Douglas Emhoff: Who Exactly Is Kamala Harris' Husband?

On August 11th, 2020, Joe Biden named Kamala Harris to be his running mate in the 2020 election, which, among other things, means that people will want to learn more about her personal life. Harris is married to Douglas Emhoff, who became a minor internet sensation when he jumped on stage to help remove a protestor who interrupted his wife at a 2019 speaking event. Aside from being a supportive husband, Emhoff is a partner at the law firm DLA Piper. He's also licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C., which would work out well if the family winds up having to make a big move in January 2021. The Emhoff family includes his son Cole and daughter Ella from his marriage to his first wife, film producer Kerstin Emhoff. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that the potential future VP met her now-husband in 2013 on a blind date set up by a PR consultant and longtime friend of Harris. She didn't meet Emhoff's kids Ella and Cole until she was sure that she was "in this for the long haul," writing for Elle, "As a child of divorce, I knew how hard it could be when your parents start to date other people." Before moving to Southern California as a teen, Emhoff was born in Brooklyn. After high school, he attended California State University-Northridge, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies degree in 1987. Immediately after, he enrolled in law school, ultimately earning his law degree from the USC Gould School of Law in 1990. He's worked as an entertainment lawyer for almost 30 years now. In 2014, SFGate reported that Harris, who was attorney general at the time, got engaged to Emhoff after "about a year" of dating. The proposal was relatively low-key, with Emhoff popping the question on March 27, 2014, at Harris' apartment. They tied the knot at the Santa Barbara courthouse in August 2014. The ceremony was conducted by the sister of the bride, Maya Harris. Even though they opted for a courthouse wedding, the couple still added in some personal touches. There was a cellist playing music. They wrote their own vows and incorporated traditions from each of their backgrounds. At the end of the ceremony, they broke a glass to honor Emhoff's Jewish heritage. Harris also placed a flower garland around his neck, in honor of an Indian wedding tradition. And then they went back to normal lives, instead of embarking on a honeymoon. As a long-tenured partner in a law firm, it seems Emhoff has done pretty well for himself. In 2019, the Washington Post reported that Harris and Emhoff's 2018 tax returns indicated a joint income of $1.9 million dollars, about $1.4 million of which was attributed to Emhoff's salary. And the Post further reports that the lawyer's income has been upwards of $1 million since the two started filing joint returns in 2014. There's no doubt that Emhoff is an accomplished person in his own right, but in addition to being a successful lawyer and an involved father, he might just be the ultimate Instagram husband. No one is more supportive of Kamala Harris and her political aspirations than Emhoff. In March 2020, he posted a photo of a graphic that read, "A woman's place is in the White House," and wrote, "I had this sticker on my phone most of [Kamala's] campaign. One day, hopefully soon." After Harris dropped out of the race to be the Democratic nominee in December 2019, Emhoff shared a photo of himself embracing his wife, writing, quote, "I've got you. As always." Aside from sharing photos posing with Harris as a couple, he's solidified his role as her biggest fan with many other social media posts. In one October 2019 Instagram post, he proudly held up an issue of Time with Harris on the cover. He even posted a photo posing with a cardboard cut-out of his wife while she was away on the road, which he has actually done on more than one occasion. Regardless of your politics, Emhoff's obvious enthusiasm and support for Harris is nothing short of infectious. Watch the video to learn about Douglas Emhoff, Kamala Harris' Husband! #KamalaHarris #DouglasEmhoff