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Kamala Harris has two adult stepchildren: Cole Emhoff and Ella Emhoff, the children of her husband, Doug Emhoff, and his former wife, Kerstin Emhoff. Harris married Doug in 2014 and became part of an established family rather than starting a new one with biological children of her own.
She has nevertheless consistently described Cole and Ella as her children. The family calls her “Momala,” a nickname combining “Mom” and “Kamala” and avoiding the more formal-sounding label “stepmom.” Their story offers a close look at the blended family behind Harris’ public career.
Who are Kamala Harris’ stepchildren?
| Name | Relationship to Harris | Born | Known publicly for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Mackin Emhoff | Stepson | 1994 | Entertainment work, family appearances and his 2023 wedding |
| Ella Rose Emhoff | Stepdaughter | 1999 | Fashion design, textile art and modeling |
Cole and Ella are Doug Emhoff’s children with Kerstin Emhoff. Doug and Kerstin continued to share parenting responsibilities after their marriage ended, and Harris joined that family structure when she married Doug.
Harris does not have biological children. That fact is sometimes reduced to the inaccurate statement that she has “no children.” A more complete description is that she has no biological children but has two adult stepchildren whom she regards as her children. In a 2024 interview, Harris said Cole and Ella “became my cherished children.”
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How Harris became “Momala”
Harris did not rush into meeting Doug’s children. She has explained that, as the child of divorced parents, she understood that a parent dating again could be complicated for children. She and Doug waited until they were confident that their relationship was serious.
Her first meeting with Cole and Ella took place at a seafood restaurant in Malibu. The family later attended an art event at the children’s school. Those early encounters helped establish a relationship that developed into a close blended-family bond.
Cole and Ella disliked the conventional term “stepmom,” so they created “Momala.” Harris adopted the nickname, and it became the family’s affectionate way of describing her role. Kerstin Emhoff has also spoken positively about Harris’ place in the family, describing her in 2024 as a co-parent for more than a decade who was “loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present.”
The arrangement did not erase the role of their biological mother. Cole and Ella remain the children of Doug and Kerstin, with Harris serving as an additional parent in the family.
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Cole Emhoff
Education and early career
Cole Mackin Emhoff was born in 1994. He graduated from Colorado College in 2017. Earlier profiles associated him with the entertainment industry, including work at William Morris Endeavor and later Plan B Entertainment.
Those descriptions come from older reporting and should not automatically be treated as a statement of his employment in 2026. Cole has generally maintained a lower public profile than his sister, although he has appeared at important family and political events.
Marriage to Greenley Littlejohn
Cole married Greenley Littlejohn on October 14, 2023. Harris officiated the wedding after Cole and Greenley asked her to perform the ceremony. The role was a visible example of how closely Harris is integrated into Cole’s adult life.
Doug Emhoff also discussed the family at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Cole helped introduce his father’s speech with a video about Doug’s life and family, giving viewers a personal perspective on the man behind the public title of second gentleman.
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Ella Emhoff
Design education
Ella Rose Emhoff was born in 1999 and graduated from New York’s Parsons School of Design in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Her studies and work have centered on apparel, textiles and related design disciplines.
Ella became widely recognizable during the January 20, 2021, presidential inauguration. Her distinctive outfit attracted attention, and she co-designed it with fashion designer Batsheva Hay. Soon afterward, she signed with IMG Models, adding modeling to her public work in fashion and art.
Fashion and textile work
Ella is publicly associated with fashion design, textile art and modeling rather than with a conventional political career. Her visibility increased because of her connection to the White House, but her professional identity has largely remained rooted in the creative fields she studied.
When Ella graduated from Parsons in 2021, Harris celebrated her publicly. Harris referred to her as “our daughter” and signed the message “Love, Momala.” The post illustrated the family’s preferred language: Harris does not describe Ella merely as a stepchild, and Ella does not describe Harris merely through a formal title.
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During Harris’ vice presidency, from January 20, 2021, through January 20, 2025, Cole and Ella were sometimes featured alongside Harris and Doug as members of the family surrounding the second gentleman and vice president. Their public visibility was unusual because both were adults with careers and interests separate from government.
They should not, however, be described as the “current Second Children” or as members of a “current Second Family.” Those labels belong to the period of Harris’ vice presidency and are no longer current after January 20, 2025.
Their appearances also showed the difference between a political family and a political dynasty. Cole and Ella attended milestone events, supported their parents and appeared in selected public moments, but neither became a government official by virtue of Harris’ office.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What their family story shows
The Emhoff family’s public story is less about a ceremonial title than about how a blended family negotiated its relationships. Harris entered the family after Cole and Ella already had two parents. Her role grew through time, shared events and ordinary family connections rather than through a legal or biological change in parenthood.
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That is why “Momala” matters. It acknowledges Harris’ maternal role without pretending that the family has only one mother or that Harris replaced Kerstin Emhoff. Cole and Ella’s relationship with Harris is an example of an additional-parent arrangement: emotionally close, publicly acknowledged and distinct from biological parenthood.
FAQ
How many children does Kamala Harris have?
Kamala Harris has two adult stepchildren, Cole Emhoff and Ella Emhoff. She does not have biological children, but she describes Cole and Ella as her children.
Who are Cole and Ella Emhoff’s parents?
Cole and Ella are the children of Doug Emhoff and his former wife, Kerstin Emhoff. Kamala Harris became their stepmother when she married Doug in 2014.
Why do Cole and Ella call Kamala Harris “Momala”?
“Momala” combines “Mom” and “Kamala.” The family chose it because Cole and Ella did not want to use the conventional term “stepmom.”
What do Cole and Ella Emhoff do?
Cole graduated from Colorado College and has been associated in earlier profiles with entertainment work. Ella graduated from Parsons School of Design and is publicly associated with fashion design, textile art and modeling.
The Bottom Line
Cole and Ella Emhoff are Kamala Harris’ two adult stepchildren and the children of Doug and Kerstin Emhoff. Cole has maintained a relatively private profile while participating in major family events, including his 2023 wedding, which Harris officiated. Ella built a public career in fashion, textiles and modeling after graduating from Parsons and attracting attention for her 2021 inauguration outfit. Together, they are part of a blended family in which Harris’ role is openly maternal but does not replace their relationship with their biological mother.
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