Emhoff stood by his wife for a decade as her star rose, rising from California’s top lawyer to junior senator, before President Biden selected her in 2020 as his running mate for U.S. vice president. When Biden won the election, Harris became the first Black, first Asian and first woman to hold this position in US history.
And Emhoff became the “second gentleman of the United States.”
Now that his wife is the Democratic presidential candidate, Emhoff could become the country’s first First Gentleman. Here’s what you need to know about it.
Who is Doug Emhoff?
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Emhoff was raised in New Jersey with his brother and sister and moved to Los Angeles when he was in high school.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University, Northridge and a juris doctor from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.
Emhoff is an avid golfer and a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers (though Harris, a Bay Area native, supports the San Francisco teams).
Since the 1980s, she has been close friends with Matt Walden, the husband of Disney executive Dana Walden.
“In many ways, Dan and Matt are responsible for my marriage,” Harris joked during an April 2022 fundraiser at the Waldenses’ home in Brentwood. In 2023, Dana Walden donated $20,000. dollars to support President Biden and the Democratic Party.
What does Doug Emhoff do?
Emhoff is a corporate lawyer by profession who has worked at some of the most prestigious law firms in the country. In 2000, he co-founded his own company, Whitwell Jacoby Emhoff, which eventually merged with Venable. Before becoming a partner at DLA Piper, he served as a managing director in Venable’s West Coast office.
During his decades-long litigating career, Emhoff has represented large companies such as pharmaceutical giant Merck and weapons manufacturer Dolarian Capital, as well as individuals including the husband of one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and former NFL star Willie Gault.
Emhoff retired from law after the 2020 election and before Harris was sworn in as vice president. Around the same time, he began teaching law at Georgetown University Law Center. He still serves as an inspector at the school’s Institute for Technology Law and Policy.
Since being promoted to second gentleman, Emhoff has gained popularity on social media, as well as his own hashtag: #DougHive. His friends joked that Emhoff should be called “the first guy.” Others called him the ultimate “wife guy” for his continued support of Harris.
Over the past four years, Emhoff has traveled to 42 states and 15 countries to meet with community leaders, health care workers and business owners, according to the White House website.
Emhoff also attended diplomatic events, including the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Paralympics. He led the U.S. delegation in Paris at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, meeting with Audrey Azoulay, director general of UNESCO.
Emhoff took on several unofficial roles as a second gentleman, such as working with Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on mental health and loneliness.
He has also worked with leaders on workplace equality, pay equity and access to reproductive health care. Recently, Emhoff has focused on issues of anti-Semitism.
Emhoff led a roundtable on anti-Semitism. Organizations such as the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the American Jewish Committee, the National Council of Jewish Women and the Anti-Defamation League were represented.
Emhoff, who was born into a Jewish family that fled Poland due to persecution, visited the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland on International Holocaust Remembrance Day last year, during which he laid a wreath at the camp’s “Death Wall.” He also stopped at the Holocaust memorial in Berlin.
Emhoff also participated in the White House launch of the United States National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism. The group’s plans have been set out in 2023 to build relationships between communities, increase awareness, improve security and reverse the “normalization of anti-Semitism.”
He also brought his Jewish heritage and culture to Washington, D.C., openly celebrating Hanukkah and placing mezuzahs on the doors of the vice president’s official residence at the Naval Observatory.
Trump has denounced Emhoff as a “lousy Jew” and recently said Harris is “evil and disrespectful to the Jewish people.” While Biden was often attacked by the left for his support for the Gaza campaign, Harris was seen as more sympathetic to the Palestinians.
For his part, Emhoff came out unequivocally in favor of Israel. After the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Emhoff spoke before Jewish leaders, saying: — We witnessed mass murder of innocent civilians. It was a terrorist attack, and terrorism can never be justified. There are no two sides to this matter.
Who was Doug Emhoff’s first wife?
In 1992, Emhoff married film producer Kerstin Mackin. The couple had two children, Cole and Ella, named after jazz legends John Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald.
Emhoff and Mackin divorced after 16 years of marriage. Emhoff is currently the founder and CEO of the Los Angeles production company Prettybird and maintains a close relationship with her ex-husband.
Emhoff’s children are known to call their stepmother “Momala”.
“When it comes to patchwork families,” Harris told CNN in 2020, “if everyone approaches it in a way where there’s a lot of love to share, it works.
Mackin, who goes by the surname Emhoff, recently defended Harris against sexist comments about the vice president not having biological children of her own.
— These are baseless attacks. “For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala co-parented Doug and me,” she said in a statement. -She is loving, caring, fiercely protective, and always present. I love our family,” Mackin added.
Who are Harris’ stepchildren?
Ella, 25, is an artist, model and fashion designer living in Brooklyn. She attended Parsons School of Design, where she studied Fine Arts with a concentration in Apparel and Textiles, graduating in 2021. She regularly posts her work on social media.
In January 2021, right after Harris’ vice presidential inauguration, Ella signed a contract with IMG Models, a famous international modeling agency.
She is also part of The 3% Movement, an organization focused on increasing the number of women as creative directors.
Ella’s older brother, Cole, 29, worked at talent agency WME and later Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B. A graduate of Colorado College, he studied psychology.
Cole has been married to Greenley Littlejohn, global product development manager at Brand ID, since October last year. They were married by Harris.
According to Cole’s IMDb profile, he was a member of the crew of “Father of the Bride” as well as “Minari” and appeared as Hank in the 2017 short film “Dance Lady Dance.”
Text published in the American “Newsweek”. Title, lead and subheadings from the editors of “Newsweek Polska”.
Well, folks, gather ’round! We’ve got a fascinating peek into the world of the “second gentleman,” Doug Emhoff. What a title, eh? “Second gentleman.” Sounds like the sort of guy who works part-time as a barista while dreaming of being a full-fledged gentleman—complete with monocle and top hat! But no, Doug Emhoff is much more than that. He’s a corporate lawyer turned goodwill ambassador and the husband of Kamala Harris, who famously made history as the first Black, first Asian, and first female vice president of the United States. It’s like a game of political bingo, and Kamala just swept the board!
Now, according to this piece, Doug certainly knows how to support his wife—standing by her through thick and thin, and hey, no one said love isn’t a contact sport! You’ve got to admire the dedication—a decade-long support system! With Biden picking Harris as his sidekick, Doug upgraded from “rock star husband” to “second gentleman.” I bet he has a collection of coffee mugs at home that read “World’s Okayest Husband.”
Let’s break down who this guy really is. Hailing from Brooklyn—where all the hipsters and cool folks come from, naturally—he boomeranged from New York to New Jersey and bounced to LA. It’s like the East Coast/West Coast reunion tour—but let’s be honest, no one wants to be caught in a rap battle over who has better weather. He studied communications—clearly a prerequisite for handling the press that comes with being second gentleman. And don’t get me started on his golf obsession! I mean, who needs therapy when you can just whack a little white ball around?
Professionally, Doug’s no slouch; he’s been working with some heavyweight law firms and even threw in some time at Georgetown teaching law. Sounds like the perfect gig: slap on a tweed jacket, and suddenly you’re both an authority and someone who knows where to find the best pub for post-lecture pints.
And can we talk social media? Doug has become a hit—#DougHive has emerged! This man has created a fan club. I can’t even get my mates to agree on a pizza topping, and this guy’s got fans! Meanwhile, friends are dubbing him the ultimate “wife guy.” How charming! It’s like calling a duck a “water bird” – technically correct, but where’s the oomph?
On the flipside of this “first-guy” gig, Doug has taken on some serious issues—mental health, anti-Semitism, and workplace equality. It’s not just about the polka dots on your tie; he’s putting in the work, folks! And apparently, there was a roundtable on anti-Semitism recently. Because nothing says “let’s tackle societal issues” like a group of people sitting around a table—no checkered tablecloth, but lots of heart!
Now, let’s throw in a twist. Sounds like being Doug Emhoff involves some family drama too. His first wife was a film producer. Can you imagine family gatherings? “Oh look, there’s me, the second gentleman; and there’s my ex-wife, the Hollywood producer. Let’s all behave like it’s Christmas at the Queen’s!”
And his stepkids? They seem to be thriving in their own unique ways. We’ve got a fashion designer in Brooklyn and a son who’s made it into the film industry. You know how it goes: one day they’re getting straight A’s in communication studies, and the next they’re starring in the next big film. “Dad, I love you, but I’m too busy being fabulous to talk!”
In conclusion, Doug Emhoff might officially be known as the “second gentleman,” but let’s be real: he’s clearly the first at supporting Kamala Harris and championing important issues. Who knew that being a political spouse could be so riveting? Everyone loves a good underdog story, and Doug’s living it, one golf round at a time! So here’s to #DougHive—let’s see where this adventure takes him!
As a phenomenon, with supporters rallying behind him and sharing his various endeavors online. He’s even embraced the art of TikTok! Who would’ve thought a corporate lawyer and husband of the vice president would be dancing his way into our feeds?
But let’s not forget, being the second gentleman isn’t all fun and games; there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with it. Doug has championed various causes, like advocating for small businesses, education, and the importance of mental health—issues that resonate with many Americans. He’s taken his role seriously and often highlights the importance of supporting local communities, embodying the spirit of service that is synonymous with political life.
So there you have it, folks! Doug Emhoff: part lawyer, part advocate, full-time supporter of Kamala Harris. He may have a quirky title, but in reality, he’s defining what it means to be a partner in today’s political landscape while showing that the role of the “second gentleman” can be just as impactful as the title implies. Who knew politics could be this entertaining?
