From a High School Conversation to the Vice Presidency: Kamala Harris’s Journey | US News
Kamala Harris spent a significant portion of her career as a prosecutor before entering politics.
Harris’s legal journey began in 1990 when she started working as a deputy district attorney, specializing in cases involving child sexual assault offenders.
This career trajectory continued until 2017 when she became the attorney general of California, overseeing the largest state justice department in the country.
Her motivation has always been a strong sense of responsibility to protect vulnerable individuals.
But what sparked this sense of duty?
According to Harris, it stemmed from a traumatic experience with her best friend during high school.
Having been raised in Berkeley, California, she moved to Montreal, Canada with her family for schooling, where she befriended a new student, Wanda Kagan, at West Mount High School.
As they grew closer, Harris noticed signs of distress in her friend and eventually learned that she was being sexually and physically abused by her stepfather.
This revelation led Harris to offer her friend a safe haven, which ultimately shaped her decision to pursue a career in law to protect those who are vulnerable.
Reflecting on the impact of this experience, Ms. Kagan emphasized how Harris supported and guided her through a difficult period, setting her on a path towards recovery and education.
Transitioning from her personal experiences to her professional journey, Harris attended Howard University and later graduated from the University of California Hastings College of Law in 1989. She began her legal career as a deputy prosecutor, focusing on cases of child sexual assault, homicide, and robbery in Alameda County, California.
Her dedication to advocating for justice led her to various positions, including becoming the first female district attorney of San Francisco in 2004 and later being elected as the attorney general of California in 2010.
In 2016, she won the US Senate race in California, further solidifying her presence in the political arena.
Known for her forensic questioning of Trump administration officials and Supreme Court nominees, Harris gained national recognition for her work as a prosecutor.
In August 2021, Joe Biden chose her as his running mate, making her the first black female running mate for a major party and the third female running mate in American history.
Following Biden’s decision to endorse her for the 2024 presidential election, Harris was officially declared the Democratic nominee in August.
