Lawyer Douglas Emhoff has made history as the first second gentleman of the United States. He was there for his wife Kamala Harris, 59, as the former California senator was sworn in as Vice President of the United States at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021, as Joe Biden, 77, became our 46th president. Kamala herself made history as America’s first female, Black and South-Asian vice president, as she and Joe prevailed in the Nov. 3, 2020 presidential election over incumbent POTUS Donald Trump. and VP Mike Pence.
Shortly after Joe and Kamala’s victory was announced, Douglas took to Twitter to share a sweet photo of himself giving his lady love a big hug after she found out the wonderful news. “So proud of you,” he wrote in the caption along with two red heart and two American flag emojis.
He was also by Kamala’s side later that night when she and Joe gave their first speeches as President-elect and Vice President-elect in Delaware. He confidently held her hand and waved to the in-person crowd after the amazing night and Joe even called the happy couple “family” during his epic time addressing the nation. “Kamala, Doug, like it or not, you’re family. You’ve become an honorary Biden, there’s no way out,” he said with a smile.
So proud of you. ❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Orb1ISe0dU
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) November 7, 2020
In this final stretch, let’s all follow Kamala’s lead: let’s be joyful warriors.
We’re running on a positive vision of America—but working aggressively and staying focused. Every vote matters, and this race will be close. pic.twitter.com/ppcElbQneg
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) September 24, 2024
His support is unwavering, as the 59-year-old husband continues to stand by his political wife while she runs for president as the Democratic candidate. This follows President Biden’s endorsement after he withdrew from the November 2024 elections. She is campaigning alongside her running mate, Tim Walz.
Ever since Joe revealed Kamala was his VP pick in Aug., Douglas vowed to be “ready to work” as the Nov. 3 Election Day drew closer and closer, and that’s exactly what he did. So, who’s the lucky man that gets to be Kamala’s husband? Here’s the answer to that question below:
Kamala’s Husband Has Worked in Law for More Than 25 Years
Douglas shares a love for law with Kamala. He attended University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law, and is now a partner at DLA Piper (a global law firm). “He represents large domestic and international corporations and some of today’s highest profile individuals and influencers in complex business, real estate and intellectual property litigation disputes,” Douglas’s bio reads on the law firm’s website.
AP Images
Douglas Also Specializes in Entertainment Law
One of his clients included TBWA, the ad agency which developed the Taco Bell Chihuahua. This led Wrench, a company based in Michigan, to sue Taco Bell over breach of contract because it claimed to have created the “Psycho Chihuahua,” according to Douglas’s profile in The Hollywood Reporter. Douglas kept TBWA from taking on the financial burden of this lawsuit bill.
Douglas Met Kamala Through A Blind Date
Before Kamala entered his life, Douglas was married to a woman named Kerstin whom he welcomed two children with (a son named Cole, who graduated from Colorado College in 2017, and their daughter Ella, who is studying at Parsons School of Design, according to a 2018 Vogue article).
After Douglas divorced from Kerstin, he was a single dad who was eventually set up on a blind date with Kamala by PR consultant Chrisette Hudlin in 2013, according to his aforementioned profile in THR. It was a great idea, because Douglas and Kamala were married by 2014. Kamala now even has a close relationship with Douglas’s children, as well as her husband’s ex-wife!
Happy Birthday @KamalaHarris! You are always there for us with a big hug, bright smile, infectious laugh and just the right words, all with delicious food and an amazing soundtrack! We love you so so much (and are VERY proud of you)! Doug, Cole & Ella. pic.twitter.com/7evystcTz1
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) October 20, 2018
“They [Douglas’s kids] are my endless source of love and pure joy. I am so thankful to Doug, to Kerstin, and most of all, to Ella and Cole,” the senator wrote in an Elle essay for Mother’s Day 2019. Douglas and his two children even posed for a sweet photo to share on Kamala’s 54th birthday in Oct. 2018, which you can see above.
#GetUpStandUp2020 for @JoeBiden was so much fun! Over 3000 friends attended and over $1mil raised. Let’s keep up this energy all the way to November! pic.twitter.com/oxcWsSMMVf
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) July 10, 2020
Douglas is Kamala’s Number One Cheerleader
He is often seen by the senator’s side at events, repping her “Kamala” T-shirt and his Twitter page is basically a fan account for Kamala, where he often retweets her posts and television appearances. He also shares sneak peeks into their married life, such as this fireworks date. His presence in her and Joe’s presidential campaign didn’t go unnoticed and he proved he would go above and beyond to support his wife and her opportunity to become vice president.
From spending his 56th birthday asking for votes in Virginia parking lots to greeting potential voters in his Biden-Harris gear in such a low-key way that most people didn’t realize who he was, he has been there for Kamala when she was running for president and then vice president, and his dedication has never wavered. Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), who has campaigned with Emhoff, even called him an election-year “sensation”, the Washington Post reported.
Last one… https://t.co/K5hTR3eWav
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) July 1, 2020
Now in 2024, as Kamala runs for the chance to become the first female president of the United States, Douglas has been working to draw attention to the campaign for her and Tim. He accompanies her to rallies and promotes the campaign on social media. On July 23, 2024, he shared on X, “My wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, is running for president. She needs your support. We need you to register, we need you to vote, and we need you to help elect her the next President of the United States.”
My wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, is running for president.
She needs your support. We need you to register, we need you to vote, and we need you to help elect her the next President of the United States.
Visit https://t.co/XqaAQG9r6h and make a donation today. pic.twitter.com/Ujl30pInyR
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) July 23, 2024
The lawyer Considers Himself An “Advocate for Justice and Equality.”
Douglas has lived up to his Twitter bio by being a champion for multiple causes, like the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ rights. He even attended San Francisco Pride in 2019, where he jumped up on the backseat of a car with Kamala and busted out his best dance moves for the crowd (which you can enjoy above).
