There has never been a presidential campaign like this one: an incumbent stepping aside, the compressed timeline, the return of a former president—now convicted felon—as the Republican nominee. There has also never been a candidate like Kamala Harris.
It has not been a central feature of her campaign; but it is an undeniable feature of her life: In many ways, Kamala Harris has represented “the first.” With hours to go before election day, we take a look back at some of the pivotal moments in her life that brought her to this historic moment.
Born in Oakland, California, Kamala Harris grew up in a diverse community.
In a family portrait taken in 1972, Harris (center) stands next to her younger sister, Maya. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, is flanked by her parents.Courtesy of Kamala Harris
A young Kamala Harris, photographed in Berkeley, California.Courtesy of Kamala Harris
After attending Howard University and the University of California Hastings College of Law, she began her career. In 2003, as she began to prep for the San Francisco district attorney race, she joined the city attorney’s office.
Kamala Harris meets with supporters in front of the 24th street BART station while running for District Attorney in San Francisco in 2003.photo: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images
