People.com
Politics
From a Blind Date to the White House: A Look at Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's Loving Relationship

From a Blind Date to the White House: A Look at Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's Loving Relationship

The vice president and second gentleman met on a blind date in 2013 and were married a year later

By Andrea Wurzburger

January 21, 2021 04:14 PM

Skip gallery slides

1 of 24

2013: Love at First Sight

Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty

In 2013, Harris, then Attorney General of California, and Emhoff, a Los Angeles entertainment lawyer, were set up on a blind date by Harris' friend, Chrisette Hudlin.

Emhoff wrote in a birthday message to his wife in 2020, "Blind date, love at first sight, marriage, family, and an incredible life together. Through it all, no matter what, she is ALWAYS there for me and our family without hesitation."

2 of 24

2013: Doing Her Research

Credit: CBS; Doug Emhoff/Instagram

The pair sat down for an interview with Jane Pauley of CBS News' Sunday Morning in January 2020, and Harris revealed that the date wasn't exactly blind: she Googled her future husband before she met him.

"I did!" Harris said with a laugh, while Emhoff smiled and said, "Oh. This is a reveal!"

"So, yes, my best friend set us up on a blind date," Harris explained. "And she said, 'Just trust me. Just trust me.' You know, she wanted me to just kind of go into it, and she said, 'Don't Google him.' I did!"

Emhoff said in the interview that he was at a Lakers game with a friend when he decided to send a text to Harris, who was California's Attorney General at the time. The next morning, he called her.

"I left this ridiculous voicemail, which she has saved and plays back to me on our anniversary every year," Emhoff said. "I thought I'd never hear from her again, but ..."

"But it was just, it was adorable," said Harris. "And it was just, I mean, the thing about Doug is that he is exactly who he is. He's just fully authentic and clear about the things he cares about. And it's family, it's his work …"

"You," Emhoff said to his wife with a smile.

3 of 24

2013: Making Moves

Credit: Kamala Harris/Instagram

Harris recalled in her memoir, "The morning after our first date, Doug emailed me with a list of his available dates for the next couple of months. 'I'm too old to play games or hide the ball,' the email read. 'I really like you, and I want to see if we can make this work.' "

And, Harris shared on Instagram, "We’ve been making it work ever since."

Continued on next slide.

4 of 24

2014: Put a Ring on It

Credit: Doug Emhoff/Instagram

Less than a year after their first date, Emhoff proposed to Harris, revealing to Marie Claire that it all happened "in the middle of a decidedly unromantic conversation (she was deliberating between chicken or shrimp pad thai)."

5 of 24

2014: Happily Wedded

Credit: Kamala Harris/Instagram

On August 22, 2014, the pair got married in a ceremony performed by Harris' sister, Maya, at a courthouse in Santa Barbara, California.

6 of 24

Blending Their Families

Credit: Tony Avelar/AP/Shutterstock

Emhoff has two children from his previous marriage, Cole and Ella, 26 and 21; Harris became their stepmom in August 2014, when she married Emhoff.

Continued on next slide.

7 of 24

Modern Family

Credit: Doug Emhoff/Instagram

While some blended families can struggle to find their stride, the Harris-Emhoff family has not. Emhoff's ex-wife, Kerstin, has a great relationship with Harris, with the vice president revealing in an essay for Elle, "Kerstin and I hit it off ourselves and are dear friends. She and I became a duo of cheerleaders in the bleachers at Ella’s swim meets and basketball games, often to Ella’s embarrassment. We sometimes joke that our modern family is almost a little too functional."

Ella told The New York Times of her mother's dynamic with Emhoff and Harris, "They have good communication between the three of them. They are really a unit, like a three-person parenting squad. It’s really cool."

8 of 24

Now She's Momala

Harris told Elle that, after she and Emhoff married, "Cole, Ella, and I agreed that we didn’t like the term 'stepmom.' Instead they came up with the name 'Momala.' "

She said in her remarks after being announced as Biden's running mate, "I’ve had a lot of titles over my career, and certainly 'vice president' will be great, but 'Momala' will always be one of those that means the most."

9 of 24

Family Support

Credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty

Cole and Ella opened up about their parents in an interview with The New York Times, with Cole saying, "Doug and Kamala together are like almost vomit-inducingly cute and coupley. I’m like, When is this going to wear off?"

Ella added, "It’s so insane. It’s like the honeymoon phase forever. Like, the rest of the world gets to see it on social media, but we live that."

Continued on next slide.

10 of 24

2015: Red Carpet Ready

Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

In 2015, Emhoff and Harris hit the red carpet for the Vanity Fair Oscars Party.

11 of 24

2016: Proud Campaign Husband

Credit: Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty

Emhoff had some practice before joining his wife on the 2020 presidential campaign trail. In 2016, he joined her while she was campaigning to become senator of California. Here, they cast their votes in the senate race, which Harris ultimately won.

12 of 24

2017: There for the Big Moments

Credit: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Emhoff held the Bible at Harris' swearing in ceremony in January 2017, an action he would repeat at the 2020 inauguration as his wife was sworn in as the first female vice president of the United States.

Continued on next slide.

13 of 24

2019: Big Announcement

Credit: NOAH BERGER/AFP via Getty

Emhoff was by his wife's side when she announced that she would be running for president in the 2020 election.

14 of 24

2019: Showing Pride

Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty

The pair shared a kiss at the San Francisco Pride parade in June 2019.

15 of 24

2019: Her Biggest Fan

Credit: Alex Wong/Getty

Doug snapped a selfie while on the campaign trail in Iowa in August 2019. (Check out that Kamala phone case!)

Continued on next slide.

16 of 24

2019: There Through Highs and Lows

Credit: Douglas Emhoff/Twitter

In December 2019, Harris ended her presidential campaign.

Emhoff, of course, was there to support her. He told Marie Claire, "She made that decision, and I would have supported whatever she decided. But I’m not her political adviser. I’m her husband. And so my role was to be there for her, to love her, to have her back, to talk it through, to help her."

17 of 24

2020: On Their Way to Making History

Credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty

When Harris was announced as Biden's running mate, she said in her first remarks, "I can’t wait for America to get to know Doug. My family means everything to me."

The pair would be making history with Harris becoming the first female vice president and Emhoff becoming the first second gentleman.

18 of 24

2020: Refreshingly Normal

Credit: Mark Makela/Getty

The pair told PEOPLE exclusively following the announcement that they "are a partnership," and gave a glimpse into their routine.

Emhoff told PEOPLE, "It's a lot of planning. Typically, we get up early, we work out and then we sit down and it's like, 'Let's have a meeting and figure out how we're going to get through these next couple of days.' That includes getting dinner and figuring out laundry, mail. All that stuff that doesn't stop, and we still need to do it."

Continued on next slide.

19 of 24

2020: Going with the Flow

Credit: Gioncarlo Valentine

Harris told PEOPLE that it helps that her "Dougie," as she calls Emhoff, is patient and laughs easily.

The campaign is "obviously very stressful. We're talking about the free world," she said. "These are serious times and the challenges are incredibly serious, but we don't take ourselves too seriously in the context of our relationship. You just have to flow and know what's really important."

20 of 24

2020: Post Debate P.D.A.

Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty

Emhoff gave his wife a kiss after she debated Vice President Mike Pence in October 2020.

21 of 24

2020: We Did It

Credit: Doug Emhoff/Twitter

"So proud of you. ❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸," Emhoff captioned a photo hugging Harris after it was announced that she and Biden had won the 2020 presidential election.

Continued on next slide.

22 of 24

2020: Celebrating Together

Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

"To my husband Doug, our children Cole and Ella, my sister Maya, and our whole family — I love you all more than I can express," Harris said onstage on Nov. 7, 2020, as she and Joe Biden celebrated their victory.

23 of 24

2021: Harris Makes History

Credit: Rob Carr/Getty

Harris made history when she became the first woman vice president of the United States on Jan. 21, 2021. She is also the first Black person and South Asian person to hold the office.

Emhoff was there to support his wife and hold the Bibles as she was sworn in.

24 of 24

2021: The First Second Gentleman

Credit: ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty

Emhoff tweeted of his new role, "I am honored to be the first male spouse of an American President or Vice President. But I'll always remember generations of women have served in this role before me—often without much accolade or acknowledgment. It’s their legacy of progress I will build on as Second Gentleman."

Emhoff announced previously that he would be leaving his job to focus on his new duties.

Replay gallery

Up Next

By Andrea Wurzburger

Account

More

From a Blind Date to the White House: A Look at Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's Loving Relationship

1 of 24

2013: Love at First Sight

1 of 24

2 of 24

2013: Doing Her Research

2 of 24

3 of 24

2013: Making Moves

3 of 24

4 of 24

2014: Put a Ring on It

4 of 24

5 of 24

2014: Happily Wedded

5 of 24

6 of 24

Blending Their Families

6 of 24

7 of 24

Modern Family

7 of 24

8 of 24

Now She's Momala

8 of 24

9 of 24

Family Support

9 of 24

10 of 24

2015: Red Carpet Ready

10 of 24

11 of 24

2016: Proud Campaign Husband

11 of 24

12 of 24

2017: There for the Big Moments

12 of 24

13 of 24

2019: Big Announcement

13 of 24

14 of 24

2019: Showing Pride

14 of 24

15 of 24

2019: Her Biggest Fan

15 of 24

16 of 24

2019: There Through Highs and Lows

16 of 24

17 of 24

2020: On Their Way to Making History

17 of 24

18 of 24

2020: Refreshingly Normal

18 of 24

19 of 24

2020: Going with the Flow

19 of 24

20 of 24

2020: Post Debate P.D.A.

20 of 24

21 of 24

2020: We Did It

21 of 24

22 of 24

2020: Celebrating Together

22 of 24

23 of 24

2021: Harris Makes History

23 of 24

24 of 24

2021: The First Second Gentleman

24 of 24

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Everything in This Slideshow