US Election: Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff: from blind date to cheerleader-in-chief

The first “Second gentleman” in American history will speak at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, in what Harris’ campaign sees as a pivotal moment in rounding out the vice president’s public image.

Emhoff, 59, who left a lucrative career as a showbiz lawyer to support Harris in the White House, was to paint a portrait of a modern-day blended family stepmother.

“I love you and I’m so proud of how you’re stepping up for all of us,” Emhoff said, according to excerpts released by the campaign.

“She did it for me and for our family. Now that the country needs her, she is proving what we already know: she is ready to lead, she brings joy and determination to the task, and she will be a great president of whom we will all be proud.”

The energetic Emhoff was also expected to tell Democrats in Chicago about his own story and background as he seeks to become the first “first gentleman” to a trailblazing female president. For Harris’ campaign, Emhoff’s prime-time address will play a crucial role in familiarizing Americans with Harris after she replaced President Joe Biden atop the ticket less than a month ago. He has taken on a highly visible role as cheerleader-in-chief for his wife of 59 years since Biden first chose her as his running mate in 2020.

More recently, the father of two has been a go-to attack dog for Donald Trump, as the Republican former president hurls personal and racially charged insults at the Democrat.

“Mr. Trump, I know you have a lot of trouble pronouncing your name,” Emhoff said in a recent video, referring to Trump’s habit of mispronouncing Kamala’s name.

“After the election, you can just call her Madam President.”

‘Silly Dad’

Harris and Emhoff met on a blind date set up by a friend in 2013 and married the following year.

In an interview with CBS, she said that Emhoff had left her a “cute” voice message after their date. Meanwhile, he thought the message was “ridiculous” and that he had screwed up, but she saved it and plays it on their anniversary every year.

Harris became stepmother to Cole and Ella, Emhoff’s then-teenage son and daughter from his previous marriage. They famously nicknamed her “Momala.”

In a rare show of support, Emhoff’s ex-wife Kerstin Emhoff defended the “loving and protective” Harris against “baseless attacks” from Republicans for not having children of her own.

Meanwhile, Cole Emhoff recorded a video message introducing his father on Tuesday, in which he spoke of the “blind date that would dramatically change all of our lives, forever.”

She said her “blended family wasn’t used to politics,” but when Harris became first a senator from California and then vice president, everyone stepped up.

“I thought Doug was a little out of place in the Capitol. I thought, ‘What is my dumb dad doing here? ‘ But he accepted it.”

Emhoff himself has admitted that it was not all smooth sailing, especially when he took time off from his entertainment law job, which earned him about $1 million a year.

Biden helped him through it by telling him, “I know this must have been tough.”

Kamala has since called Emhoff her rock as Harris blazed a trail as the first Black and South Asian vice president in U.S. history.

He also made history by becoming the first Jewish spouse of a US president or vice president.

Under the Biden administration, Emhoff took on an increasingly prominent role, giving speeches denouncing anti-Semitism after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

He also served in ceremonial roles, including leading the U.S. delegation to the closing ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Now he himself will take center stage as Democrats hail his wife as their new boss.