Kamala Harris's path: From family roots to political heights

Kamala Harris is the first woman in history to have a chance to occupy the presidential seat of the United States. The politician has travelled a long road to get to where she is today.

Besides her career path, voters and global media are looking into the lives of the candidates. Donald Trump's story is basically an open book. So, what is known about Kamala Harris? The Democratic presidential candidate has been married for ten years. Before meeting Harris, Douglas Emhoff was in a long-term relationship that ended due to his affair.

Douglas Emhoff and his first wife, film producer Kerstin Mackin, had two children. The relationship fell apart after several years due to Emhoff's infidelity. Emhoff allegedly cheated on Mackin with his daughter's teacher – the woman became pregnant with him and "did not keep the child." According to the Daily Mail, Emhoff's affair led to the breakdown of his first marriage.

"During my first marriage, Kerstin and I went through tough times because of my actions," he stated in a declaration for CNN. He assured that he took responsibility for his actions. "In the later years, we worked through it as a family and came out stronger," wrote Emhoff.

After the divorce, Douglas went on a blind date with Kamala Harris, whom he fell in love with.

Foreign media report that Emhoff comes from a Jewish family. Harris, on the other hand, attended a Baptist church and is also familiar with Hindu traditions. Despite cultural differences, Douglas and Kamala quickly found common ground.

On August 22, 2014, the future U.S. presidential candidate and lawyer got married.

- I feel it very strongly, each of us has a family connected by blood ties and also a family through love. I have both. I consider it a true blessing - Harris said in the podcast "Call Her Daddy".

Let us recall that Kamala Harris was criticized by Republicans, who pointed out that the politician does not have her own children.

- I love these kids to death. Family takes many forms and I think we increasingly understand that it's no longer the fifties - Harris remarked, referring to her husband's biological offspring.

Kamala Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican economist and an Indian cancer research specialist. The politician's parents had two daughters - Kamala and Maya. Unfortunately, their marriage did not stand the test of time. When the parents were divorcing, Kamala was seven years old.

The girls' mother decided to raise her daughters alone. Kamala greatly respected the religious ceremonies of both her parents; therefore, she attended services at the Baptist church and the Hindu temple. From an early age, fighting for minority rights was important to Harris; such values were instilled in her by her mother and father.