(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
With the selection of California senator Kamala Harris as the Democratic vice presidential nominee, there’s come an intense amount of scrutiny. Sure, some of it has been downright racist (and more is likely on the way). But as almost a salve to that upsetting drivel, there’ve also been articles designed to humanize the candidate (and wash away the lingering doubt from the left about putting a former law enforcement agent on the ticket). The latest effort from the Washington Post celebrates the “newlywedism” of Harris and her Biglaw husband, Doug Emhoff.
As a Biglaw partner, a litigator from DLA Piper, we’ve covered Emhoff quite a bit at Above the Law. He’s currently on leave from DLA to hit the campaign trail and now his relationship with the wannabe VP is under a microscope. Personal relationships have always been a part of elections, and Emhoff has been public in his support of Harris in the past. But it is unique to see such affection on display. Part of that may well be how relatively new their relationship is — their sixth anniversary is this weekend. As Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, tells WaPo, “They still seem to radiate newlywedism,” saying that Emhoff and Harris are “really besotted with each other.”
And an active social media presence helps to reify the image that the relationship is a strong one:
With an assist from some Emhoff heroics:
When a protester jumped up onstage and lunged at Harris in 2019, Emhoff hopped into action and helped usher the protester away, another gesture that screamed: I’ve got you. “There was something kind of superhero-ish about it,” says Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.
It’s a throughly modern relationship as well, with the family blending different backgrounds:
At their 2014 wedding, Emhoff wore a flower garland around his neck to honor Kamala’s Indian heritage; they smashed a glass per Emhoff’s Jewish tradition. It’s Harris’s first marriage and Emhoff’s second — he has two children from his previous one. According to the Pew Research Center, remarriage is on the rise — as are unions of two people of differing faiths and races.
Harris has written that, “I was already hooked on Doug, but I believe it was Cole and Ella [Emhoff’s children from a previous marriage] who reeled me in.” The kids affectionately call Harris “Momala.” And Harris joins Emhoff’s ex-wife at the kids’ events saying, “We sometimes joke that our modern family is almost a little too functional.”
As Emoff looks to potentially take on a new role as Second Gentleman, he’ll be put into a historic position redefining gender roles and what’s expected from political spouses. But don’t worry too much about the Biglaw partner — Perry calls Emhoff “a bit of a chameleon in a good way.” And that “whatever role he needs to play, he seems to glide easily into it.” Let’s hope we all have the opportunity to watch him grow into that role.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).