Kamala Harris has spent most of her life tweaking the list of things she was first to achieve. Hailing from a family of mixed heritage, she stands on the brink of something historic. She is a skilled orator and is currently on the run for her presidential bid. Harris has a solid legal background, and her reputation as a tough but compassionate leader has grown. She is also known for her consistent and passionate efforts in reforming the criminal justice system. Throughout her journey as a prosecutor and senator, her life is full of lesser-known facts and interesting anecdotes.
We have researched various online articles to curate a list of 15 intriguing facts about Kamala Harris.
Indian Root of Her Name
Her mother chose the name Kamala, deriving it from Indian mythology. Kamala means ‘lotus’ in Sanskrit and according to the Hindu mythology, it is another name for Goddess Lakshmi. Her mother believed that a culture that worships goddesses produces strong women. The name ‘Kamala’ is a nod to that belief.
A Child of Divorced Academicians
Hailing from a distinguished line of academicians, Harris saw her parents divorce in 1972 when she was seven. While she grew up with her sister Maya between Oakland and Berkeley, she also spent a few years in Montreal, where her mother taught.
Woman of Blended Heritage
As a child, Harris was raised embracing both her South Asian and African identities. Her mother would bring her to India for visits and cook Indian food for her. While growing up, Harris worshiped at a Baptist church in Oakland and in Hindu temples while visiting India. Even though her mother’s adopted homeland would see Maya and Kamala as black girls, she was determined to help them grow as confident, proud black women.
First Taste of Activism
Harris used to attend protests with her family before her parents got divorced. When a toddler Harris started fussing at one of these protests, her mother promptly discovered that, by her own admission, she wanted freedom. When she was 13, Harris and her younger sister, Maya, protested against a policy that prevented children from playing on the lawn and led a successful demonstration as the neighbors watched on.
The Reign Begins
After clearing the bar in 1990, Harris joined the Alameda County prosecutor’s office in Oakland as an assistant district attorney. Her focus was on sex crimes, and even though her family was dubious about her profession, she said that her goal was to change the system from within.
The Power Couple
Harris and Willie Brown, 30 years older than Harris, began dating in the mid-1990s. Thirty years older than Harris, Brown was the speaker of the state assembly in California. From his position in the assembly, Harris became a part of the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the Medical Assistance Commission. The relationship ended soon after Brown was elected as the mayor of San Francisco.
A Changed Perspective
While working at the San Francisco District Attorney’s office, Harris took a hard stance on teenage prostitution in the city. She put in a lot of hard work and her efforts almost single-handedly shifted the law enforcement’s perspective of the girls as victims rather than sex-trading criminals.
Rise in Conviction Rates
Harris dedicated her time as district attorney to securing convictions. During the five years of her tenure, San Francisco’s felony conviction rate leaped from 52 to 67 percent, and gun conviction rates leaped to 92%. She even coined a new category for crime, truancy, under which she punished parents who failed to school their kids.
Conflict with Law Enforcement
In 2004, Harris refused to pursue the death penalty against the murderer of Isaac Espinoza, a San Francisco police officer. This became one of the most controversial decisions in her career and was followed by a eulogy by Senator Dianne Feinstein at the funeral, where she heavily criticized Harris, who was seated in the audience. Harris was shunned by police unions throughout the next decade.
Friendship with Obama
Harris and Barack Obama have been friends since his 2004 Senate run. Under the Obama government, heavy rumors floated that Harris was a potential Supreme Court nominee, which she admitted to having no interest in. She was even named the ‘female Obama,’ to which she said she has her legacy.
A Tough Settlement
During her term as the attorney general, California was offered $4 billion over the foreclosure crisis in a national mortgage settlement. Harris refused the deal, fighting for a more considerable amount and ultimately securing $20 billion, along with additional legal protections for the homeowners in California.
‘Momala’ Harris
In 2014, she married Doug Emhoff, a corporate lawyer in Los Angeles. The ceremony was small and private and officiated by her sister, Maya. Harris had no issues bonding with Emhoff’s two children from his previous marriage. Her kindness and amicable behavior with the kids earned her the endearing name ‘Momala.’
Viral Interrogations
Kamala Harris is known for her sharp scrutiny and questioning during Supreme Court hearings. She went viral in 2017 for her sharp scrutiny of the then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the Russia investigation. After a session of persistent questioning for three and a half minutes, Sessions halted the questioning, stating that it was difficult for him to be rushed and made him nervous.
Cooking Enthusiast
Despite being perpetually busy with political work, Harris is passionate about cooking and often bookmarks her favorite recipes from the New York Times cooking section. While she has covered almost all the recipes from Alice Waters’ The Art of Simple, a simple roast chicken remains her go-to dinner.
Converse Craze
Harris collects Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers, which are her go-to travel shoes during all of her public appearances. She owns several colors of these iconic sneakers and even wore them on her Vogue cover in 2021. She loves flaunting the affordable $60 sneakers with her blazers and jeans get-up.
