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Vice President Kamala Harris fought with a relentless determination to become the first woman, first Black, and first South Asian American Vice President of the United States—a victory that reflected the same grit she put forth in her historic bid for the presidency. Reaching such heights takes not only ambition but an unwavering resolve to rise above fear, doubt, and opposition. 

Harris has made history at nearly every stage of her career, from becoming the first female District Attorney of San Francisco in 2004 to serving as California’s first African American and South Asian Attorney General in 2010. In her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in August, Kamala shared the story of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who moved from India to California at 19 to pursue a master’s degree. Gopalan would go on to become a groundbreaking breast cancer researcher whose work contributed to the development of several life-saving treatments. 

“My mother was a brilliant, five-foot-tall, brown woman with an accent. And as the eldest child, I saw how the world would sometimes treat her,” Harris recalled, drawing a deep connection between her mother’s resilience and her own career journey.

Being the first is never easy. Throughout her presidential campaign, Kamala faced relentless scrutiny—her integrity was questioned, her authority undermined, and her race and accomplishments mocked. Yet, she continued to rise, unshaken by the ridicule. Her loss to former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election was a heartbreaking moment for millions of Americans yearning for change. But even in that defeat, Kamala’s resolve remained firm. In her concession speech on Nov. 6, she vowed to continue fighting for equality and justice for all Americans.

“The fight — the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people…. That is a fight I will never give up,” the V.P. said with conviction. “I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions, and aspirations, where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies and not have their government telling them what to do. We will never give up the fight to protect our schools and our streets from gun violence. And America, we will never give up the fight for our democracy, for the rule of law, for equal justice, and for the sacred idea that every one of us, no matter who we are or where we start out, has certain fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld.”

Harris has already made history, but her journey is far from over. As she continues to lead, inspire, and push for progress, her story is one of perseverance, courage, and the unyielding belief that no matter the obstacles, the fight for a better, more inclusive future must go on. Here are nine historic milestones that highlight Kamala Harris’ trailblazing journey in politics and beyond.