Doug Emhoff makes uncomfortable reference to previous affair while explaining how he met Kamala Harris

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, took to the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago with a candid and heartfelt speech about their relationship.

As his wife rallied in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Emhoff chose to share his journey that was marked by an "unfortunate divorce," while conspicuously ignoring the affair that led to the end of his first marriage. 

Doug Emhoff reflects on his past and meeting Kamala Harris

Doug Emhoff began by recounting his past, including his first marriage, which produced two children, Cole and Ella. He described how, despite the challenges of divorce, his path led him to an unexpected and life-changing encounter with Kamala Harris in 2013. He shared how they met, beginning with a blind date arranged by a satisfied client.

Emhoff explained, "I got married, became a dad to Cole and Ella. Unfortunately, went through a divorce. But then I eventually started worrying about how I would make it all work. And that’s when something unexpected happened. In 2013, I walked into a contentious client meeting. We worked through the issue. And by the end of the meeting, the now-happy client offered to set me up on a blind date, which is how I ended up with Kamala Harris’s phone number."

Despite conventional wisdom advising against early-morning calls, Emhoff dialed Harris at 8:30 am, only to reach her voicemail. "Now, for generations, people have debated when to call the person you’re being set up with. And never in history has anyone suggested 8:30 a.m. And yet that’s when I dialed. I got Kamala’s voicemail and I just started rambling. 'Hey, it’s Doug. I’m on my way to an early meeting. Again, it’s Doug,'" Emhoff shared.

He recalled the embarrassment he felt at the time. "I remember I was trying to grab words out of the air and just put them back in my mouth. And for what seemed like far too many minutes, I hung up. By the way, Kamala’s saved that voicemail and she makes me listen to it on every anniversary," he said.

"But that message wasn’t the only unusual thing about that day. Now, Kamala, who normally would’ve been working hard at her office, just happened to be waiting at her apartment for a contractor to do some work on her kitchen. I was eating at my desk, which was not a regular occurrence for a busy lawyer like me, who appreciated a good business lunch. But that’s when she called me back and we talked for an hour and we laughed well. You know that laugh. I love that laugh!" Emhoff added.

Family dynamics and Doug Emhoff's role

Beyond his anecdotes, Doug Emhoff also praised Harris for her role as a stepmother. He mentioned how his children from his first marriage, Cole and Ella, had come to affectionately call Harris "Momala."

Earlier this month, Emhoff made headlines when openly admitted to having had an affair that led to the end of his first marriage. Despite this, his ex-wife Kerstin defended him, calling him a “great father” and a “great friend.”

She said she was proud of the "warm and supportive blended family Doug, Kamala, and I have built together." Their daughter Ella, now a fashion designer and occasional model, once described their family as a “three-headed parenting machine."

Emhoff also recalled his son Cole’s wedding, which Harris officiated. He described how Harris took the time to carefully craft her remarks for the ceremony despite her demanding duties in Washington.

She even went so far as to have them bound in a book as a gift to the newlyweds.

"She has always been there for our children, and I know she’ll always be there for yours, too," Emhoff gushed.

Emhoff also reflected on his role in supporting Harris's career. He has notably embraced the ceremonial duties traditionally associated with the spouse of a high-ranking official—a role historically been filled by women.

When Harris became Vice President, there was some uncertainty about what to call her husband. Emhoff eventually settled on the title "second gentleman," making history as the first man to hold this position. Looking ahead, Emhoff would become the first gentleman in American history if Harris were to win the presidency, NBC News reported.