Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's Relationship Timeline

2013: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff go on a blind date

In 2013, Harris, then-Attorney General of California, and Emhoff, a Los Angeles entertainment lawyer, were set up on a blind date by Harris' friend, Chrisette Hudlin. Emhoff later confirmed how they met when he shared a birthday message to Harris on Twitter in 2020.

He wrote, "Blind date, love at first sight, marriage, family, and an incredible life together. Through it all, no matter what, she is ALWAYS there for me and our family without hesitation."

2013: Kamala Harris searches Doug Emhoff on Google before blind date

When the pair sat down for an interview with Jane Pauley of CBS News' Sunday Morning in January 2020, Harris revealed that the date wasn't exactly blind: She Googled her future husband before she met him.

"I did!" Harris said with a laugh, while Emhoff smiled and said, "Oh. This is a reveal!"

"So, yes, my best friend set us up on a blind date," Harris explained. "And she said, 'Just trust me. Just trust me.' You know, she wanted me to just kind of go into it, and she said, 'Don't Google him.' I did!"

Emhoff said in the interview that he was at a Lakers game with a friend when he decided to send a text to Harris. He called her the next morning.

"I left this ridiculous voicemail, which she has saved and plays back to me on our anniversary every year," Emhoff said. "I thought I'd never hear from her again, but ..."

"But it was just, it was adorable," said Harris. "And it was just, I mean, the thing about Doug is that he is exactly who he is. He's just fully authentic and clear about the things he cares about. And it's family, it's his work …"

"You," Emhoff said to his wife with a smile.

2013: Doug Emhoff tells Kamala Harris he really likes her

Harris also discussed their first encounter back in 2013 in her 2019 memoir, The Truths We Hold.

"The morning after our first date, Doug emailed me with a list of his available dates for the next couple of months," she wrote. "'I'm too old to play games or hide the ball,' the email read. 'I really like you, and I want to see if we can make this work.'"

Later, in October 2020, Harris shared the story on Instagram in a birthday tribute to Emhoff, adding, "We've been making it work ever since."

2014: Doug Emhoff proposes to Kamala Harris

Less than a year after their first date, Emhoff proposed to Harris, revealing to Marie Claire that it all happened "in the middle of a decidedly unromantic conversation (she was deliberating between chicken or shrimp pad thai)."

August 22, 2014: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff tie the knot

On Aug. 22, 2014, the pair got married in a ceremony performed by Harris' sister, Maya, at a courthouse in Santa Barbara, California.

August 2014: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff blend their families

Emhoff has two children from his previous marriage — Cole and Ella. Harris became their stepmom in August 2014 when she married Emhoff.

2016: Doug Emhoff supports Kamala Harris on the campaign trail

Before joining his wife on the 2020 presidential campaign trail, Emhoff had some practice with supporting Harris throughout her political career. In 2016, he joined her while she was campaigning to become senator of California, with the two casting their votes together. Harris ultimately won.

2017: Doug Emhoff continues to support Kamala Harris

In January 2017, Emhoff held the Bible at Harris' swearing-in ceremony. He would later repeat the action at the 2020 inauguration when his wife was sworn in as the first female vice president of the United States.

January 21, 2019: Kamala Harris announces her run for president with Doug Emhoff by her side

Emhoff remained by his wife's side when she announced that she would be running for president in the 2020 election. According to NBC News, Emhoff remembered being "freaked out" by the large crowd when Harris made her announcement.

"It's like, holy 'F,'" he said. "We thought there'd be 5,000 people there" — but more than 20,000 attended the event in Oakland, California, as reported by NBC News.

May 2019: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff embrace their modern family

While some blended families can struggle to find their stride, the Harris-Emhoff family has not. Emhoff's ex-wife, Kerstin, has a great relationship with Harris, with the vice president revealing in an essay for Elle, "Kerstin and I hit it off ourselves and are dear friends. She and I became a duo of cheerleaders in the bleachers at Ella's swim meets and basketball games, often to Ella's embarrassment. We sometimes joke that our modern family is almost a little too functional."

Ella told The New York Times in 2021 of her mother's dynamic with Emhoff and Harris, "They have good communication between the three of them. They are really a unit, like a three-person parenting squad. It's really cool."

May 2019: Kamala Harris is nicknamed "Momala" after marrying Doug Emhoff

Harris told Elle in 2019 that, after she and Emhoff married, "Cole, Ella, and I agreed that we didn't like the term 'stepmom.' Instead, they came up with the name 'Momala.'"

After being announced as Joe Biden's running mate in August 2020, she said in her remarks, "I've had a lot of titles over my career, and certainly 'vice president' will be great, but 'Momala' will always be one of those that means the most."

June 2019: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff show their pride

The then-presidential hopeful and Emhoff attended San Francisco's Pride parade in June 2019. In addition to dancing at the event, the pair also shared a kiss.

Harris wore a rainbow-colored sequined jacket, and Emhoff sported a black T-shirt with her name across the front.

August 2019: Doug Emhoff is Kamala Harris' biggest fan

While on the campaign trail in Iowa in August 2019, Emhoff snapped a selfie with his wife, showing off his customized phone case adorned with Harris' face and name. Emhoff also enjoyed a local delicacy at the Iowa State Fair. He shared a photo on Twitter munching fork-free on the pork chop on a stick.

December 2019: Doug Emhoff vows to "love" and "help" Kamala Harris after she ends her presidential bid

In December 2019, Harris ended her presidential campaign. Emhoff, of course, was there to support her.

"She made that decision, and I would have supported whatever she decided," Emhoff told Marie Claire in 2020. "But I'm not her political adviser. I'm her husband. And so my role was to be there for her, to love her, to have her back, to talk it through, to help her."

August 2020: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff make history

When Biden announced Harris as his running mate, the couple made history. Harris would become the first female vice president, and Emhoff would become the first second gentleman.

In her first remarks, Harris said, "I can't wait for America to get to know Doug. My family means everything to me."

With Biden's announcement, Harris also became the first Black and South Asian woman, as well as the first graduate of a historically Black college or university to be chosen as a major party candidate's running mate.

October 2020: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff describe their relationship as "a partnership"

The pair told PEOPLE exclusively following the announcement that they "are a partnership" and gave a glimpse into their routine.

Emhoff told PEOPLE, "It's a lot of planning. Typically, we get up early, we work out, and then we sit down, and it's like, 'Let's have a meeting and figure out how we're going to get through these next couple of days.' That includes getting dinner and figuring out laundry, mail. All that stuff that doesn't stop, and we still need to do it."

October 2020: Kamala Harris says Doug Emhoff is "patient"

Harris also told PEOPLE it helps that "Dougie," as she calls Emhoff, is patient and laughs easily. The campaign, she said, is "obviously very stressful."

"We're talking about the free world," she continued. "These are serious times, and the challenges are incredibly serious, but we don't take ourselves too seriously in the context of our relationship. You just have to flow and know what's really important."

October 7, 2020: Doug Emhoff supports Kamala Harris at debate

Vice President Mike Pence and Harris faced off in person in the first and only 2020 vice presidential debate on Oct. 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Emhoff was present and gave his wife a hug and a kiss after the debate.

November 2020: Doug Emhoff says he's "proud" of Kamala Harris

After President-elect Biden and Harris were officially declared the winners of the 2020 presidential election, Emhoff showed his support to his wife on Instagram.

"So proud of you. ❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸," Emhoff captioned a photo, hugging Harris after the announcement.

November 7, 2020: Kamala Harris thanks Doug Emhoff and her family after winning the election

In November 2020, Harris addressed Americans for the first time as vice president-elect of the United States in Wilmington, Delaware. She expressed her love and gratitude to Emhoff and her family in her remarks during her victory speech.

"To my husband Doug, our children Cole and Ella, my sister Maya, and our whole family — I love you all more than I can express," Harris said onstage.

January 17, 2021: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's relationship is like a "honeymoon phase forever"

Cole and Ella opened up about their parents in an interview with The New York Times in mid-January 2021, with Cole saying, "Doug and Kamala together are like almost vomit-inducingly cute and coupley. I'm like, When is this going to wear off?"

Ella added, "It's so insane. It's like the honeymoon phase forever. Like, the rest of the world gets to see it on social media, but we live that."

January 21, 2021: Kamala Harris is sworn in as vice president with Doug Emhoff by her side

Harris made history when she became the first woman vice president of the United States on Jan. 21, 2021. She also became the country's first Black and Indian-American vice president in history. Emhoff was there to support his wife and hold the Bibles at her swearing-in during the Inauguration Ceremony.

Vice President Harris used two Bibles — one that belonged to former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and another owned by Regina Shelton, a former neighbor of Harris whom she considered a "second mom," per KTVU Fox 2.

January 21, 2021: Doug Emhoff is "honored" to be the first second gentleman after Kamala Harris is elected vice president

Upon Harris' swearing-in on Jan. 21, 2021, Emhoff tweeted about his historic role as first second gentleman, having previously announced that he would be leaving his job to focus on his new duties.

He wrote, "I am honored to be the first male spouse of an American President or Vice President. But I'll always remember generations of women have served in this role before me—often without much accolade or acknowledgment. It's their legacy of progress I will build on as Second Gentleman."

November 2021: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff head to Paris on her first European trip as vice president

On her first European trip as vice president, Harris met with French President Emmanuel Macron to honor American troops on the eve of Veterans Day. Emhoff was there and attended some events on his own to discuss and learn about topics such as gender equality, inspiring young women and girls, sports diplomacy and education, according to the officials.

November 2021: Doug Emhoff learns about wallpaper in his supporting role to Vice President Kamala Harris

In a 2021 profile in TIME, Emhoff said that, among the duties for his role as the first second gentleman, he's "learning about wallpaper."

"I'm doing things that I probably wouldn't have done," Emhoff said of his supporting role to his wife. Emhoff also said tasks like picking china and wallpaper are "part of the job" and "helps" Harris.

Despite being the first second gentleman, Emhoff wasn't on his own and received help from Pence's wife, Karen Pence, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who served as second lady during Barack Obama's years in the White House.

Emhoff added that Mrs. Pence had been "very gracious in giving advice."

October 20, 2021: Doug Emhoff shares selfie for Kamala Harris' birthday

Emhoff shared a selfie of him and Harris on Twitter in honor of her 57th birthday.

"No matter what's going on, you are always filled with so much joy, love, and smiles. Happy Birthday, @VP. Love you," he posted.

November 2021: Doug Emhoff's ex-wife says he's a better husband to Kamala Harris

In November 2021, Emhoff's ex-wife, Kerstin, wrote on Twitter that "he's doing great" as the first second gentleman of the United States. "We're all so proud."

Emhoff and Kerstin were married for 16 years and share two children, son Cole and daughter Ella. Though their marriage ended in 2008, they have striven to be supportive exes. When Kerstin learned that Emhoff was dating Harris, who was the California attorney general at the time, she said in 2020, "I just thought, 'Wow, that's cool. Don't mess this up!'"

Emhoff said he has tried to "listen more" than talk since his first marriage ended in an interview with TIME. "Of course, he's a better husband, and that's great," Kerstin said in the same profile. "That's how it should be."

November 2021: Kamala Harris' longtime friend remembers her "gorgeous" wedding to Doug Emhoff

Stacey Johnson-Batiste wrote the 2021 memoir Friends from the Beginning about her longtime friendship with Harris and the values they inherited from their families, including Harris' mother, Shaymala Gopalan, whom died of breast cancer in 2019.

"I've always felt a spiritual connection with people that were close to us that have passed on. I know Kamala feels that way," said Johnson-Batiste.

In a November 2021 interview with PEOPLE to discuss the book, Johnson-Batiste also recalled Harris and Emhoff's wedding, which she described as "simply gorgeous," thanks to the "elegant, private and relaxing" atmosphere.

"He absolutely adores her," Johnson-Batiste said. "He wants to protect her. He's very supportive of her career. And I think that he is the perfect compliment to her in that he understands her and the role that she has."

December 2021: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff make history with White House menorah lighting ceremony

For the first time in U.S. history, the White House menorah lighting ceremony in December 2021 was a family affair, with Second Gentleman Emhoff, whom is Jewish, leading the celebration. "This is a White House tradition, but for the first time in history, it is a family tradition," President Biden said at the event.

In remarks at the White House ceremony, Harris said Hanukkah "is one of our family favorites as a holiday," adding, "and every year, our family, like so many around the world, gather to reflect on the lessons of the Hanukkah story: the power of the people, the possibility of the future; that even in despair, there is hope; that even in darkness, there is light."

Earlier in the week, Emhoff lit the National Menorah to celebrate the start of Hanukkah.

"It is such an honor to be here tonight as the first second gentleman of the United States and as our nation's first Jewish second gentleman of the United States," he said in a speech. "It's also an honor to be here on behalf of the Biden-Harris administration, to be here as this beautiful menorah is lit in front of the People's House right behind us here on the people's front lawn in this land of the free."

January 2022: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff cheer for opposing NFL teams

During the 2022 NFC Championship, Emhoff posted a photo of himself on Twitter with Harris, as the two supported two different NFL teams. Harris wore a San Francisco 49ers baseball hat, while Emhoff supported the Los Angeles Rams.

"Hey @VP, hopefully we can at least agree on what snacks to eat tonight," Emhoff wrote.

In her reply, Harris joked, "As long as you're not too salty about the @49ers heading back to the Super Bowl."

April 2022: Doug Emhoff shares Kamala Harris' work-from-home setup after COVID diagnosis

Emhoff shared a photo of Harris' work-from-home setup on Twitter following the vice president's COVID diagnosis. In the photo, Harris can be seen in bright spirits, wearing a white button-down while she looks at files from behind a desk at her residence at the Naval Observatory.

He wrote, "Thanks to everyone who sent well wishes for @VP. She is feeling good and is working from home."

June 2022: Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff make historic Pride appearance with 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winner

In 2021, Harris became the first sitting vice president to appear at a Pride event. She continued to show her support for the LGBTQ+ community in June 2022 by making an appearance at Capitol Pride in Washington, D.C. At the celebration, she was joined onstage by Emhoff and RuPaul's Drag Race season 13 winner Symone.

"No one should fear going to a nightclub for fear that a terrorist might try to take them down," Harris said at the event, which was also the sixth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. "No one should fear loving who they love."

August 22, 2022: Doug Emhoff marks eight-year anniversary with Kamala Harris

For their eight-year anniversary, Emhoff praised his wife on Twitter, posting a photo of the two smiling and hugging in the White House.

He wrote, "What an adventure these past eight years have been. Through it all, you have loved and supported me and our family with everything you have. Life is better with you by my side."

November 15, 2023: Doug Emhoff says he and Kamala Harris start and end their days together

During an interview with PEOPLE, Emhoff shared that he and Harris keep their marriage strong by starting and ending their days together.

"We try to approach those moments as husband and wife, not vice president and second gentleman,” he said. "It’s really our time to be a couple ... time talking about kids, family and very little about the workings of our days.”