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Doug Emhoff says meeting Kamala Harris was 'love at first sight.' Here's a timeline of their relationship.

kamala harris doug emhoff
Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.Carolyn Kaster/AP
  • Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff met on a blind date and married on August 22, 2014.

  • Emhoff said meeting Harris was "love at first sight," and she's called Emhoff "the love of my life."

  • They live at Number One Observatory Circle, the official vice presidential residence.

2013: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff met on a blind date.

Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff at an event in 2014.
Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff at an event in 2014.Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Children's Defense Fund

Emhoff, a lawyer, had been married before to film producer Kerstin Emhoff. The couple shares two children, Cole and Ella, and divorced after 16 years of marriage.

Harris was serving as California's Attorney General.

The two were set up on a blind date by Harris' friend Chrisette Hudlin, who met Emhoff through work.

"The morning after our first date, @DouglasEmhoff emailed me a list of his available dates for the next couple of months," Harris wrote on Instagram on Emhoff's birthday in 2020. "He said, 'I want to see if we can make this work.' We've been making it work ever since."

Emhoff described meeting Harris as "love at first sight" in an Instagram post for her birthday.

August 22, 2014: The couple wed in a ceremony officiated by Harris' sister Maya.

Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris in 2014.
Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris in 2014.Rich Polk/Getty Images for LACMA

According to a profile of Emhoff by Marie Claire, he proposed during a "decidedly unromantic conversation (she was deliberating between chicken or shrimp pad thai)" less than a year after they met.

Harris and Emhoff held their wedding at a courthouse in Santa Barbara, California. Harris wrote in Elle that she and Emhoff's children didn't like the term "stepmom," so they began calling her "Momala."

2015: The couple attended the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party together.

Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris attend the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris attend the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Others in attendance at the star-studded event included Beyoncé and Jay Z, Anna Wintour, Serena Williams, Oprah, and Reese Witherspoon.

2016: Harris successfully ran for US senate, with Emhoff accompanying her to campaign events.

Kamala Harris shows up to cast her vote in 2016.
Kamala Harris shows up to cast her vote in 2016.Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Emhoff came with her to vote at the Kenter Canyon Elementary Charter School Auditorium in Brentwood, California, in 2016.

January 2017: Emhoff held the Bible for Harris' swearing-in ceremony as a US senator.

Vice President Joe Biden administers the oath at Kamala Harris' swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol's Old Senate Chamber in 2017.
Vice President Joe Biden administers the oath at Kamala Harris' swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol's Old Senate Chamber in 2017.Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

Vice President Joe Biden administered Harris' oath of office. Harris later became Biden's vice presidential pick in his 2020 campaign.

January 2019: Harris launched her presidential campaign with Emhoff by her side.

Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff wave to supporters at her campaign launch rally
Senator Kamala Harris waves to her supporters with her husband, Douglas Emhoff and her niece, Amara Ajagu, 2, during her presidential campaign launch rally.Mason Trinca/Getty Images

Harris launched her presidential campaign on the steps of Oakland City Hall. The event was attended by 20,000 people.

"I'm not overly political," Emhoff later told Marie Claire. "I'm overly her husband."

January 2019: Harris wrote about the early days of her courtship with Emhoff in her memoir, "The Truths We Hold."

Kamala Harris on her book tour in January 2019.
Kamala Harris on her book tour in January 2019.Sait Serkan Gurbuz, File/AP

"Attending a speech about the ills of truancy isn't exactly what most people think of as a romantic date, but the event was Doug's coming out — the first time I'd invited him to join me at a professional gathering," she wrote. "Hence the whispering and pointing among my team, who had heard rumors of his existence but hadn't seen him with their own eyes. They would later refer to that era as A.D. — 'After Doug.' They loved how much he made me laugh. I did, too."

June 2019: Harris and Emhoff attended the California Democratic Party State Organizing Convention together.

Kamala Harris with Doug Emhoff outside the California Democratic Party State Organizing Convention.
Kamala Harris with Doug Emhoff outside the California Democratic Party State Organizing Convention.Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Harris greeted supporters outside the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

August 2019: Emhoff snapped a selfie with Harris before her speech at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines ahead of the Iowa caucuses.

Doug Emhoff takes a selfie with Kamala Harris before her campaign speech.
Doug Emhoff takes a selfie with Kamala Harris before her campaign speech.Alex Wong/Getty Images

He showed off his Kamala phone case.

December 2019: After Harris ended her presidential bid, Emhoff posted a supportive message on Instagram.

Kamala Harris, looking solemn
Kamala Harris ended her presidential bid in December 2019.SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

"I've got you @kamalaharris. As always," Emhoff captioned a black and white photo of him embracing her, complete with a heart emoji.

He later told Marie Claire's Jessica M. Goldstein, "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."

August 2020: Joe Biden announced Harris as his running mate. Both appeared with their spouses at their first press conference together.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' first press conference together in Wilmington, Delaware, in 2020.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' first press conference together in Wilmington, Delaware, in 2020.OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images

The two couples observed social distancing by standing apart and air-hugging.

August 2020: Emhoff, who took a leave of absence from his legal firm, joined Harris at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff onstage at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff onstage at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images

The convention was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Emhoff announced his leave of absence from the international law firm DLA Piper in August.

September 2020: They held hands at a remembrance ceremony for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff at a 9/11 memorial ceremony.
Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff at a 9/11 memorial ceremony.Alex Wong/Getty Images

Harris and Emhoff attended a memorial ceremony at the Fairfax County Public Safety Headquarters in Virginia on September 11, 2020.

October 2020: Emhoff gave Harris a masked kiss after the vice presidential debate.

Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris after the vice presidential debate.
Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris after the vice presidential debate.ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

Arguably, the most memorable part of the debate was when a gigantic fly landed on Mike Pence's head.

October 2020: Emhoff spoke at a parking lot rally in Denver, Colorado.

Doug Emhoff speaks at a rally in Denver, Colorado.
Doug Emhoff speaks at a rally in Denver, Colorado.Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

About 70 cars attended the socially distanced rally.

November 2020: Biden and Harris won the presidential election, and Harris expressed her love for Emhoff in her victory speech.

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris stand with spouses Doug Emhoff and Jill Biden.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris stand with spouses Doug Emhoff and Jill Biden.JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Harris mentioned her husband and family in her victory speech introducing Biden.

"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," she said.

Harris also shared a photo of herself with Emhoff on social media that night, captioned, "Meet the love of my life, Doug Emhoff."

November 2020: Emhoff announced he planned to quit his law firm in order to focus on his role as second gentleman.

Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff smile and hold each other
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris with her husband, Doug Emhoff.Mark Makela/Getty Images

A spokesperson told AP News that Emhoff was leaving his position at DLA Piper to devote himself to the role of second gentleman.

"There is a lot of symbolism from a man stepping back from his high-powered career in order to support his wife's career," Kim Nalder, a political science professor at California State University-Sacramento, told the AP.

The move was likely also for ethical reasons — Emhoff is not a lobbyist, but his law firm does lobby the federal government on behalf of clients.

November 2020: They went holiday shopping, where Emhoff proudly pointed to a "Madam Vice President" T-shirt.

Doug Emhoff holds a t-shirt that says "Madam Vice President" as Kamala Harris looks on
Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff shop in the Downtown Holiday Market in Washington, DC.Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Harris and Emhoff went shopping at a local holiday market in Washington, DC, for Small Business Saturday.

January 2021: Twitter created the first-ever official second gentleman Twitter account for Emhoff in the days before Harris' inauguration.

A screenshot of the official second gentleman Twitter account in January 2021.
The official second gentleman Twitter account in January 2021.@SecondGentleman/Twitter

His Twitter bio described him as "Proud husband to Vice President-elect Harris."

January 2021: In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning's Jane Pauley, Harris admitted that she Googled Emhoff before their first date.

Doug Emhoff and vice president-elect Kamala Harris in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning. Doug Emhoff looks shocked as Kamala Harris laughs
Doug Emhoff and vice president-elect Kamala Harris in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning.CBS

"I've never been asked that!" Harris said after Pauley asked if she'd Googled Emhoff before their first date. "I did!"

Emhoff's mouth dropped open in surprise as Harris burst out laughing, affectionately touching his arm and calling him "Dougie."

The hilarious moment went viral, racking up nearly 1.5 million views on YouTube in two days.

January 2021: Emhoff held two Bibles for Harris as she was sworn in as vice president.

kamala harris swearing in
Kamala Harris is sworn as vice president as her husband holds two Bibles.Alex Wong/Getty Images

One of the Bibles belonged to Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court justice. The other belonged to Regina Nelson, a family friend who was something of a second mother to Harris in her youth.

 

March 2021: They disembarked from Air Force Two arm in arm on their first official trip.

Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff exit Air Force Two arm in arm, smiling at each other.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff walk off Air Force Two.Jacquelyn Martin, File/AP

Harris and Emhoff visited Las Vegas and Denver, stopping at their home in Brentwood, California, in between.

April 2021: Harris and Emhoff moved into the official vice presidential residence after repairs to the property were completed.

The US Naval Observatory
Number One Observatory Circle is the official residence of the US vice president.Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File/AP

Number One Observatory Circle has served as the official vice presidential residence since 1977. The home is located on the grounds of the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, where scientists collect astronomical data for accurate navigation.

Harris and Emhoff had been living in Blair House across from the White House while the historic home underwent repairs.

December 2021: The couple shared a kiss at a menorah lighting ceremony at the White House during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris kiss at the White House Hanukkah party in 2021
Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff kiss at a menorah lighting ceremony at the White House.Susan Walsh, File/AP

Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a US vice president, spoke at the national menorah lighting ceremony on the White House lawn.

"Let us remember always, that Jewish history is American history," he said.

February 2022: Emhoff wished Harris a happy Valentine's Day, writing on Twitter, "Life is always brighter by your side."

Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff sit side by side
Vice President Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff in February 2022.Alex Brandon/AP

"Life is always brighter by your side. Happy Valentine's Day, @VP," Emhoff wrote, accompanied by a heart emoji.

July 2022: Emhoff told a group of students that leaving his law career to support Harris was a "no-brainer."

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff wave from Air Force Two
Vice President Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff wave as they depart Reno, Nevada, in June 2022.ANDRI TAMBUNAN/AFP via Getty Images

In July, Emhoff spoke to participants in a summer camp run by Tools & Tiaras, a nonprofit in Queens, New York, that encourages women and girls to pursue careers in construction, about supporting Harris in her role,  The 19th's Jennifer Gerson reported.

"I think just by stepping away from my career that I love and I was actually very good at so I could support my wife, who was the first woman to become vice president, it was a no-brainer," Emhoff said, per The 19th. "With this big platform that I have and all the microphones and media and working in this great administration with all of these resources, I really decided to lean in on this issue of men supporting women, professionally and personally, so they can succeed, even if that means stepping away from my own career."

October 2022: Emhoff wished his "amazing wife" a happy birthday.

Doug Emhoff and Kamala Harris at a gala
Doug Emhoff and Vice President Kamala Harris at the Phoenix Awards Dinner in October 2022.BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

"Happy birthday to my amazing wife and the love of my life," Emhoff wrote on Twitter. "I will always be right by your side. Love you, Kamala."

Read the original article on Insider