The Close Relationship Between Kamala Harris and Her Sister Maya Harris

With Kamala Harris now the official Democratic presidential nominee, attention is being drawn to her relationships, particularly with her younger sister, Maya Harris. Maya Harris, who played a vital role in Kamala’s first presidential campaign in 2020, is known for her intelligence and capability, as endorsed by Kamala herself.

The sisters share a unique bond that began in their early childhood. Their parents, Donald Harris from Jamaica and Shyamala Gopalan from India, met as graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley. After having Kamala in 1964 and Maya in 1967, their parents divorced. Following the divorce, they moved to Montreal when their mother accepted a position at McGill University, where the sisters faced the challenges of a new culture and language.

Kamala remarked on their strong bond, stating, “We leaned on each other. We forged a bond that is unbreakable.” Their shared experiences throughout life have strengthened their relationship.

Maya Harris has had a distinguished career in law and policy. After graduating from Stanford Law School, she became a civil litigator and then an adjunct professor. She has focused on civil rights, racial justice, and gender equality and served in prominent roles, including as an officeholder at the Ford Foundation.

In addition to her contributions to public policy, Maya was instrumental in Kamala’s 2020 presidential run and had worked with Hillary Clinton during the latter’s 2016 campaign, leading a team on domestic policy. When Kamala married Douglas Emhoff on August 22, 2014, Maya officiated the ceremony.

Maya Harris is a mother to her daughter, Meena, whom she welcomed as a teenager. She has expressed her pride in Meena, highlighting her daughter’s qualities and achievements as an entrepreneur. Meena, in turn, acknowledges that her parenting approach is influenced by what she learned from her mother.

Interestingly, Meena played a matching role between Maya and her future husband, Tony West, at the Stanford Law campus. Their relationship blossomed, culminating in their marriage despite initial long-distance challenges.

As a grandmother to two granddaughters, Amara and Leela, Maya enjoys sharing moments with them. She has praised Meena’s parenting skills, finding joy in being a grandmother without the responsibilities that come with parenthood.

Maya Harris has also bravely addressed her battle with lupus, an autoimmune disease, which she has kept private for many years. She penned an essay regarding her experiences, shedding light on this health challenge that has greatly impacted her life.

Meena Harris has authored a children’s book titled “Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea,” inspired by the strength of the women in her family. She shares that her upbringing among these strong figures significantly influenced her life and career decisions.