Chicago: Doug Emhoff, Harris’ husband, offered a rare glimpse into Kamala Harris’s private life in Chicago on Tuesday, normalizing the idea of a “blended family” in the White House. He charmed Democratic delegates with his self-deprecating humor and his decade-old love story with the Democratic presidential candidate.
Emhoff, the first second gentleman in American history and possibly the first first gentleman to hold a role previously held only by first ladies, took the stage after being introduced to the audience in a short video shot by his son Cole and produced by his first wife Kerstin.
The video showcased Emhoff’s roots in Brooklyn and New Jersey, alluded to his Jewish upbringing, his family’s move to California, his training and career as a lawyer, his first marriage and the birth of his children, a divorce, a blind date with Kamala Harris, his later marriage to her and how his children began calling her “Momala,” and their commitment to family. “We may not look like other families in the White House. But we are ready to represent all families in America,” Cole said, acknowledging the specialness of their blended family as he ended the video and introduced his father on stage.
Greeted by a sea of signs with his name on them, Emhoff talked about his upbringing, his life, his divorce and how a client set him up on a blind date in 2013. “For generations, people have debated when to call the person they’re setting you up with. And no one has ever suggested 8:30. And yet I called. I got Kamala’s voicemail and just started blabbing. Hey, this is Doug… I’m on my way to an early meeting. Again, this is Doug… Kamala has this voicemail saved and lets me listen to it on every anniversary.”
They spoke on the phone for an hour – “We laughed. Well, you know that laugh. I love that laugh” -, arranged to meet and were married the following year. On Thursday, when Harris will accept the nomination, the couple will also be celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary.
While expounding on her qualities, Emhoff spoke of how Harris had connected him more deeply to his Jewish faith, even though she was a Christian, and how they celebrated holidays together. In a political context that places undue emphasis on a candidate’s family, he said, “Those of you who come from blended families know they can be a little complicated. But when our kids started calling her Momala, I knew we were going to get along. Ella calls us a three-headed parenting machine. Kamala and Kerstin, thank you both. Thank you both.”
Concluding his speech, the Second Gentleman said: “Kamala Harris was exactly the right person for me at an important moment in my life, and at this moment in our nation’s history, she is exactly the right President.”
Harris, who was at a rally in Milwaukee, posted a picture of her laptop watching her husband speak on the flight back with X and left the simple message: “Love you, Dougie.”
