2024 Race: Who is Kamala Harris and What is Her Connection to India?

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, has emerged as a leading contender to become the Democratic nominee in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he will not seek re-election “in the best interests” of his party and country. Biden expressed his endorsement of Harris in a post on X, signaling her as his chosen successor. Harris responded with gratitude, stating she is determined to earn and secure the nomination.

Who is Kamala Harris?

Kamala Devi Harris was born in California to Shyamala Gopalan, a Tamil biologist, and Donald J. Harris, a Jamaican-American professor. After her parents’ divorce, Harris and her sister moved frequently until settling in at Howard University, a historically Black college, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and economics.

Harris later pursued law, becoming a member of the bar association in 1990. She began her career as a deputy district attorney in California the same year. Elected as San Francisco’s district attorney in 2003, she later served two terms as California’s attorney general from 2010 to 2014. In 2017, Harris became a junior U.S. senator from California, gaining prominence for her advocacy on tax reforms, health care, immigration, and gun control.

In the 2020 presidential primaries, Harris ran before endorsing Joe Biden, who later selected her as his running mate.

The Indian Connection

Harris faces the challenge of securing her party’s nomination and contending with former President Donald Trump, who is gaining traction in his re-election bid.

If Harris secures the nomination, she would be the first woman of Indian descent to stand for election in the United States. Her potential election as President would make her the first woman and first person of Indian descent to hold the office.

Her Indian heritage is poised to be a significant factor in the upcoming elections, particularly with the Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance’s wife appealing to immigrant voters of Indian origin.