</ref> San Jose Mercury News assessed that some of Gabbard's and Biden's accusations were on point, while others did not stand up to scrutiny. In the immediate aftermath, Harris fell in the polls following that debate.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Casey|last=Tolan|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/08/01/democratic-debate-kamala-harris-tulsi-gabbard-joe-biden-fact-check/|title=Democratic debate: Fact-checking the attacks on Kamala Harris' criminal justice record|date=August 1, 2019|website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/polls-since-the-second-debate-show-kamala-harris-slipping/|title=Polls Since The Second Debate Show Kamala Harris Slipping|last=Silver|first=Nate|date=August 7, 2019|website=]|access-date=August 25, 2019}}</ref> Over the next few months her poll numbers fell to the low single digits<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-happened-to-the-kamala-harris-campaign/|title=What Happened To The Kamala Harris Campaign?|last=Bacon Jr.|first=Perry|date=October 8, 2019|work=FiveThirtyEight|accessdate=December 3, 2019}}</ref> At a time when liberals were increasingly concerned about the excesses of the criminal justice system, Harris faced criticism from reformers for tough-on-crime policies she pursued while she was California's attorney general. For example, in 2014, she decided to defend California's death penalty in court.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DOLAN |first1=MAURA |title=California AG Kamala Harris to appeal ruling against death penalty |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-death-penalty-appeal-20140821-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=21 August 2014}}</ref>
She goes on to describe how Kamala then told her mom, and that her mom then generously invited Kagan to move into their household,
to finish her final year of high school. She described Kamala's sister, Maya, also being very gracious in welcoming her, and that
Kamala's mom provided significant help for her to achieve independence from her family.
The clip doesn't say, but my Google searches show, Kagan is now a senior hospital administrator at the hospital where Kamala's mom worked. </ref>-->
}}


== Further reading ==
On December 3, 2019, Harris withdrew from seeking the 2020 Democratic nomination, citing a shortage of funds.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Kamala |title=I am suspending my campaign today |url=https://medium.com/@KamalaHarris/i-am-suspending-my-campaign-today-6dca8cefb252 |website=Medium |accessdate=December 4, 2019}}</ref> In March 2020, Harris endorsed Joe Biden for president.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wootson Jr. |first1=Cleve R. |title=Sen. Kamala D. Harris endorses Joe Biden for president |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/08/2182dfca-6137-11ea-b3fc-7841686c5c57_story.html |accessdate=March 9, 2020 |work=The Washington Post }}</ref>
* {{cite book | last=Johnson-Batiste | first=Stacey L. | title=Friends from the Beginning: The Berkeley Village That Raised Kamala and Me| publisher=Twelve Books | date=2021 | isbn=978-1-5387-0748-7}}
* {{cite book | last=Morain | first=Dan | title=Kamala's Way | date=2021 | publisher=Simon & Schuster | isbn=978-1-3985-0485-1}}


== External links ==
==2020 vice presidential campaign==
{{sister project links|d=Q10853588|c=Category:Kamala_Harris|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=Author:Kamala_Devi_Harris|wikt=no|species=no}}
] at ] Church in Los Angeles is 2020]]{{Main|Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|2020 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection}}
{{Library resources box|about=yes|by=no}}
After Biden and Harris launched their campaigns, in May 2019, senior members of the ] said that a ]-Harris ticket would be an ideal combination to defeat Donald Trump and Mike Pence.<ref>{{cite news |title='A dream ticket': Black lawmakers pitch Biden-Harris to beat Trump|work=] |last=Caygle |first=Heather |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/12/joe-biden-kamala-harris-dream-ticket-1317561|date=May 12, 2019 |accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref> In late February, Biden won a landslide victory in the ] with the endorsement of House Whip ], with more victories on ]. In early March, Clyburn suggested Biden choose a black woman as a running mate, noting that "African American women needed to be rewarded for their loyalty".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/clyburn-calls-democrats-shut-primary-down-if-biden-has-big-n1155131 |title=Clyburn calls for Democrats to 'shut this primary down' if Biden has big night |publisher=] |date=March 10, 2020 |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |last1=Timm |first1=Jane C. |last2=Gregorian |first2=Dareh}}</ref> In March, Biden committed to choosing a woman for his running mate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Joe Biden commits to picking a woman as his running mate|work=]|url=https://www.axios.com/joe-biden-woman-running-mate-6add0a5b-2600-43b0-8e83-b38d74042881.html|date=March 16, 2020 |accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref>

On April 17, 2020, Harris responded to media speculation and said that she "would be honored" to be Biden's running mate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamala Harris 'would be honored' to be Joe Biden's running mate|publisher=]|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Kamala-Harris-would-be-honored-to-be-Joe-15209050.php|date=April 17, 2020|accessdate=May 3, 2020}}</ref> In late May, in relation to the ] in an incident of police brutality and ], Biden faced renewed calls to select a black woman to be his running mate, highlighting the law enforcement credentials of Harris and ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Minneapolis unrest shakes up VP shortlist|work=]|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/31/joe-biden-vice-president-george-floyd-291063|date=May 31, 2020|accessdate=May 31, 2020}}</ref>

On June 12, '']'' reported that Harris was emerging as the frontrunner to be Biden's running mate, as she is the only African American woman with the political experience typical of vice presidents.<ref name="NYT 06-12-2020">{{cite news |title=Kamala Harris, Front-runner (Again)]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/briefing/kamala-harris-mark-milley-trump-rally-your-friday-briefing.html/|date=June 12, 2020|accessdate=June 12, 2020}}</ref> On June 26, ] reported that more than a dozen people close to the Biden search process considered Harris one of Biden's top four contenders, along with ], ], and ].<ref name="CNN 06-26-2020">{{cite web|last1=Zeleny|first1=Jeff|last2=Merica|first2=Dan|last3=Lee|first3=MJ|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/politics/joe-biden-running-mate/index.html|title=Nation's reckoning on race looms large over final month of Biden's running mate search|work=]|date=June 26, 2020|accessdate=June 27, 2020}}</ref>

Harris was chosen on August 11, 2020. She is the first African American woman and South Asian American to be picked as the vice presidential running mate by the presumptive presidential nominee for a major party ticket.<ref name="zeleny" /><ref name="Biswas">{{cite web|last1=Biswas|first1=Soutik|date=11 August 2020|title=Biden's VP pick: Why Kamala Harris embraces her biracial roots|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-53745141|url-status=live|archiveurl=http://archive.is/BBeuy|archivedate=11 August 2020|accessdate=11 August 2020|website=bbc.com|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

== Political positions ==
{{main|Political positions of Kamala Harris}}

==Electoral history==
{{main|Electoral history of Kamala Harris}}

==Awards and honors==
] in 2017]]
In 2005, National Black Prosecutors Association awarded Harris the ]. That year, she was featured along 19 other woman in a ] report profiling "20 of America's Most Powerful Women".<ref name="In Their Shoes">{{cite book |url=https://catalog.simonandschuster.com/Default.aspx?cid=1378&ob=&FilterByName=&FilterBy=&FilterVal=&showcart=&camefrom=&find=In%20Their%20Shoes&a=|title=In Their Shoes: Extraordinary Women Describe Their Amazing Careers |publisher=] |author=Reber, Deborah |year=2015 |location=New York City |pages=37 |isbn=978-1481428125}}</ref> In 2006, Harris was elected to the National District Attorneys Association's Board of Directors as vice president and appointed to co-chair its Corrections and Re-Entry Committee. She was also selected to co-chair the California District Attorneys Association's sex crimes committee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Full Biography for Kamala D. Harris |url=http://smartvoter.org/2007/11/06/ca/sf/vote/harris_k/bio.html |website=smartvoter.org}}</ref> Harris was also selected to serve as a Rodel Fellow with ] along with 24 other elected officials.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship Class of 2006 |url=https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/rodel-fellowships-public-leadership/aspen-institute-rodel-fellowship-class-2006/ |website=The Aspen Institute}}</ref> That same year, ] awarded Harris its Outstanding Alumni Award for "extraordinary work in the fields of law and public service".<ref>Stern, Grant, Meet the Candidates 2020: Kamala Harris: A Voter's Guide, Page 18</ref> In 2007, ] named her one of the "100 Most Influential Black Americans".<ref>{{cite book|last=Smith|first=Jessie|title=''Black Firsts: 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering Historical Events''|date=December 12, 2012}}</ref> In 2008, she was named an Attorney of the Year by ] magazine.<ref>{{cite news|title=Today's newsmakers: Kamala Harris |url=https://sfexaminer.newspapers.com/image/566700648/?terms=kamala%2Bharris%2Baward|newspaper=]|date=March 7, 2008|accessdate=February 2, 2011}}</ref> A ] article published later that year also identified her as a woman with potential to become President of the United States, highlighting her reputation as a "tough fighter".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zernike |first1=Kate |title=She Just Might Be President Someday |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/weekinreview/18zernike.html |accessdate=November 16, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=May 18, 2008}}</ref>

In 2010, California's largest legal newspaper '']'' designated Harris as a top 100 lawyer and top 75 women litigators in the state.<ref name="nomination">{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris wins Dem nomination for California AG|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/world/kamla-harris-wins-dem-nomination-for-california-ag_632777.html |accessdate=August 19, 2010|newspaper=Z News|date=June 9, 2010}}</ref> In 2013, '']'' named Harris as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World".<ref>{{cite news|title=Kamala Harris Jurist to watch, 48|url=https://time100.time.com/2013/04/18/time-100/slide/kamala-harris/|accessdate=April 18, 2013|newspaper= Time|date=April 18, 2013}}</ref> In 2016, the 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center awarded Harris the Bipartisan Justice Award along with Senator ].<ref>{{cite web |title=20/20 Award Winners |url=https://2020club.org/award-winners/ |website=2020 Club}}</ref> In 2018, Harris was named the 2018 recipient of the ECOS Environmental Award for her leadership in environmental protection.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Senator Kamala Harris Receives the 2018 ECOS® Environmental Award |url=https://www.ecos.com/press-release/u-s-senator-kamala-harris-receives-the-2018-ecos-environmental-award/ |website=ECOS®}}</ref>

;Honorary degrees

{| class="wikitable"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:40%;"| School
! style="width:20%;"| Degree
! style="width:20%;"| Gave Commencement Address
|-
| {{Flagu|California}} || May 15, 2015 || ] || ] (LL.D) <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://commencement.usc.edu/history/2000-to-present/ | title=Speakers, Honorary Degree Recipients: 2000 to present &#124; USC}}.</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://honorarydegrees.usc.edu/past-recipients/|title=Past Recipients · Honorary Degrees|website=honorarydegrees.usc.edu}}</ref> || No <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://about.usc.edu/history/commencement/|title=USC’s Commencement History &#124; About USC|website=about.usc.edu}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|District of Columbia}} || May 13, 2017 || ] || ] (DHL) <ref>{{cite news|first1=Autumn|last1=Dalton|title=Howard University Commencement Honors Groundbreaking Women|url=https://www.washingtoninformer.com/howard-university-commencement-honors-groundbreaking-women/|accessdate=May 26, 2020|newspaper= Howard University News Service |date=May 3, 2017}}</ref> <ref>https://www.howard.edu/secretary/convocations/recipients-year.htm</ref> || Yes <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsroom.howard.edu/newsroom/static/7366/senator-kamala-harris-challenges-howard-university-graduates-forge-way-forward|title=Senator Kamala Harris Challenges Howard University Graduates to Forge a Way Forward|date=May 13, 2017|website=Howard Newsroom}}</ref>
|-
|}

==Personal life==
Harris is married to attorney ], who was at one time partner-in-charge at ]'s Los Angeles office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.venable.com/douglas-c-emhoff/|title=Douglas C. Emhoff|publisher=]|access-date=May 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706110444/https://www.venable.com/douglas-c-emhoff/|archive-date=July 6, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> They married on August 22, 2014, in ].<ref>{{cite news|first=David |last=Siders |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article2607685.html |title=Kamala Harris grew up idolizing lawyers |work=]|date=August 25, 2014 }}</ref> The couple do not have children together, but Harris is stepmother, "Momala", to Cole and Ella, Emhoff's two children from his previous marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/a27422434/kamala-harris-stepmom-mothers-day/|title=Sen. Kamala Harris on Being 'Momala'|last=Harris|first=Kamala|date=May 10, 2019|website=ELLE|access-date=May 11, 2019}}</ref> As of August 2019, Harris and her husband had an estimated net worth of $5.8 million.<ref name="forbes">{{cite news |title=The Net Worth Of Every 2020 Presidential Candidate |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2019/08/14/heres-the-net-worth-of-every-2020-presidential-candidate/ |accessdate=August 24, 2019 |work=Forbes |date=August 14, 2019}}</ref>

Harris's sister ] is an ] political analyst, her brother-in-law ] is ] of ] and a former ] senior official,<ref name=":6">{{cite news |last=Shaban |first=Hamza |title= Uber hires PepsiCo's Tony West as general counsel|archive-date= October 28, 2017 |url-status=live |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/10/27/uber-hires-pepsicos-tony-west-as-general-counsel/ |work= The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028010101/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the%2Dswitch/wp/2017/10/27/uber%2Dhires%2Dpepsicos%2Dtony%2Dwest%2Das%2Dgeneral%2Dcounsel/|date= October 27, 2017}}</ref> and her niece ] is the founder of the Phenomenal Women Action Campaign.

==Publications==
Harris has written two non-fiction books and one children's book.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/truths-we-hold|title=a book review by Mike Farris: The Truths We Hold: An American Journey|website=nyjournalofbooks.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/kamala-harris/367210/|title=Kamala Harris|website=ThriftBooks}}</ref> She also wrote the entry for ] when Ford was named one of the ] people in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2019/5567675/christine-blasey-ford/ |title=Christine Blasey Ford Is on the 2019 Time 100 List |first=Kamala |last=Harris |work=Time |accessdate=April 17, 2019}}</ref>
* {{Cite book|title=The Truths We Hold: An American Journey|last=|first=|publisher=Diversified Publishing|year=2019|isbn=978-1984886224}}
* {{Cite book|title=Superheroes Are Everywhere|last=|first=|publisher=]|year=2019|isbn=978-1984837493}}
* {{Cite book|title=Smart on Crime: A Career Prosecutor's Plan to Make Us Safer|last=|first=|publisher=]|year=2009|isbn=978-0811865289|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/smartoncrimecare00harr}}

==See also==
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


==References== === Official ===
* official website
{{reflist|30em}}
*
* (2017–2021)


==External links== === Other ===
* at ]
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* {{C-SPAN}}
*
* * at ]
* {{Curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/California/Government/Federal/US_Senate/Kamala_Harris_%5BD%5D }}
* {{C-SPAN|kamalaharris}}
* {{CongLinks | fec = S6CA00584 | votesmart = 120012 | congress = kamala-harris/H001075 }}
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Latest revision as of 02:21, 11 January 2025

Vice President of the United States since 2021

Kamala Harris
Harris, formally dressed up and made up, smiles for her portrait.Official portrait, 2021
49th Vice President of the United States
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 20, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byMike Pence
United States Senator
from California
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 18, 2021
Preceded byBarbara Boxer
Succeeded byAlex Padilla
32nd Attorney General of California
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017
GovernorJerry Brown
Preceded byJerry Brown
Succeeded byXavier Becerra
27th District Attorney of San Francisco
In office
January 8, 2004 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byTerence Hallinan
Succeeded byGeorge Gascón
Personal details
BornKamala Devi Harris
(1964-10-20) October 20, 1964 (age 60)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse Doug Emhoff ​(m. 2014)
Parents
RelativesHarris family
ResidenceNumber One Observatory Circle
Education
SignatureCursive signature in ink
WebsiteCampaign website
Harris' voice Harris speaks on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Recorded July 26, 2021
This article is part of
a series aboutKamala Harris

Personal
27th District Attorney of San Francisco
32nd Attorney General of California
U.S. Senator from California
49th Vice President of the United States
Incumbent
Vice presidential campaigns
Presidential campaigns

Kamala Devi Harris (born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who has been the 49th and current vice president of the United States since 2021 under President Joe Biden. She is the first female U.S. vice president, making her the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history. She is also the first African-American and the first Asian-American vice president. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election, becoming the second woman nominated for president by a major U.S. political party, after Hillary Clinton. From 2017 to 2021, she represented California in the U.S. Senate, and was Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017. From 2004 to 2011, she served as District Attorney of San Francisco.

Born in Oakland, California, Harris graduated from Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She began her law career in the office of the district attorney of Alameda County. She was recruited to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and later to the office of the city attorney of San Francisco. She was elected district attorney of San Francisco in 2003 and attorney general of California in 2010, and reelected as attorney general in 2014. Harris was the first woman, the first African American, and the first Asian American to hold each office.

Harris was the junior U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021. She won the 2016 Senate election, becoming the second Black woman and first South Asian American U.S. senator. As a senator, Harris advocated for stricter gun control laws, the DREAM Act, federal legalization of cannabis, and reforms to healthcare and taxation. She gained a national profile while asking pointed questions of officials within the first administration of President Donald Trump during Senate hearings, including Trump's second U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.

Harris sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in 2019, but withdrew from the race before the primaries. Biden selected her as his running mate, and their ticket defeated the incumbent Republican president and vice president, Trump and Mike Pence, in the 2020 presidential election. Presiding over an evenly split U.S. Senate upon entering office, Harris played a crucial role as President of the Senate. She cast more tie-breaking votes than any other vice president, which helped pass bills such as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 stimulus package and the Inflation Reduction Act. After Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election, Harris launched her campaign with Biden's endorsement and became the official nominee at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. She lost the general election to Trump.

Early life and career

Main article: Early life and career of Kamala Harris

Early life and education

Harris's childhood home at 1227 Bancroft Way in Berkeley, August 2020

Kamala Devi Harris was born in Oakland, California, on October 20, 1964. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan (1938–2009), was a biologist who arrived in the United States from India in 1958 to enroll in graduate school in endocrinology at the University of California, Berkeley. A research career of over 40 years followed, during which her work on the progesterone receptor gene led to advances in breast cancer research. Kamala's father, Donald J. Harris (1938–), is an Afro-Jamaican who immigrated to the United States in 1961 and also enrolled in UC Berkeley, specializing in development economics. The first Black scholar to be granted tenure at Stanford University's economics department, he has emeritus status there. Kamala's parents met in 1962 and married in 1963.

The Harris family lived in Berkeley until they moved in 1966, around Kamala's second birthday. The Harrises lived for a few years in college towns in the Midwest where her parents held teaching or research positions: Urbana, Illinois (where her sister Maya was born in 1966); Evanston, Illinois; and Madison, Wisconsin. By 1970, the marriage had faltered, and Shyamala moved back to Berkeley with her two daughters; the couple divorced when Kamala was seven. In 1972, Donald Harris accepted a position at Stanford University; Kamala and Maya spent weekends at their father's house in Palo Alto and lived at their mother's house in Berkeley during the week. Shyamala was friends with African-American intellectuals and activists in Oakland and Berkeley. In 1976, she accepted a research position at the McGill University School of Medicine, and moved with her daughters to Montreal, Quebec. Kamala graduated from Westmount High School on Montreal Island in 1981.

Kamala Harris attended Vanier College in Montreal in 1981–82, and then Howard University, a historically black university in Washington, D.C. At Howard, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, one of the "Divine Nine" historically black sororities. She graduated in 1986 with a degree in political science and economics. Harris then attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, where she served as president of its chapter of the Black Law Students Association. She graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1989.

Early career

In 1990, Harris was hired as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California, where she was described as "an able prosecutor on the way up". In 1994, Speaker of the California Assembly Willie Brown, who was then dating Harris, appointed her to the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and later to the California Medical Assistance Commission. In February 1998, San Francisco district attorney Terence Hallinan recruited Harris as an assistant district attorney. There, she became the chief of the Career Criminal Division, supervising five other attorneys, where she prosecuted homicide, burglary, robbery, and sexual assault cases—particularly three-strikes cases. In August 2000, Harris took a job at San Francisco City Hall, working for city attorney Louise Renne. Harris ran the Family and Children's Services Division, representing child abuse and neglect cases. Renne endorsed Harris during her D.A. campaign.

San Francisco District Attorney (2002–2011)

Harris with future House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in March 2004

In 2002, Harris ran for District Attorney of San Francisco, running a "forceful" campaign and differentiating herself from Hallinan by attacking his performance. Harris won the election with 56% of the vote, becoming the first person of color elected district attorney of San Francisco. She ran unopposed for a second term in 2007.

Within the first six months of taking office, Harris cleared 27 of 74 backlogged homicide cases. She also pushed for higher bail for criminal defendants involved in gun-related crimes, arguing that historically low bail encouraged outsiders to commit crimes in San Francisco. SFPD officers credited Harris with tightening the loopholes defendants had used in the past. During her campaign, Harris pledged never to seek the death penalty, and kept to this in the cases of a San Francisco Police Department officer, Isaac Espinoza, who was shot and killed in 2004, and of Edwin Ramos, an illegal immigrant and alleged MS-13 gang member who was accused of murdering a man and his two sons in 2009.

Harris with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, November 2009

Harris created a Hate Crimes Unit, focusing on hate crimes against LGBT children and teens in schools, and supported A.B. 1160, the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act. As District Attorney, she created an environmental crimes unit in 2005. Harris expressed support for San Francisco's sanctuary city policy of not inquiring about immigration status in the process of a criminal investigation. In 2004, she created the San Francisco Reentry Division. Over six years, the 200 people graduated from the program had a recidivism rate of less than 10%, compared to the 53% of California's drug offenders who returned to prison within two years of release.

In 2006, as part of an initiative to reduce the city's homicide rate, Harris led a citywide effort to combat truancy for at-risk elementary school youth in San Francisco. In 2008, declaring chronic truancy a matter of public safety and pointing out that the majority of prison inmates and homicide victims are dropouts or habitual truants, she issued citations against six parents whose children missed at least 50 days of school, the first time San Francisco prosecuted adults for student truancy. Harris's office ultimately prosecuted seven parents in three years, with none jailed. By April 2009, 1,330 elementary school students were habitual or chronic truants, down 23% from 1,730 in 2008, and from 2,517 in 2007 and 2,856 in 2006.

Attorney General of California (2011–2017)

Main article: Kamala Harris as Attorney General of California
Harris' official Attorney General portrait, 2010

Harris was elected Attorney General of California in 2010, becoming the first woman, African American, and South Asian American to hold the office in the state's history. She took office on January 3, 2011, and was reelected in 2014. She served until resigning on January 3, 2017, to take her seat in the United States Senate.

In 2010, Harris announced her candidacy for attorney general and was endorsed by prominent California Democrats, including U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She won the Democratic primary and narrowly defeated Republican nominee Steve Cooley in the general election. Her tenure was marked by significant efforts in consumer protection, criminal justice reform, and privacy rights.

In 2014, Harris was reelected, defeating Republican nominee Ronald Gold with 58% of the vote. During her second term, she expanded her focus on consumer protection, securing major settlements against corporations like Quest Diagnostics, JPMorgan Chase, and Corinthian Colleges, recovering billions for California consumers. She spearheaded the creation of the Homeowner Bill of Rights to combat aggressive foreclosure practices during the housing crisis, recording multiple nine-figure settlements against mortgage servicers. Harris also worked on privacy rights. She collaborated with major tech companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook to ensure that mobile apps disclosed their data-sharing practices. She created the Privacy Enforcement and Protection Unit, focusing on cyber privacy and data breaches. California secured settlements with companies like Comcast and Houzz for privacy violations.

Harris was instrumental in advancing criminal justice reform. She launched the Division of Recidivism Reduction and Re-Entry and implemented the Back on Track LA program, which provided educational and job training opportunities for nonviolent offenders. Despite her focus on reform, Harris faced criticism for defending the state's position in cases involving wrongful convictions and for her office's stance on prison labor. She continued to advocate for progressive reforms, including banning the gay panic defense in California courts and opposing Proposition 8, the state's same-sex marriage ban.

U.S. Senator (2017–2021)

Election

Main article: 2016 United States Senate election in California
Harris being sworn into the Senate by then vice president Joe Biden in January 2017. At center is Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff.

After more than 20 years as a U.S. senator from California, Senator Barbara Boxer announced on January 13, 2015, that she would not run for reelection in 2016. Harris announced her candidacy for the Senate seat the next week. She was a top contender from the beginning of her campaign.

The 2016 California Senate election used California's new top-two primary format, where the top two candidates in the primary advance to the general election regardless of party. On February 27, 2016, Harris won 78% of the California Democratic Party vote at the party convention, allowing her campaign to receive financial support from the party. Three months later, Governor Jerry Brown endorsed her. In the June 7 primary, Harris came in first with 40% of the vote and won with pluralities in most counties. Harris faced representative and fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez in the general election.

On July 19, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden endorsed Harris. In the November 2016 election, Harris defeated Sanchez with over 60% of the vote, carrying all but four counties. After her victory, she promised to protect immigrants from the policies of President-elect Donald Trump and announced her intention to remain Attorney General through the end of 2016. Harris became the second Black woman and first South Asian American senator in history.

Tenure and political positions

See also: Political positions of Kamala Harris

As a senator, Harris advocated stricter gun control laws, the DREAM Act, federal legalization of cannabis, and healthcare and taxation reforms. She became well known nationally after questioning several Trump appointees such as Jeff Sessions and Brett Kavanaugh.

2017

Harris with DREAMers, December 2017

On January 28, after Trump signed Executive Order 13769, barring citizens from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days, she condemned the order and was one of many to call it a "Muslim ban". She called White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly at home to gather information and push back against the executive order.

In February, Harris spoke in opposition to Trump's cabinet picks Betsy DeVos for secretary of education and Jeff Sessions for United States Attorney General. In early March, she called on Sessions to resign, after it was reported that Sessions, who had previously said he "did not have communications with the Russians", spoke twice with Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak.

In April, Harris voted against the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court. Later that month, she took her first foreign trip to the Middle East, visiting California troops stationed in Iraq and the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, the largest camp for Syrian refugees.

In June, Harris garnered media attention for her questioning of Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, over the role he played in the May 2017 firing of James Comey, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecutorial nature of her questioning caused Senator John McCain, an ex officio member of the Intelligence Committee, and Senator Richard Burr, the committee chairman, to interrupt her and request that she be more respectful of the witness. A week later, she questioned Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, on the same topic. Sessions said her questioning "makes me nervous". Burr's singling out of Harris sparked suggestions in the news media that his behavior was sexist, with commentators arguing that Burr would not treat a male Senate colleague in a similar manner.

In December, Harris called for the resignation of Senator Al Franken, writing on Twitter, "Sexual harassment and misconduct should not be allowed by anyone and should not occur anywhere."

2018

Harris at the commemoration of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama where she was invited to speak by John Lewis (right), January 2018

In January, Harris was appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee after Franken resigned. Later that month, she questioned Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen for favoring Norwegian immigrants over others and for claiming to be unaware that Norway is a predominantly white country.

Also in January, Harris and Senators Heidi Heitkamp, Jon Tester, and Claire McCaskill co-sponsored the Border and Port Security Act, legislation to mandate that U.S. Customs and Border Protection "hire, train and assign at least 500 officers per year until the number of needed positions the model identifies is filled" and require the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection to determine potential equipment and infrastructure improvements for ports of entry.

In May, Harris heatedly questioned Nielsen about the Trump administration family separation policy, under which children were separated from their families when their parents were taken into custody for illegally entering the U.S. In June, after visiting one of the detention facilities near the border in San Diego, Harris became the first senator to demand Nielsen's resignation.

In the September and October Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Harris questioned Brett Kavanaugh about a meeting he may have had regarding the Mueller Investigation with a member of Kasowitz Benson Torres, the law firm founded by Donald Trump's personal attorney, Marc Kasowitz. Kavanaugh was unable to answer and repeatedly deflected. Harris also participated in questioning the FBI director's limited scope of the investigation of Kavanaugh regarding allegations of sexual assault. She voted against his confirmation.

Harris was a target of the October 2018 United States mail bombing attempts.

In December, the Senate passed the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act (S. 3178), sponsored by Harris. The bill, which died in the House, would have made lynching a federal hate crime.

2019

Harris at the San Francisco Pride parade, June 2019

Harris supported busing for desegregation of public schools, saying, "the schools of America are as segregated, if not more segregated, today than when I was in elementary school." She viewed busing as an option to be considered by school districts, rather than the responsibility of the federal government.

Harris was an early co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, a plan to transition the country towards generating 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030.

In March 2019, after Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted his report on Russian interference in the 2016 election, Harris called for U.S. Attorney General William Barr to testify before Congress in the interests of transparency. Two days later, Barr released a four-page "summary" of the redacted Mueller Report, which was criticized as a deliberate mischaracterization of its conclusions. Later that month, Harris was one of 12 Democratic senators led by Mazie Hirono to sign a letter questioning Barr's decision to offer "his own conclusion that the President's conduct did not amount to obstruction of justice", and called for an investigation into whether Barr's summary of the Mueller report and his statements at a news conference were misleading.

In April 2019, Harris was one of 34 Senate Democrats and independents to write a letter urging President Trump not to cut aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. The group wrote:

We encourage you to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America....Since taking office, you have consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance. It is neither charity, nor is it a gift to foreign governments. Our national security funding is specifically designed to promote American interests, enhance our collective security, and protect the safety of our citizens... By obstructing the use of national security funding and seeking to terminate similar funding from , you are personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

On May 1, 2019, Barr testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During the hearing, he remained defiant about the misrepresentations in the four-page summary he had released ahead of the full report. When asked by Harris whether he had reviewed the underlying evidence before deciding not to charge Trump with obstruction of justice, Barr admitted that neither he, Rod Rosenstein, nor anyone in his office had reviewed the evidence supporting the report before making the charging decision. Harris later called for Barr to resign, accusing him of refusing to answer her questions because he could open himself up to perjury, and saying his responses disqualified him from serving as U.S. attorney general. Two days later, Harris demanded again that the Department of Justice inspector general Michael E. Horowitz investigate whether Barr acceded to pressure from the White House to investigate Trump's political enemies.

Harris with women of the Congressional Black Caucus in January 2019

On May 5, 2019, Harris said "voter suppression" prevented Democrats Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum from winning the 2018 gubernatorial elections in Georgia and Florida; Abrams lost by 55,000 votes and Gillum by 32,000. According to election law expert Richard L. Hasen, "I have seen no good evidence that the suppressive effects of strict voting and registration laws affected the outcome of the governor's races in Georgia and Florida."

In July, Harris teamed with Kirsten Gillibrand to urge the Trump administration to investigate the persecution of Uyghurs in China by the Chinese Communist Party; in this question she was joined by Senator Marco Rubio.

In November, Harris called for an investigation into the death of Roxsana Hernández, a transgender woman and immigrant who died in ICE custody.

In December, Harris led a group of Democratic senators and civil rights organizations in demanding the removal of White House senior adviser Stephen Miller after emails published by the Southern Poverty Law Center revealed frequent promotion of white nationalist literature to Breitbart website editors.

2020

Harris speaks at Donald Trump's first impeachment trial in January 2020

Before the opening of the impeachment trial of Donald Trump on January 16, 2020, Harris delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate, stating her views on the integrity of the American justice system and the principle that nobody, including an incumbent president, is above the law. She later asked Senate Judiciary chairman Lindsey Graham to halt all judicial nominations during the impeachment trial, to which Graham acquiesced. Harris voted to convict Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Harris worked on bipartisan bills with Republican co-sponsors, including a bail reform bill with Rand Paul, an election security bill with James Lankford, and a workplace harassment bill with Lisa Murkowski.

2021

Following her election as Vice President of the United States, Harris resigned from her seat on January 18, 2021, before taking office on January 20, and was replaced by California Secretary of State Alex Padilla.

Committee assignments

While in the Senate, Harris was a member of the following committees:

Caucus memberships

2020 presidential election

Presidential campaign

Main article: Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign
Harris announces her run for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president in Oakland, California, January 2019

Harris had been considered a top contender and potential front-runner for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president. In June 2018, she said she was "not ruling it out". In July 2018, it was announced that she would publish a memoir, a sign of a possible run. On January 21, 2019, Harris officially announced her candidacy for president of the United States in the 2020 presidential election. In the first 24 hours after her announcement, she tied a record set by Bernie Sanders in 2016 for the most donations raised in the day after an announcement. More than 20,000 people attended her campaign launch event in her hometown of Oakland, California, on January 27, according to a police estimate.

During the first Democratic presidential debate in June 2019, Harris scolded former vice president Joe Biden for "hurtful" remarks he made, speaking fondly of senators who opposed integration efforts in the 1970s and working with them to oppose mandatory school bussing. Harris's support rose by between six and nine points in polls after that debate. In the second debate in August, Biden and Representative Tulsi Gabbard confronted Harris over her record as attorney general. The San Jose Mercury News assessed that some of Gabbard's and Biden's accusations were on point, such as blocking the DNA testing of a death row inmate, while others did not withstand scrutiny. In the immediate aftermath of the debate, Harris fell in the polls. Over the next few months her poll numbers fell to the low single digits. Harris faced criticism from reformers for tough-on-crime policies she pursued while she was California's attorney general. In 2014, she defended California's death penalty in court.

Before and during her presidential campaign, an online informal organization using the hashtag #KHive formed to support Harris's candidacy and defend her from racist and sexist attacks. According to the Daily Dot, Joy Reid first used the term in an August 2017 tweet saying "@DrJasonJohnson @ZerlinaMaxwell and I had a meeting and decided it's called the K-Hive."

On December 3, 2019, Harris withdrew from the 2020 presidential election, citing a shortage of funds. In March 2020, she endorsed Joe Biden for president.

Vice presidential campaign

Main articles: Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign and 2020 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection
Harris announces her candidacy for vice president in Wilmington, Delaware, August 2020

In May 2019, senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus endorsed the idea of a Biden–Harris ticket. In late February 2020, Biden won a landslide victory in the 2020 South Carolina Democratic primary with the endorsement of House whip Jim Clyburn, with more victories on Super Tuesday. In early March, Clyburn suggested Biden choose a black woman as a running mate, saying, "African American women needed to be rewarded for their loyalty". In March, Biden committed to choosing a woman for his running mate.

On April 17, 2020, Harris responded to media speculation and said she "would be honored" to be Biden's running mate. In late May, in relation to the murder of George Floyd and ensuing protests and demonstrations, Biden faced renewed calls to select a black woman as his running mate, highlighting the law enforcement credentials of Harris and Val Demings.

On June 12, The New York Times reported that Harris was emerging as the front-runner to be Biden's running mate, as she was the only African American woman with the political experience typical of vice presidents. On June 26, CNN reported that more than a dozen people close to the Biden search process considered Harris one of Biden's top four contenders, along with Elizabeth Warren, Val Demings, and Keisha Lance Bottoms.

On August 11, 2020, Biden announced he had chosen Harris. She was the first African American, the first Indian American, and the third woman after Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin to be the vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket. Harris is also the first resident of the Western United States to appear on the Democratic Party's national ticket.

Harris became the vice president–elect after Biden won the 2020 presidential election.

Vice presidency (2021–present)

See also: Inauguration of Joe Biden and Presidency of Joe Biden
Harris being sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on January 20, 2021

Harris was sworn in as vice president on 11:40 a.m. on January 20, 2021, by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She is the United States' first woman vice president, first African-American vice president, and first Asian-American vice president. Harris is the third person with acknowledged non-European ancestry to become president or vice president.

Her first act as vice president was to swear in three new senators: Alex Padilla (her successor in the Senate) and Georgia senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

Senate presidency

When Harris took office the 117th Congress's Senate was divided 50–50 between Republicans and Democrats; this meant that she was often called upon to exercise her power to cast tie-breaking votes as president of the Senate. Harris cast her first two tie-breaking votes on February 5. In February and March, Harris's tie-breaking votes were required to pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 stimulus package Biden proposed, since no Senate Republicans voted for it. On July 20, Harris broke Mike Pence's record for tie-breaking votes in the first year of a vice presidency when she cast the seventh tie-breaking vote in her first six months. She cast 13 tie-breaking votes during her first year in office, the most tie-breaking votes in a single year in U.S. history, surpassing John Adams, who cast 12 in 1790. On December 5, 2023, Harris broke the record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a vice president, casting her 32nd vote, exceeding John C. Calhoun, who cast 31 votes during his nearly eight years in office. On November 19, 2021, Harris served as acting president from 10:10 to 11:35 am EST while Biden underwent a colonoscopy. She was the first woman, and the third person overall, to assume the powers and duties of the presidency as acting president of the United States.

As early as December 2021, Harris was identified as playing a pivotal role in the Biden administration owing to her tie-breaking vote in the evenly divided Senate as well as her being the presumed front-runner in 2024 if Biden did not seek reelection.

Immigration

Harris disembarks Marine Two at Joint Base Andrews beginning a trip to El Paso, Texas, June 2021

On March 24, 2021, Biden assigned Harris to work with Mexico and Northern Triangle nations (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) to stem irregular migration to the Mexico–United States border and address the root causes of migration. The Root Causes Strategy (RCS) was the product of this effort. Multiple news organizations at the time described Harris as a "border czar", though Harris rejected the title and never actually held it. Republicans and other critics began using the term "border czar" to tie Harris to the Mexico–United States border crisis, including in a July 2024 House resolution, despite her having no authority over the border itself.

Harris arrives in Guatemala City during her first foreign trip as vice president, June 2021

Harris conducted her first international trip as vice president in June 2021, visiting Guatemala and Mexico in an attempt to address the root causes of an increase in migration from Central America to the United States. During her visit, in a joint press conference with Guatemalan president Alejandro Giammattei, Harris issued an appeal to potential migrants: "I want to be clear to folks in the region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border: Do not come. Do not come." Her work in Central America led to creation of:

Foreign policy

Vice President Harris at a press conference at the Commerzbank in Munich with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, February 2024

Harris met with French president Emmanuel Macron in November 2021 to strengthen ties after the contentious cancellation of a submarine program. Another meeting was held in November 2022 during Macron's visit to the U.S., resulting in an agreement to strengthen U.S.–France space cooperation across civil, commercial, and national security sectors.

In April 2021, Harris said she was the last person in the room before Biden decided to remove all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, adding that Biden had "an extraordinary amount of courage" and "make decisions based on what he truly believes ... is the right thing to do." National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that Biden "insists she be in every core decision-making meeting. She weighs in during those meetings, often providing unique perspectives." Harris assumed a "key diplomatic role" in the Biden administration, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, after which she was dispatched to Germany and Poland to rally support for arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.

Harris meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 25, 2024

In April 2023, Harris visited Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland with South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and agreed to work to strengthen the space alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. "We renew our commitment to strengthen our cooperation in the next frontier of our expanding alliance, and of course that is space," Harris said at a joint news conference with Yoon.

In November 2023, Harris pledged that the Biden administration would place no conditions on U.S. aid to Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza. In March 2024, she criticized Israel's actions during the Israel–Hamas war, saying, "Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks...This will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in."

2024 presidential election

Main article: Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign
Harris and Tim Walz at a presidential campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, August 2024

In April 2023, incumbent president Joe Biden announced his reelection campaign, with Harris as his running mate. After the Democratic primaries, the pair became the party's presumptive nominees in the 2024 presidential election. Concerns about Biden's age and health persisted throughout Biden's first term, with renewed scrutiny after his performance in the first presidential debate, on June 27.

Presidential campaign

The 2024 election with electoral votes by state.

On July 21, 2024, Biden suspended his reelection campaign and endorsed Harris for president. She was also endorsed by Jimmy Carter, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, the Congressional Black Caucus, and many others. In the first 24 hours of her candidacy, her campaign raised $81 million in small-dollar donations, the highest single-day total of any presidential candidate in history. Had she won, Harris would have been the first female and first Asian-American president of the United States, and the second African-American president after Obama. Harris is the first nominee who did not participate in the primaries since Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968. She also had shortest general-election presidential campaign in history, at 107 days.

By August 5, Harris had officially secured the nomination via a virtual roll call of delegates. The next day, she announced Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate. On August 22, the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention, Harris officially accepted the Democratic nomination for president. She participated in a debate with Trump on September 10; it was widely reported that Harris won the debate. On October 30, she delivered a half-hour speech at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C, intended as a "closing argument" for her campaign.

Harris lost the 2024 United States presidential election to Trump, conceding the next day in a speech at her alma mater, Howard University. Losses in the "blue wall" states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania were considered key to her defeat, in addition to losing the swing states of Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina. Harris's loss in 2024 was part of a global backlash against incumbent parties, in part due to the 2021-2023 inflation surge. All 50 states and DC trended rightward compared to the 2020 presidential election. On January 6, 2025, Harris oversaw the certification of Trump and Vance as the winners of the election.

Political positions

Main article: Political positions of Kamala Harris

Harris's domestic platform supports national abortion protections, LGBTQ+ rights, stricter gun control, and limited legislation to address climate change. On immigration, she supports an earned pathway to citizenship and increases in border security, as well as addressing the root causes of illegal immigration by means of the RCS program.

On foreign policy, Harris supports continued military aid to Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars, but insists that Israel should agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal and work toward a two-state solution. She opposes an arms embargo on Israel. Harris has departed from Biden on economic issues, proposing what has been called a "populist" economic agenda.

Abortion

Harris supports abortion rights, and reproductive health care was central to her presidential campaign. She has been called "the Biden administration's voice for reproductive rights" and "the White House’s voice of unflinching support for reproductive health rights." Several abortion rights and women's organizations supported her after Biden withdrew from the race, with Reproductive Freedom for All saying "there is nobody who has fought as hard for abortion rights and access" and EMILY's List calling her "our most powerful advocate and messenger" on reproductive rights.

As of 2020, Harris had a 100% rating from the abortion rights advocacy group Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and a 0% rating from the anti-abortion group National Right to Life Committee. EMILY's List endorsed her in 2015, during her senatorial campaign.

LGBT rights

As California Attorney General, Harris refused to defend Prop 8 in federal court, and after Prop 8 was struck down in Hollingsworth v. Perry in 2013, she ordered the Los Angeles County Clerk's office to "start the marriages immediately". She officiated at the wedding of the plaintiffs in the case, Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, at San Francisco City Hall.

As a member of the U.S. Senate, Harris co-sponsored the Equality Act.

In July 2018, Harris led her colleagues in introducing the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act of 2018, a nationwide bill that would curtail the effectiveness of the so-called gay and trans panic defenses, an issue she pioneered as District Attorney of San Francisco.

In October 2019, Harris participated in a CNN/Human Rights Campaign town hall on LGBTQ rights and pledged her support for "all of the folks who are fighting for equality" in cases that would determine whether gay and transgender people are protected under laws banning federal workplace discrimination. Harris drew attention to the epidemic of hate crimes committed against Black trans women (at the time 20 killed that year), noting that LGBTQ people of color are doubly discriminated against.

Harris has since been criticized for a 2015 federal court motion she filed to block gender-affirming medical care for a transgender inmate serving in a California state prison while she was California Attorney General, after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that denying that treatment violated the 8th Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.

Criminal justice

In December 2018, Harris voted for the First Step Act, legislation aimed at reducing recidivism rates among federal prisoners by expanding job training and other programs, in addition to forming an expansion of early release programs and modifications on sentencing laws such as mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, "to more equitably punish drug offenders".

In March 2020, Harris was one of 15 senators to sign a letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and private prison companies GEO Group, CoreCivic, and Management and Training Corporation requesting information on their strategy to address the COVID-19 pandemic, asserting that it was "critical that have a plan to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus to incarcerated individuals and correctional staff, along with their families and loved ones, and provide treatment to incarcerated individuals and staff who become infected."

In June 2020, after a campaign by a coalition of community groups, including Black Lives Matter, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Los Angeles Police Department budget cuts of $150 million. Harris supported the decision:

In 2020 Harris tweeted in support of donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a bail fund assisting those arrested in the George Floyd protests, though she did not donate to the fund herself.

Harris's criminal justice record has been seen as mixed, with critics calling her "tough on crime" even though she called herself a "progressive prosecutor", citing her reluctance to release prisoners and anti-truancy policies. In her 2009 book, Harris criticized liberals for what she called "biases against law enforcement".

Personal life

See also: Family of Kamala Harris
Vice President Harris and her husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff at the White House, May 2024

In the 1990s, Harris dated Willie Brown, Speaker of the California Assembly (1980–1995) and then Mayor of San Francisco (1996–2004). In 2001, she briefly dated talk show host Montel Williams.

Harris met her husband, attorney Doug Emhoff, through a mutual friend who set them up on a blind date in 2013. Emhoff, who was born in a Jewish family, was an entertainment lawyer who became partner-in-charge at Venable LLP's Los Angeles office. Harris and Emhoff married on August 22, 2014, in Santa Barbara, California. Harris is stepmother to Emhoff's two children, Cole and Ella, from his previous marriage to the film producer Kerstin Emhoff. As of August 2024, Harris and her husband had an estimated net worth of $8 million.

Harris is a Baptist, holding membership of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, a congregation of the American Baptist Churches USA. She is a member of The Links, an invitation-only social and service organization of prominent Black American women. Harris is a gun owner.

Public image

Main article: Public image of Kamala Harris

Though the public had an unfavorable view of Harris as vice president, setting a record low, her public image improved after Biden withdrew his candidacy for reelection. Notably, her approval rating rose 13% among Democrats.

Harris quips, "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?" during a speech on May 10, 2023.

Harris's term as vice president has seen high staff turnover—including the departures of her chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, press secretary, deputy press secretary, communications director, and chief speechwriter—which critics allege reflects dysfunction and demoralization. Axios reported that at least some of the turnover was due to exhaustion from a demanding transition into the new administration, as well as financial and personal considerations. For most of her tenure, Harris had one of the lowest approval ratings of any vice president. According to a RealClear Politics polling average, a record low of 34.8% of Americans had a favorable view of her in August 2022, but this number rose rapidly after she became the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in July 2024. Harris had a net favorable rating by September 9.

In 2024, a video clip from 2023 went viral of Harris saying "You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you" at a White House event. Since the launch of her 2024 presidential campaign, that and other Harris remarks have been widely shared as memes, resulting in press coverage of her public image.

Harris's often boisterous laughter has been called one of her "most defining and most dissected personal traits". She says she got her laugh from her mother.

Publications

Harris has written two nonfiction books and one children's book.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Harris was originally named Kamala Iyer Harris by her parents, who two weeks later filed an affidavit by which her middle name was changed to Devi.
  2. Pronounced /ˈkɑːmələ ˈdeɪvi/ KAH-mə-lə DAY-vee
  3. The schools were University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Northwestern University, Evanston; and University of Wisconsin, Madison.
  4. The other two are President Barack Obama, and Charles Curtis, a Native American and member of the Kaw Nation, who was vice president under Herbert Hoover from 1929 to 1933.
  5. In terms of its type, it is often described as a cackle or guffaw. An example of it can be seen in the "coconut tree" video exhibited on the right of this section.

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Further reading

  • Johnson-Batiste, Stacey L. (2021). Friends from the Beginning: The Berkeley Village That Raised Kamala and Me. Twelve Books. ISBN 978-1-5387-0748-7.
  • Morain, Dan (2021). Kamala's Way. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1-3985-0485-1.

External links

Library resources about
Kamala Harris

Official

Other

Kamala Harris
Life and politics
Elections
California
Vice presidential
Presidential
Bibliography
Public image
Family
Offices and distinctions
Legal offices
Preceded byTerence Hallinan District Attorney of San Francisco
2004–2011
Succeeded byGeorge Gascón
Preceded byJerry Brown Attorney General of California
2011–2017
Succeeded byKathleen Kenealy
Acting
Party political offices
Preceded byBarbara Boxer Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from California
(Class 3)

2016
Succeeded byAlex Padilla
Preceded byTim Kaine Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States
2020
Succeeded byTim Walz
Preceded byJoe Biden Democratic nominee for President of the United States
2024
Most recent
U.S. Senate
Preceded byBarbara Boxer U.S. Senator (Class 3) from California
2017–2021
Served alongside: Dianne Feinstein
Succeeded byAlex Padilla
Political offices
Preceded byMike Pence Vice President of the United States
2021–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byJoe Bidenas President Second in order
as Vice President of the United States
Followed byRelevant state governor
U.S. presidential line of succession
First First in line
as Vice President of the United States
Succeeded byMike Johnsonas Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Articles related to Kamala Harris
Vice presidents of the United States
  1. John Adams (1789–1797)
  2. Thomas Jefferson (1797–1801)
  3. Aaron Burr (1801–1805)
  4. George Clinton (1805–1812)
  5. Elbridge Gerry (1813–1814)
  6. Daniel D. Tompkins (1817–1825)
  7. John C. Calhoun (1825–1832)
  8. Martin Van Buren (1833–1837)
  9. Richard M. Johnson (1837–1841)
  10. John Tyler (1841)
  11. George M. Dallas (1845–1849)
  12. Millard Fillmore (1849–1850)
  13. William R. King (1853)
  14. John C. Breckinridge (1857–1861)
  15. Hannibal Hamlin (1861–1865)
  16. Andrew Johnson (1865)
  17. Schuyler Colfax (1869–1873)
  18. Henry Wilson (1873–1875)
  19. William A. Wheeler (1877–1881)
  20. Chester A. Arthur (1881)
  21. Thomas A. Hendricks (1885)
  22. Levi P. Morton (1889–1893)
  23. Adlai Stevenson (1893–1897)
  24. Garret Hobart (1897–1899)
  25. Theodore Roosevelt (1901)
  26. Charles W. Fairbanks (1905–1909)
  27. James S. Sherman (1909–1912)
  28. Thomas R. Marshall (1913–1921)
  29. Calvin Coolidge (1921–1923)
  30. Charles G. Dawes (1925–1929)
  31. Charles Curtis (1929–1933)
  32. John N. Garner (1933–1941)
  33. Henry A. Wallace (1941–1945)
  34. Harry S. Truman (1945)
  35. Alben W. Barkley (1949–1953)
  36. Richard Nixon (1953–1961)
  37. Lyndon B. Johnson (1961–1963)
  38. Hubert Humphrey (1965–1969)
  39. Spiro Agnew (1969–1973)
  40. Gerald Ford (1973–1974)
  41. Nelson Rockefeller (1974–1977)
  42. Walter Mondale (1977–1981)
  43. George H. W. Bush (1981–1989)
  44. Dan Quayle (1989–1993)
  45. Al Gore (1993–2001)
  46. Dick Cheney (2001–2009)
  47. Joe Biden (2009–2017)
  48. Mike Pence (2017–2021)
  49. Kamala Harris (2021–present)
Order of precedence in the United States*
*not including acting officeholders, visiting dignitaries, auxiliary executive and military personnel and most diplomats
Presidential line of succession in the United States
* Ineligible to act as president • ** Ambiguity exists concerning eligibility to act as president
Cabinet of President Joe Biden (2021–present)
Cabinet
Vice President
Secretary of State
Secretary of the Treasury
Secretary of Defense
Attorney General
Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of Agriculture
Secretary of Commerce
Secretary of Labor
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary of Transportation
Secretary of Energy
Secretary of Education
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Secretary of Homeland Security
Cabinet-level
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Director of National Intelligence
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Trade Representative
Ambassador to the United Nations
Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
White House Chief of Staff
See also: Political appointments by Joe Biden
Members of the Cabinet of the United States
Cabinet members White House Logo
Cabinet-level members
acting
Cabinet of Joe Biden
Leadership of the United States Senate
President: Kamala Harris (D)
President pro tempore: Chuck Grassley (R)
Majority (Republican)Minority (Democratic)
(← 2016) 2020 United States presidential election (2024 →)
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris (D), 306 electoral votes; Donald Trump, Mike Pence (R), 232 electoral votes
Democratic Party
IPO · ▌WFP
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  • Candidates
    Withdrew during primaries
    Michael Bennet
    Michael Bloomberg
    campaign
    endorsements
    positions
    Pete Buttigieg
    campaign
    endorsements
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    Tulsi Gabbard
    campaign
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    Amy Klobuchar
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    Deval Patrick
    Bernie Sanders
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    Tom Steyer
    Elizabeth Warren
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    Andrew Yang
    campaign
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    Withdrew before primaries
    Cory Booker
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    positions
    Steve Bullock
    Julian Castro
    Bill de Blasio
    John Delaney
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    Kirsten Gillibrand
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    campaign
    Kamala Harris
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    Jay Inslee
    campaign
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    Seth Moulton
    Richard Ojeda
    Beto O'Rourke
    campaign
    Tim Ryan
    Joe Sestak
    Eric Swalwell
    Marianne Williamson
    campaign
    Republican Party
    CPNYS · ▌RTLP
    Candidates
    Incumbent nominee
    Donald Trump
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    Incumbent VP nominee: Mike Pence
    Withdrew during primaries
    Rocky De La Fuente
    Bob Ely
    Jack Fellure
    Zoltan Istvan
    Joe Walsh
    campaign
    Bill Weld
    campaign
    Withdrew before primaries
    Mark Sanford
    campaign
    Libertarian Party
    Candidates
    Nominee
    Jo Jorgensen
    campaign
    endorsements
    VP nominee: Spike Cohen
    Eliminated in balloting
    Jim Gray
    Adam Kokesh
    John McAfee
    John Monds
    Vermin Supreme
    campaign
    Withdrew before or during primaries
    Max Abramson
    Lincoln Chafee
    Zoltan Istvan
    Formed exploratory committee but did not run
    Justin Amash
    Green Party
    LMN · ▌SA · ▌SPUSA
    Candidates
    Withdrew during primaries
    Dario Hunter
    Other candidates
    Jesse Ventura
    Constitution Party
    Other third-party candidates
    Alliance Party
    AIP · ▌Reform
    Other candidates
    Max Abramson
    Phil Collins
    American Solidarity Party
    Other candidates
    Joe Schriner
    Birthday Party
    Bread and Roses
    Party for Socialism & Liberation
    LUP · ▌PFP
    Progressive Party
    Prohibition Party
    Socialist Action
    Socialist Equality Party
    Socialist Workers Party
    Independent candidates
    Declared
    Pete Accetturo
    Mark Charles
    Brock Pierce (▌IPNY nominee)
    Jade Simmons
    Joe Schriner
    Withdrew
    Perry Caravello
    Jeremy Gable
    Disputes
    Attempts to overturn
    Lawsuits
    Controversies
    (← 2020) 2024 United States presidential election (2028 →)
    Donald Trump, JD Vance (R), 312 electoral votes; Kamala Harris, Tim Walz (D), 226 electoral votes
    Republican Party
    CPNYS
  • Primaries
  • Candidates
  • Debates and forums
  • Results
  • Convention
  • Polls
  • Endorsements
  • VP candidate selection
  • Candidates
    Withdrew during primaries
    Ryan Binkley
    John Anthony Castro
    Ron DeSantis
    campaign
    endorsements
    positions
    Nikki Haley
    campaign
    endorsements
    positions
    Asa Hutchinson
    campaign
    E. W. Jackson
    Vivek Ramaswamy
    campaign
    Sam Sloan
    Withdrew before primaries
    Doug Burgum
    campaign
    Chris Christie
    campaign
    Larry Elder
    Will Hurd
    Perry Johnson
    Steve Laffey
    Mike Pence
    campaign
    positions
    Tim Scott
    campaign
    Corey Stapleton
    Francis Suarez
    Democratic Party
    WFP
    Candidates
    Withdrew after primaries
    Joe Biden
    campaign
    endorsements
    opposition
    positions
    withdrawal
    Marianne Williamson
    campaign
    Withdrew during primaries
    Jason Palmer
    Dean Phillips
    campaign
    Vermin Supreme
    Cenk Uygur
    Withdrew before primaries
    Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
    Jerome Segal
    Libertarian Party
    Candidates
    Eliminated in balloting
    Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
    Art Olivier
    Michael Rectenwald
    Mike ter Maat
    Withdrew before primaries
    Joe Exotic
    Other candidates
    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (LPCO · LPNH)
    Green Party
    KP
    Candidates
    Withdrew after primaries
    Randy Toler
    Withdrew before primaries
    Emanuel Pastreich
    Cornel West
    Independent
    GMPJ · ▌NLMN · ▌OPP
    SA · ▌UCP · ▌UPC
    Independent (withdrawn)
    AP · ▌AIP · ▌IPoD
    NLP · ▌RPUSA
    Other third-party candidates
    American Solidarity Party
    Other candidates
    Joe Schriner
    Constitution Party
    Convention
    Other candidates
    Joel Skousen
    Independent American Party
    Legal Marijuana Now Party
    Primary
    Other candidates
    Ed Forchion
    Krystal Gabel
    Rudy Reyes
    Vermin Supreme
    Liberal Party USA
    Pirate Party
    Party Party
    Party for Socialism & Liberation
    PFP · ▌SCW
    Socialist Equality Party
    Socialist Workers Party
    Unity Party of America
    Other independent candidates
    Declared
    Shiva Ayyadurai
    Johnny Buss
    Joseph "Afroman" Foreman
    Tom Hoefling
    Taylor Marshall
    Emanuel Pastreich
    Withdrew
    Krist Novoselic
    Kanye West
    campaign
    positions
    Disputes
    Controversies
    Unsuccessful major party candidates for President of the United States
    1. Thomas Jefferson (1796)
    2. John Adams (1800)
    3. Charles C. Pinckney (1804, 1808)
    4. DeWitt Clinton (1812)
    5. Rufus King (1816)
    6. Andrew Jackson (1824)
    7. William H. Crawford (1824)
    8. Henry Clay (1824, 1832, 1844)
    9. John Quincy Adams (1828)
    10. William Henry Harrison (1836)
    11. Hugh Lawson White (1836)
    12. Martin Van Buren (1840)
    13. Lewis Cass (1848)
    14. Winfield Scott (1852)
    15. John C. Frémont (1856)
    16. Stephen A. Douglas (1860)
    17. George B. McClellan (1864)
    18. Horatio Seymour (1868)
    19. Horace Greeley (1872)
    20. Samuel J. Tilden (1876)
    21. Winfield Scott Hancock (1880)
    22. James G. Blaine (1884)
    23. Grover Cleveland (1888)
    24. Benjamin Harrison (1892)
    25. William J. Bryan (1896, 1900, 1908)
    26. Alton B. Parker (1904)
    27. William Howard Taft (1912)
    28. Charles Evans Hughes (1916)
    29. James M. Cox (1920)
    30. John W. Davis (1924)
    31. Al Smith (1928)
    32. Herbert Hoover (1932)
    33. Alf Landon (1936)
    34. Wendell Willkie (1940)
    35. Thomas E. Dewey (1944, 1948)
    36. Adlai Stevenson (1952, 1956)
    37. Richard Nixon (1960)
    38. Barry Goldwater (1964)
    39. Hubert Humphrey (1968)
    40. George McGovern (1972)
    41. Gerald Ford (1976)
    42. Jimmy Carter (1980)
    43. Walter Mondale (1984)
    44. Michael Dukakis (1988)
    45. George H. W. Bush (1992)
    46. Bob Dole (1996)
    47. Al Gore (2000)
    48. John Kerry (2004)
    49. John McCain (2008)
    50. Mitt Romney (2012)
    51. Hillary Clinton (2016)
    52. Donald Trump (2020)
    53. Kamala Harris (2024)
    United States senators from California
    Class 1 United States Senate
    Class 3
    California's delegation(s) to the 115th–117th United States Congress (ordered by seniority)
    115th Senate: House:
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    117th Senate: House:
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