Who's who in Kamala Harris' 'big blended' family

When she accepted nan Democratic information for president this summer, Kamala Harris boasted of nan 'big blended family' she had location to watch.

The inner-circle includes her husband, Doug Emhoff, 2 step-children from his first matrimony and nan vice president's sister, Maya.

But it doesn't extremity there. Her seemingly estranged socialist economics professor dad, Donald and nan bequest of her precocious Indian-immigrant mother who raised her and Maya aft they divided loom ample successful nan fiber of who Kamala Harris is.

Then there's nan baggage of nan man who would beryllium 'first gentleman' arsenic revealed successful a brace of DailyMail.com exposes of Doug Emhoff's cheating connected his first wife pinch nan family nanny and allegations he slapped a erstwhile girlfriend.

In nan operation is Maya and her husband, their big girl and her 2 kids who had a spotlight connected nan DNC stage  - not to mention hubby Doug's long-suffering ex-wife.

The extended Harris family is truthful close, successful fact, that their backstage and master lives person go intertwined for illustration twisted vines - difficult to abstracted 1 from another.

And that could lead to immoderate superior issues for those Harris holds beloved if she wins nan White House.

With that successful mind, here's a look astatine nan 'big blended' Harris clan:

Shyamala Gopalan Harris - mother

The matriarch of nan family, Harris mislaid her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, to colon crab successful 2009.

It was a large rustle to nan then-up-and-coming California politician. She and her sister, Maya, were very adjacent to their mother, who divided their begetter erstwhile Kamala was 5.

After that, nan family of 3 women were adjacent arsenic tin beryllium done Gopalan's galore moves during her profession arsenic a bosom crab researcher.

Indeed, Harris, successful her reside astatine nan Democratic National Convention successful 2020, described her mother arsenic 'the astir important personification successful my life.'

Born successful India, Shyamala came to nan United States astatine nan property of 19 to study. Her extremity was to cure bosom cancer.

She was accepted to nan University of California, Berkeley. It was there, successful 1962, she met Donald J. Harris, who was studying economics.

They joined nan pursuing twelvemonth and had Kamala successful 1964 while surviving successful Oakland (her sister Maya arrived 3 years later).

They would officially divorcement successful 1972. Harris, successful her memoir, simply said her parents 'stopped being benignant to each other.'

Shyamala's activity took her each complete nan world, doing investigation successful France and Canada. For portion of her childhood, Harris lived successful Wisconsin and Montréal because of her mother's job. Harris and her sister besides visited their mother's family successful India respective times and their father's family successful Jamacia.

Harris inherited her mother's emotion of cooking, her laughter and her consciousness of justice. Shyamala was nan 1 who instilled a governmental conscious successful Kamala and Maya, taking them to demonstrations and protests erstwhile they were successful their strollers.

When Harris ran for territory lawyer of San Francisco, Shyamala was a unpaid connected her campaign, helping her girl win.

But she wouldn't unrecorded to spot Harris triumph her adjacent large race, becoming lawyer wide of California, a position that would catapult Harris' profession to nan nationalist level.

Donald J. Harris - father

Donald J. Harris lives pinch his 2nd woman only 2 miles from his girl Kamala successful Washington, D.C.

But nan 2 person been estranged for years and seldom speak.

Donald, a retired professor of economics, was calved successful 1938 successful Browns Town, Jamaica. He went connected to study successful London and nan United States.

He met Shyamala Gopalan while he was getting his PhD from nan University of California, Berkeley.

He would spell connected to go Stanford's first achromatic professor of economics to person tenure and he helped Jamaica instrumentality an enduring post-colonial economical policy. 

In 2021, he was awarded Jamaica's Order of Merit, nan country's third-highest nationalist honor, for his work.

He has been joined for astir 3 decades to Carol Kirlew, a chap Jamaican-American and erstwhile communications master pinch nan World Bank.

But it was his first matrimony that had lasting results. After he and Shyamala divorced, Donald remained successful Illinois – wherever he was a professor astatine nan University of Illinois astatine Urbana–Champaign - while Shyamala and nan 2 girls moved backmost to California.

He mislaid a custody conflict that brought his closeness to his 2 daughters 'to an abrupt halt,' he wrote successful a 2018 essay.

Republicans person claimed Prof. Harris is simply a Marxist – a follower of nan governmental philosophies of socialism aliases communism - who instilled that economical accuracy successful his daughter.

But while Prof. Harris has been described arsenic a 'Marxist scholar', Kamala Harris has many times made clear that she supports capitalism.

There were reports Harris was upset her begetter didn't be Shyamala's ceremonial successful 2009. He besides declined an invitation to Harris' wedding to Doug Emhoff successful 2014.

He was said to beryllium angry by Harris's answer, arsenic a campaigner for president successful 2019, to nan mobility of whether she supported legalizing marijuana: 'Half my family's from Jamaica, are you kidding me?' she cracked.

Donald accused his girl of promoting a 'fraudulent stereotype.'

He subsequently did not be nan inauguration ceremonial successful January 2021, erstwhile his girl became nan country's first female vice president.

Maya Harris – sister

Close doesn't picture nan narration betwixt Maya and Kamala Harris. The 2 sisters are seen arsenic inseparable. 

They moreover stock nan aforesaid trademark body-shaking laugh, which they inherited from their mother.

After their parents' divorce, nan 2 girls were chiefly raised by mom Shyamala.

When Kamala and Maya were 12 and 9, respectively, Shyamala accepted a occupation astatine McGill University and moved nan family to Montreal, Quebec. 

She enrolled nan girls successful a section schoolhouse wherever everyone said French isolated from for them. Kamala and Maya later told nan Washington Post their narration further solidified successful that spot wherever nary 1 other said their language.

Just complete 2 years younger than Kamala, 57-year-old Maya Harris has been described arsenic nan vice president's 'Bobby Kennedy' – a reference to nan precocious US Attorney General who was an inseparable companion and indispensable advisor to his brother, President John F. Kennedy.

When Maya was 17. she graduated from precocious schoolhouse pinch honors while successful her 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Not moreover her closest friends knew she was pinch child. Baby Meena soon joined that family of 3 women. The child's begetter was not successful nan picture.

Kamala helped raise Meena but Maya's gestation is simply a play successful their lives that neither Harris sister talks about.

Like her older sister, Maya pursued a profession successful law, graduating from Stanford University rule schoolhouse successful 1992.

She worked arsenic a litigator and taught rule classes earlier joining nan American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California, wherever she became executive head successful 2006. She besides served arsenic vice president of nan Ford Foundation and was a argumentation advisor to Hillary Clinton successful her 2016 campaign.

In nan 2020 statesmanlike race, Maya was chairwoman of Kamala's grounded statesmanlike campaign. Kamala dropped retired up of nan Iowa caucuses earlier a azygous ballot was cast.

Staff infighting was reported to beryllium nan origin of Harris' dysfunctional campaign. And Maya was criticized for her domiciled successful nan ugliness.

Democratic sources have confirmed to DailyMail.com that they still clasp Maya responsible, accusing her of pushing her large sister's governmental positions moreover further near than those of proudly socialist legislator Bernie Sanders, who was besides running.

As a Politico article astir nan doomed statesmanlike tally concluded astatine nan time, Maya had been 'involved successful virtually each facet of nan race'. 

Or, to put it different way, it was a train wreck of a run and Maya was 1 of nan conductors driving it disconnected nan rails.

Maya is not progressive successful Harris' 2024 run successful an charismatic domiciled but she did speak astatine nan Democratic National Convention. And nary uncertainty she remains a sounding committee for her sister.

It's unclear if she would person an charismatic domiciled successful a Harris management but Maya will beryllium 1 of voices Kamala Harris listens to nan astir – nary matter what her title.

Tony West – brother-in-law

In 1998, Tony West joined Maya Harris and became Meena Harris' stepfather.

He and Maya met erstwhile they were some students astatine Stanford University.

A lawyer progressive successful Democratic politics, he went connected to service arsenic nan 3rd highest-ranking charismatic successful erstwhile President Barack Obama's Justice Department, nether Attorney General Eric Holder.

He is presently nan main ineligible serviceman astatine Uber.

When Kamala Harris was named Joe Biden's moving mate for nan 2020 election, Maya was reportedly difficult astatine activity down nan scenes promoting her hubby Tony for nan domiciled of Biden's lawyer general.

Those efforts were yet fruitless, but West, 59, is intelligibly an eager man.

West is presently connected time off from his domiciled arsenic elder vice president and main ineligible serviceman of Uber, telling unit successful an soul email successful August that he will beryllium concentrating alternatively connected 'supporting my family and my sister-in-law connected nan run trail'.

He is said to beryllium a cardinal advisor to Kamala Harris' existent campaign, a regular beingness connected Air Force Two and a liaison betwixt nan vice president and a wary business community.

'The run activity is simply a collaborative effort, but Tony West is astir apt nan astir guiding manus there,' said Bakari Sellers, a CNN commentator and erstwhile South Carolina legislator adjacent to nan Harris campaign. 

'There's thing that happens successful nan run that he's not portion of.'

A personification adjacent to West told nan Wall Street Journal earlier this period that he has nary plans to subordinate a early Harris administration, but galore successful Washington fishy that Kamala will want to support her brother-in-law adjacent regardless.

Meena Harris – niece

Meena Harris, 40, has spent nan past 7 years building a for-profit business tied to nan empowerment of women and underrepresented communities.

But that work, which has travel nether scrutiny during Kamala Harris' clip arsenic vice president, is apt to look moreover much disapproval if her aunt becomes president.

Meena has tried to equilibrium her backstage ventures pinch her family's governmental profession but has travel dangerously adjacent to crossing nan line.

She is adjacent to her aunt Kamala. Meena was calved to Maya Harris erstwhile Maya was a single, teenaged mother. Kamala Harris helped raise her niece and has aided her career.

Kamala, Maya and Meena are described arsenic inseparable.

As Harris roseate connected California's governmental scene, Meena, who graduated from Stamford successful 2006, was taking apical jobs astatine immoderate of Silicon Valley's apical companies, including Facebook and Slack.

In 2009, she started Harvard Law School and past went connected to clerk for nan D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

After that, she worked astatine nan rule patient Covington & Burling, nan high-power D.C. rule patient filled pinch well-connected lawyers, wherever her stepfather's erstwhile leader Eric Holder had ties. She besides worked arsenic Head of Strategy & Leadership astatine Uber wherever her stepfather Tony West is main ineligible officer.

Meena later started a T-shirt statement that began arsenic a charitable endeavor. It took disconnected erstwhile she sewage family friend Tyra Banks to deterioration one. She yet developed nan Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign, a media and merchandising company.

She wrote 2 children's book astir her aunt Kamala and, erstwhile Kamala became vice president, sold a sweatshirt pinch her sanction connected it.

Those actions caught nan attraction of nan White House, which made it clear they didn't for illustration that she was personally profiting from Kamala Harris' nationalist office. One Biden White House charismatic told nan Los Angeles Times: 'Behavior needs to change.'

Nikolas Ajagu – Meena's husband

Meena joined erstwhile Facebook executive Nik Ajagu, successful 2014. The mates has 2 daughters.

They met erstwhile they were each moving astatine Facebook. Nikolas is of Nigerian descent. His begetter immigrated from nan African federation to nan U.S.

Nikolas attended Princeton University wherever he received his undergraduate grade successful 2005. He holds a BA grade successful Social Anthropology.

At Princeton, Ajagu served arsenic president of nan Ivy Club and participated successful nan university's hoops and shot programs.

He worked astatine Facebook from 2014 to 2019.

He has founded respective startups including Barrel & Ink, which connects vino enthusiasts pinch entree to limited-run wines from nan champion winemakers.

Nikolas became nan taxable of net liking aft nan 2021 inauguration ceremony, wherever he wore Dior Air Jordan sneakers worthy $2,200.

Dior and Jordan Brand released only 8,500 pairs of nan costly kicks, which sold retired immediately.

Amara Ajagu, 8 and Leela Ajagu, 6 – expansive nieces

Kamala Harris was pinch her awesome nieces Amara and Leela erstwhile Joe Biden called her to opportunity he was dropping retired of nan statesmanlike race.

The 2 girls are nan daughters of Meena and Nikolas Ajagu.

And nan Harris clan are already bringing nan adjacent procreation of women into nan governmental fold.

The 2 girls joined character Kerry Washington connected shape connected nan last nighttime of nan Democratic National Convention to thief thatch nan room really to decently pronounce Kamala's name.

Amara started disconnected nan explanation, noting nan first portion was 'comma, for illustration a comma successful a sentence.' Leela took over, saying nan 2nd half was 'luh' arsenic if you were singing nan scales of a song.

A New York Times photograph of Leela watching her awesome aunt's acceptance reside astatine nan normal went viral. In an August question and reply pinch CNN, Harris said she was 'deeply touched' by nan photo.

It was not nan girls' first clip successful nan governmental spotlight.

At nan 2021 inauguration, wherever Harris was sworn successful arsenic vice president, nan girls wore custom, faux-fur leopard coats designed to look for illustration 1 Harris had arsenic a child.

Doug Emhoff - husband

Doug Emhoff, 60, is nan first Jewish personification to service arsenic nan spouse of a nationally elected U.S. leader.

He is nan first 2nd man and, if his woman wins nan White House, he will beryllium nan nation's first first gentleman.

Emhoff and Harris met via a unsighted day successful 2013, while she was serving arsenic California's lawyer wide and he was an intermezo lawyer successful Los Angeles. They were joined nan pursuing twelvemonth astatine nan Santa Barbara courthouse.

Emhoff wore a flower garland astir his cervix to grant Kamala's Indian heritage. At nan extremity of nan ceremonial they smashed a solid per Emhoff's Jewish tradition.

He has presented himself arsenic supportive of his wife's profession but he hasn't denied stories, surgery by DailyMail.com, that he slapped his ex-girlfriend and had an matter during his first marriage.

DailyMail.com exclusively reported successful August that Emhoff cheated connected his first wife, Kerstin, and sewage nan family's nanny pregnant. Emhoff later acknowledged nan matter but noted he and Kerstin stay friends. She released a connection of support for him.

DailyMail.com besides revealed Emhoff 'slapped' an ex-girlfriend astatine nan Cannes Film Festival successful 2012. He besides faced allegations he was a 'misogynist' to colleagues astatine nan Los Angeles rule patient he ran.

That communicative included a declare he hired an 'unqualified' part-time exemplary arsenic a ineligible caput 'because she was young, charismatic and friends pinch nan powerful men successful nan office'.

Born successful Brooklyn, New York, Emhoff spent his younker successful New Jersey. He near his ineligible occupation – wherever he became a millionaire arsenic a partner successful nan prestigious patient - erstwhile Harris became vice president. He now teaches a people connected intermezo rule astatine Georgetown law.

As 2nd gentleman, he has go nan look of nan Biden administration's conflict against nan world emergence successful antisemitism.

The begetter of 2 from his first marriage, he has his children's initials tattooed connected his near wrist.

Cole Emhoff – stepson

Kamala Harris became stepmother to Emhoff's 2 children erstwhile they married. They telephone her 'Momala.' 

Harris and Emhoff stay adjacent to his first woman and nan trio parents together.

Cole, 30, nan eldest Emhoff child, followed his begetter into nan intermezo industry, pinch jobs astatine talent agency WME and, later, Brad Pitt's accumulation institution Plan B. 

He graduated from Colorado College successful 2017 pinch a grade successful psychology

He was named aft jazz fable John Coltrane.

Harris officiated astatine his wedding to Greenley Littlejohn successful 2023. The mates lives successful Los Angeles.

Ella Emhoff – stepdaughter

Ella Emhoff, 25, became fashion's newest darling aft nan Miu Miu overgarment she wore astatine nan 2021 inauguration ceremonial went viral.

Shortly aft she became nan newest look astatine IMG Models, 1 of nan world's biggest modeling agencies.

She has walked runways of New York Fashion week pinch her Secret Service item nearby.

Ella, who graduated from nan Parsons School of Design successful New York City, is besides an creator and a prolific knitter. She launched nan knitwear marque and nine Soft Hands successful 2021.

She studied good arts pinch a concentrated attraction connected apparel and textiles. In nan outpouring of 2021, she launched a constricted postulation of knitwear, pinch Batsheva Hay.

In 2014, she made a cameo quality successful nan euphony video for Bo Burnham's opus 'Repeat Stuff'.

She has complete 2 twelve tattoos, which see eggs and bacon successful nan style of a smiley look and a cow. 

She lives successful Brooklyn, New York.

She is nan astir governmental of nan 2 siblings and has defended Harris successful nan governmental arena. She said astatine nan 2024 Democratic National Convention.

And, successful July 2024, erstwhile an question and reply from Republican vice statesmanlike nominee J.D. Vance, successful which he criticized 'childless feline ladies' resurfaced, Ella weighed in.

'How tin you beryllium 'childless' erstwhile you person cutie pastry kids for illustration cole and I,' Emhoff wrote connected her Instagram Stories. 'I emotion my 3 parents.'

Kerstin Emhoff – Doug's ex-wife

Kerstin Emhoff came to Kamala Harris's defense erstwhile J.D. Vance's 'childless feline lady' comments resurfaced.

'For complete 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent pinch Doug and I,' Kerstin said successful a connection to CNN. 

'She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and ever present. I emotion our blended family and americium grateful to person her successful it.'

Kerstin besides defended her ex-husband erstwhile it was revealed Doug cheated connected her pinch nan nanny.

She and Emhoff joined successful 1992 and divided 16 years later aft Doug cheated connected her. The mates opportunity they stay friends and divided nan responsibilities of raising their 2 children pinch Kamala.

She was astatine nan Democratic National Convention this summer, opinionated beside her 2 children and her ex. She besides attended nan 2021 inauguration ceremonial erstwhile Harris was sworn successful arsenic vice president.

She is simply a movie shaper and nan laminitis and CEO of accumulation institution Prettybird. Her institution produces documentaries and, successful 2012, she won a News & Documentary Emmy Award.