What to know about Doug Emhoff, prospective first gentleman
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Second gentleman Doug Emhoff speaks at reception alongside U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on May 20 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will become America's inaugural first gentleman if Vice President Kamala Harris becomes the Democratic presidential nominee and wins in November.
The big picture: A former longtime entertainment and media lawyer, Emhoff's policy focuses since his wife became VP have included combating antisemitism and promoting pro bono legal aid.
- Harris received President Biden's endorsement on Sunday after he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.
- "I am so proud of their accomplishments and thankful for their leadership," Emhoff said on X after the announcement.
- Harris has said she's committed to earning the Democratic presidential nomination.
State of play: In the day since Biden's announcement, the VP has amassed a fundraising boost and high-profile Democratic endorsements.
- The path to replacing Biden on the ticket lies with the party's ability to unite around a dominant candidate — which could be Harris — before or during the Democratic National Convention, which starts Aug. 19.
Background
Emhoff, 59, was born in Brooklyn and raised in Matawan, New Jersey. He moved to the Los Angeles area with his family as a teenager.
- Emhoff attended law school at the University of Southern California.
Zoom in: Emhoff has two kids — Cole, 30, and Ella Emhoff, 25 — with his first wife Kerstin Emhoff, a film producer.
- Emhoff and Harris have been married since 2014, after meeting on a blind date.
- "Love at first sight," he said on a "Late Show" interview in May. "We were literally talking about our future by the end of that first date."
- The term "stepmom" didn't feel right to Harris, so the family landed on "Momala."
- "They are my endless source of love and pure joy," Harris wrote in 2019 of her stepchildren.
Career: L.A. lawyer to D.C. law professor
Zoom out: Emhoff was a lawyer for over 30 years, focused on media, entertainment and intellectual property.
The latest: Emhoff began teaching law courses Georgetown Law in 2020 and has served as a distinguished fellow of the school's Institute for Technology Law and Policy.
- "Emhoff was known for tackling and resolving the toughest problems — whether by litigating high-stakes cases or acting as a trusted advisor in complex disputes," his Georgetown biography said.
Policy portfolio
Context: Emhoff was the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. president or vice president and has been one of the administration's primary voices against antisemitism.
- He convened Jewish leaders for a roundtable to bring attention to rising antisemitism — the first of its kind, per the White House.
Behind the scenes: He has focused on how the federal government could simplify the process for people seeking legal aid, leaning on previous experience with pro bono work.
- "He is an advocate for access to legal aid and removing barriers — legal, social, and financial — to ensure that every person can get the help they need to arrive at justice," per the White House.
- He's also advocated for reproductive rights and COVID vaccination during the Biden-Harris administration.
The bottom line: Emhoff said he's not an adviser to Harris in a CBS News interview in June.
- "I am her husband," he said. "She has plenty of people around her giving her advice on her role. I'm just there to support her, to be there for her."
Go deeper: Doug Emhoff steps into his own
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details.
