What You Need to Know About Kamala Harris’ Husband Doug Emhoff

Doug Emhoff is Just one person He loves his wife.

In countless Fundraiser and campaign events, he gushed about his spouse of 10 years, Vice President and current presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Accept an interview On the importance of men supporting women in their lives. Family Planning Clinic Defend reproductive rights.

None of this is revolutionary stuff for the spouse of a top political leader, but Americans are desperate for high-profile male feminists — especially those who don’t ask for praise or Taking yourself too seriously — Emhoff has a prominent place in the cultural landscape. He is a Zadi,one pin up, “TikTok’s White Boy of the Month.” He has He has his own loyal fan base (Vanity Fair magazine once questioned D UnitAnd now, as the first “First Gentleman” in American history, Emhoff is taking on his biggest stage yet: On Tuesday, Emhoff will speak at the Democratic National Convention and then is expected to introduce his wife to accept the party’s nomination two days later.

The last man to help his wife run for president was former President Bill Clinton, who brought his own baggage to the role and sometimes had a hard time not running All about him.

In contrast, Emhoff has thus far been able to advocate for his wife, and for the women of America, without being in the spotlight himself.

Still, he has already had to deal with a long-ago affair. Challenging his image as a loyal wifeIf elected, Harris will have to chart his own course to become the first Semi-official position For centuries, this concept has been defined by women.

The role of the first lady has begun to change. Keeping your job and play Playing a bigger role in public lifeEmhoff may have the opportunity — and, some might say, the responsibility — to change that further, to usher in a new era in which the first spouse is not necessarily the wife and young people can learn from the White House not only how to lead but also how to follow.

So who is Doug Emhoff, and how does his history and background inform his role as First Gentleman?

Emhoff and Harris Met in 2013it is said that they were immediately fascinated by each other. “As soon as I met Kamala, I knew I was in love with her,” Emhoff Wrote in GQ 2021. He is a successful lawyer and she is already California’s attorney general. They married in 2014, and Harris Became “Momala” He has two teenage children from his ex-wife. rape and Ella (has become Object of public fascination have their own rights).

Even during Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign, Emhoff maintained their respective careers — until Joe Biden selected Harris as his running mate.

On the campaign trail, Emhoff was his wife’s No. 1 fan and an enthusiastic, if somewhat goofy, replacement. “I’m just a husband, and I’m here to tell people why I love Kamala,” he said. According to reports Chasten Buttigieg Popular political husband2020.

Emhoff appeared to take his role as second gentleman seriously when Harris became vice president, visiting the Library of Congress to learn more about Former second spouse“I know I’m the first person to hold this position,” he said at the time, “and I certainly don’t want to be the last.”

Such comments made him crush Among feminists and progressives, Call him “Hot Jewish Dad” and Buy a cup It had his face on it.

Emhoff said his support for his wife is not only a sign of love, but also an example of a feminist husband. “It’s a very manly thing to do to elevate women and give them a role to play,” he said. In an interview in 2022“It doesn’t take away opportunities for men.”

When the role of the First Lady was invented in the 18th century, her duty was simply to “serve as hostess for the President at social events.” Katherine JellisonAn Ohio University history professor who has studied first ladies told Vox in an email. Jellison said Eleanor Roosevelt is widely seen as the first presidential spouse to become a “public figure in her own right” and to support a career in public service.

While her successors, Bess Truman and Mamie Eisenhower, did not follow this model, Jackie Kennedy was committed to Conservation and Restoration of the White House and other historic buildings, and every first lady since has been committed to at least one cause or issue, Jellison said. Jill BidenFor example, working with military families and the government Cancer Research Program.

The last three first ladies have also challenged American expectations that the role would be held by “a white woman who was born in the United States primarily as a housewife,” Jellison said. Michelle Obama, the first black first lady, also had a strong career as a lawyer and hospital administrator — and She was her husband’s boss. At work. Melania Trump is an immigrant, the first first lady born outside the United States. Nearly 200 years (She also often Exit social sphere Jill Biden continues her career Community College Professor And serve as Key Advisor To her husband.

“The women who have recently served as first ladies reflect the diversity of American women in the 21st century,” Jellison said.

Over time, the first lady’s hostess role has diminished—e.g. Melania Trump Jill Biden also did not choose a pattern for the official White House china, which is traditional Since the 19th century.

As first gentleman, Emhoff will have the opportunity to go further and reflect the diversity of American relationships today—including those that began Later lifecreate Blended Familiesand provide space for female partners to take on intense, even all-consuming work.

If his wife ends up in the White House, Emhoff will likely bring his priorities with him. “He’ll probably continue to follow Jill Biden’s lead and continue to teach law at Georgetown,” Jellison said. He might also continue Fighting anti-SemitismIt would be a significant role for him both personally and politically: He would be the first Jewish first lady and a key Jewish surrogate in the administration.

Now that Harris is running for president, Emhoff’s feminist masculinity stands in stark contrast to the more combative style adopted by high-profile men on the other side of the party. When vice presidential candidate Sen. J.D. Vance was criticized for calling Harris “ “Childless Cat Lady” Emhoff responded by saying the comment “hurt his feelings.”

“You’re telling a lot of people in this country and this world that they don’t matter,” he said. An interview Partnering with Vox Media Podcast Host and former federal prosecutor Preet Bharara.

He also showed that he was comfortable talking about reproductive health care. Trump is definitely no match. exist Recent visit to a family planning cliniche talked about “afterDobbs He also described it as a “hellscape” in which “you can’t get a Pap smear; you can’t get basic care.” Describing abortion restrictions “It affects all Americans, not just women.”

This won him praise from progressives. Rebecca Traister for New York Magazine Calling Emhoff and vice presidential candidate Tim Waltz “the good guys on the left,” Traister wrote that these people “have proposed a different definition of male power in relation to women’s liberation and full civic participation, and have all but declared it the new normal.”

Still, Emhoff’s job as No. 2 was far easier than his wife’s chief surrogate on the campaign, or than his job after she won. As his profile rose, he had to acknowledge He had an extramarital affair In his first marriage, he married a teacher at his children’s school.

“In my first marriage, Kirsten and I went through some tough times because of my behavior,” he said. Statement to The New York Times“I took responsibility and in the years since, we have worked together as a family to resolve the issues and emerge stronger.”

The revelation of this matter may to some extent damage Emhoff’s image as a man who has been separated from his wife and children – “What happens if a man has not been a perfect spouse in the past?” Heather Schwedel asked on SlateAt present, many Americans seem willing to forgive (a user X Call him a “born again wife man”).

But if Emhoff does take on the role of first gentleman, he’ll face more scrutiny and new challenges.
But most importantly, Emhoff will have the opportunity Difficult moment A showcase of American masculinity, showing what it’s like for a man to play an important but secondary role.

He has built the past four years of his public life on the idea that there is dignity, honor and joy in supporting the woman you love. At a time when women’s autonomy is in question Increasingly questionedwhich may be the most important contribution he can make.