Omar Bennett
Kamala Harris served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She is the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to hold the position. Harris was born in Oakland, California, in 1964 and has had a long political career, serving as District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California, and United States Senator before becoming vice president.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kamala Devi Harris |
| Date of Birth | October 20, 1964 |
| Place of Birth | Oakland, California |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| Position | 49th Vice President of the United States |
| Vice President Term | 2021–2025 |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Achievements | First woman, first Black American, and first South Asian American to be Vice President; set a record for most tie-breaking votes as President of the Senate |
| Notable Policies | Gun safety, maternal health, medical debt reform, immigration reform, voting rights, women's reproductive rights |
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What You'll Learn
- Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President on January 20, 2021
- She is the first woman, first Black American, and first South Asian American to be Vice President
- She previously served as attorney general of California and as a US senator
- Harris has worked to advance opportunity, deliver for families, and protect fundamental freedoms such as the freedom to vote and the freedom to live safe from gun violence
- She has also represented the nation abroad, travelling to 21 countries and meeting with over 150 world leaders
Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President on January 20, 2021
Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021. She served in this role until 2025, under President Joe Biden. Harris is the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected as Vice President.
Harris was born in Oakland, California, on October 20, 1964. She earned a BA in political science and economics from Howard University in 1986 and a law degree from Hastings College in 1989. She began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, later becoming the District Attorney of San Francisco and the first African-American and first woman to serve as California's Attorney General. Harris also represented California in the US Senate from 2017 to 2021.
As Vice President, Harris has worked to advance opportunity, deliver for families, and protect fundamental freedoms. She has led the fight for women's reproductive rights, the freedom to live safe from gun violence, the freedom to vote, and the freedom to access clean water and air. Harris has also represented the US abroad, travelling to 21 countries and meeting with more than 150 world leaders.
During her time as Vice President, Harris set a new record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a Vice President, surpassing a record that had stood for nearly 200 years. Her votes included the decisive vote to pass the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in addressing the climate crisis. She also presided over the vote to confirm Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.
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She is the first woman, first Black American, and first South Asian American to be Vice President
On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first female vice president of the United States. She is also the country's first Black vice president and first vice president of South Asian heritage. Harris's election to the vice presidency broke barriers, marking a significant milestone in the history of American politics and representation.
Harris was born in Oakland, California, on October 20, 1964. She began her political career as a senator from California in 2017, becoming the second Black woman and first South Asian American to serve in the US Senate. During her time in the Senate, 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 for her pointed questioning of officials in the Trump administration during Senate hearings.
In 2020, Joe Biden selected Harris as his running mate, and together they defeated the incumbent president, Donald Trump, and vice president, Mike Pence, in the 2020 presidential election. As vice president, Harris presided over an evenly split US Senate, casting a record-breaking 33 tie-breaking votes to pass significant legislation such as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Harris's election as the first female, first Black, and first South Asian American vice president inspired many and represented a significant step forward for diversity and representation in American politics. Her election to this high office has had a profound impact on many Americans, particularly women, Black Americans, and South Asian Americans, who now see themselves reflected in the country's leadership.
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She previously served as attorney general of California and as a US senator
Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2021, becoming the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to hold the position. Before becoming vice president, Harris served as attorney general of California and as a US senator.
Harris's career in politics began in 2004 when she became the first woman and the first African American and South Asian American woman to serve as District Attorney in San Francisco. In 2011, she became California's 32nd attorney general, a position she held until 2016. During her time as attorney general, Harris fought for justice and public service, specialising in prosecuting cases of child sexual assault, homicide, and robbery.
In 2015, Harris announced her candidacy for the US Senate, running for the seat vacated by Senator Barbara Boxer, who had decided not to seek reelection in 2016. Harris was a top contender from the beginning of her campaign, winning 78% of the California Democratic Party vote at the party convention. She went on to win the primary with 40% of the vote and defeated fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez in the general election with over 60% of the vote. Harris served as a US senator from California until 2021, when she resigned to become vice president.
As a senator, Harris worked on bipartisan bills, including a bail reform bill with Rand Paul, an election security bill with James Lankford, and a workplace harassment bill with Lisa Murkowski. She also introduced several bills in the Senate, including the Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act of 2020, the RELIEF Act, and the Climate Equity Act of 2020.
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Harris has worked to advance opportunity, deliver for families, and protect fundamental freedoms such as the freedom to vote and the freedom to live safe from gun violence
Kamala Harris served as vice president from 2021 until 2024, when she launched her own presidential campaign. During her time as vice president, Harris worked to advance opportunity, deliver for families, and protect fundamental freedoms such as the freedom to vote and the freedom to live safe from gun violence.
Harris has a strong record on gun safety. As a senator, she co-sponsored legislation to regulate dangerous firearms and accessories, including 3D-printed guns, bump stocks, and other devices designed to increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic weapons. She also co-sponsored the Disarm Hate Act, which prohibits individuals convicted of violent hate crimes from purchasing and possessing firearms. As vice president, Harris visited Parkland, Florida, where she met with survivors of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting. She also oversaw the first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and supported community violence intervention programs and public health research on gun violence.
Harris has also been a vocal advocate for protecting and expanding voting rights. As vice president, she was the face of the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to expand voting rights, including launching new efforts across federal agencies to offer nonpartisan voter registration opportunities. She has also championed critical voting legislation, such as the JLVRAA, which would restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the NAVRA, which protects Indigenous communities from discriminatory voting practices.
In addition to her work on gun safety and voting rights, Harris has also delivered for families. As an assistant district attorney, she ran the Family and Children's Services Division, representing child abuse and neglect cases. As president, Harris has outlined a plan for an 'opportunity economy', with a focus on creating economic opportunities for the middle class and building affordable housing.
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She has also represented the nation abroad, travelling to 21 countries and meeting with over 150 world leaders
Kamala Harris was the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025, serving under President Joe Biden. She is the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to hold the position of vice president.
Harris has been a trailblazer throughout her career. Before becoming vice president, she served as District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California, and a United States Senator. As vice president, she continued her legacy of breaking barriers and fighting for the people. She has worked to advance opportunities, deliver for families, and protect fundamental freedoms across the country. This includes leading the fight for women's reproductive rights, the freedom to live safe from gun violence, the freedom to vote, and the freedom to access clean air and water.
Harris has also been active on the global stage, representing the nation abroad. She has embarked on 17 foreign trips, travelling to 21 countries, and meeting with more than 150 world leaders. These engagements have been crucial in strengthening critical global alliances and promoting US interests and values internationally. Harris has attended significant international events, such as the Munich Security Conference in February 2024, where she voiced support for NATO and condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She has also represented the US at a "peace conference" in Switzerland in June 2024, demonstrating her commitment to finding diplomatic solutions to global conflicts.
Harris's foreign policy experience grew significantly during her vice presidency. She has addressed critical issues and supported US allies, such as expressing support for the rules-based international maritime order in the South China Sea during a visit to the island of Palawan. Harris has also navigated complex relationships, such as that between the US and Israel, demonstrating her ability to engage with a range of global stakeholders. As vice president, she has gained valuable on-the-ground experience and played a vital role in shaping US foreign policy.
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Frequently asked questions
Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President on January 20, 2021.
Kamala Harris was Vice President alongside President Joe Biden.
Before becoming Vice President, Harris served as a Senator for California, and as California's Attorney General.
