Inside Kamala Harris' Relationship With Her Stepchildren

Kamala Harris made history on August 11th when she became the first Black and South-Asian American woman to be named a vice presidential candidate on a major party ticket. And while her resume as a lawyer, former Attorney General of California, and U.S. Senator is exceedingly impressive, the heartwarming relationship she has with her husband and stepchildren is equally inspiring. 

Harris is so much more than just the first woman to be standing on the precipice of a historically significant moment. To her stepchildren, Cole and Ella, and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, Harris holds the most important role of all — "Momala," a title she earned by forging a loving bond with her new family and an endearment they all agreed was a lot better than "stepmom" (via Elle). Here's just a glimpse at the familial relationship that Harris has with her stepchildren, of whom she says, "They are my endless source of love and pure joy (via Marie Claire)."

Being a child of divorce herself, Kamala Harris knew she had to go slowly in her relationship with Cole and Ella, named for John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald (via Women's Health). In an essay she wrote for Elle, she explained, "I was determined not to insert myself in their lives until Doug and I had established we were in this for the long haul. Children need consistency; I didn't want to insert myself into their lives as a temporary fixture because I didn't want to disappoint them. There's nothing worse." 

There was no need to worry, however, because they formed a bond almost immediately, and it was the kids that made her love for Emhoff even more complete. She explained, "Cole and Ella could not have been more welcoming. They are brilliant, talented, funny kids who have grown to be remarkable adults. I was already hooked on Doug, but I believe it was Cole and Ella who reeled me in" (via Elle).

According to his LinkedIn page, Cole graduated Colorado College in 2017 with a Bachelor's degree in psychology and works as an executive assistant at Plan B in Los Angeles. Ella is a student at Parsons School of Design and lives in New York City (via Marie Claire). Where Cole is more private, limiting his exposure on social media, Ella has a public Instagram account and even has her own website where she shares her designs and accepts commissions for her work. 

No matter how busy they all get, however, they always make time for family, including the kids' biological mother Kerstin, who Harris describes as a "dear friend," and "incredible mother" (via Elle). As life becomes even busier for this loving blended family, Harris is able to put it all into perspective, stating, "as our family embarks together on this new journey — I can say one thing with certainty, my heart wouldn't be whole, nor my life full, without them (via Elle)."