Family Heritage

Kamala Harris: A Trailblazing Vice President with a Noted Family Background

Family Heritage

Maternal Ancestry

Vice President Kamala Harris's maternal ancestry traces its roots to Tamil Nadu, India. Her maternal grandfather, PV Gopalan, was a prominent civil servant who served as a diplomat and later as the Governor of the state of West Bengal.

Paternal Ancestry

Harris's father, Donald J. Harris, is Jamaican American of Afro-Jamaican descent. An acclaimed economist, he holds the title of Professor Emeritus at Stanford University.

Stepmother to Cole and Ella

When Harris married Doug Emhoff in 2014, she became a stepmother to his two children, Cole and Ella. Harris has developed a close relationship with her stepchildren, who fondly refer to her as "Momala."

Political and Academic Notables

Harris's family boasts several notable figures in politics and academia. Her maternal uncle, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, is a former Governor of West Bengal and a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. Her sister, Maya Harris, is a lawyer and political activist who served as a senior advisor to her sister's presidential campaign.