As history gets created in the United States of America and Kamala Harris is all set to become the country’s first woman Vice President, there is also another ‘first time’ that will get achieved. Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff will the country’s first ‘second husband’ or ‘second gentleman’. The name yet to be decided or rather coined.
An accomplished lawyer himself, there are many unknown facts about the pillar of strength for Kamala Harris. He has been a constant support for her during the rallies, a passive but strong personality, visible through the campaign.
Here are some unknown facts about him –
Emhoff was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. His father was a women’s shoe designer who moved to Los Angeles early on, when Emhoff was in high school.
Emhoff completed his law education at the University of Southern California and worked as an entertainment lawyer for almost 30 years, specialising in media, sports and entertainment law. His recent most profile was being a partner with the firm DLA Piper but he took leave of absence to focus on the campaign.
Emhoff was previously married to Kerstin Emhoff, and has two children, Cole and Ella from that marriage.
Years after the divorce, Emhoff met Harris on a blind date set up by filmmaker Reginald Hudlin, a client, with then-California Attorney General Harris. According to Emhoff, they went on a blind date and have been together since.
The couple got married in 2014. This is Harris’s first marriage. This in itself is a record as they will be the first mixed-race couple to occupy their new positions. He is white while she is the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants. Both are 56.
Emhoff will also be the first Jew to be part of America’s first or second families.
So proud of you. ❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Orb1ISe0dU
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) November 7, 2020
Harris has, on multiple occasions, has commended on her ‘modern family’. She has two stepchildren, Cole and Ella, who call her ‘Momala’ – which as per the dictionary means someone who isn’t your mom but treats you with care. She is very close to the children and in an interview to Elle in 2019, said that ‘even though she was hooked on to Doug, it was Cole and Ella who reeled her in’.
She is also a close friend with Emhoff’s ex-wife.
During the election campaign, Harris has repeatedly said that she loves being “Momala” to her step-children, who came up with the term as they preferred it over “stepmom”.
“To my brother and me, you”ll always be ”Momala,” the world’s greatest stepmom,” Ella said in a video introducing Harris at the Democratic National Convention. “You’re a rock, not just for our dad, but for three generations of our big, blended family.”
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