Douglas Emhoff: Five things to know about Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s husband

He will be the first ‘second gentleman’ of the US

US vice president-elect Kamala Harris and president-elect Joe Biden arrive for victory address after being declared the winner in the 2020 presidential election, in Wilmington, Delaware. EPA

US president-elect Joe Biden and Jill Biden with vice president-elect Kamala Harris are joined by family members after Mr Biden delivered his victory address following the announcement of the winner in the 2020 presidential election, in Wilmington, Delaware. EPA

People watch fireworks after media announced that Democratic US presidential candidate Joe Biden has won the 2020 election, in Wilmington, Delaware. Reuters

US president-elect Joe Biden gestures in celebration after delivering remarks in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife Jill, and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her husband Doug, react to the confetti at their rally in Wilmington, Delaware. Reuters

Vice president-elect Kamala Harris arrives to deliver remarks before introducing the US president-elect Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP

People gather to watch the speeches in Times Square in New York City. Reuters

Gabriella Ziccarelli, 32, from Arizona, holds a US flag as she watches a speech by vice president-elect Kamala Harris, in Times Square in New York City. Reuters

Vice president-elect Kamala Harris speaks in Wilmington, Delaware, November 7, 2020. Reuters

US president-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris gesture during their post-election rally in Wilmington, Delaware. Reuters

A person wearing a protective mask holds a 'Biden Harris' campaign sign outside Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. Bloomberg

The presidential motorcade, with US President Donald Trump, travels through Reston, Virginia, after President Trump played golf at his International golf club. AFP

President Donald Trump returns to the White House from playing golf in Washington, after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election. AFP

President Donald Trump plays golf at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. AFP

A woman reacts as she watches speeches by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, in Times Square in New York City. Reuters

People watch the speeches by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, at Times Square in New York City. Reuters

Confetti falls after US president-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris delivered speeches in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP

US president-elect Joe Biden with his wife Jill Biden, salute the crowd on stage after delivering a speech in Wilmington, Delaware. AFP

US president-elect Joe Biden, wife Jill Biden, vice president-elect Kamala Harris and husband Douglas Emhoff hold hands while wearing protective masks during a post-election event in Wilmington, Delaware. Bloomberg

Vice president-elect Kamala Harris and president-elect Joe Biden stand on stage with family members in Wilmington, Delaware. AP Photo

A boy carries a sign with vice president-elect Kamala Harris at Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington. Reuters

People watch a speech by Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, at Times Square in New York City. Reuters

A woman takes selfie photo posing with an extra edition of a newspaper reporting that Democrat Joe Biden is projected to win the 2020 US presidential election, in Tokyo, Japan. Reuters

One of the tightest races to the White House in US history has yielded a number of firsts: Jill Biden will be the first Italian-American first lady and Kamala Harris the only woman to serve as vice president.

As Ms Harris’ husband, Douglas Emhoff will also be a milestone in many ways:

1. How will we refer to him?

While Ms Harris has become not only the first woman to be elected vice president but also the first Jamaican-American woman and the first person of South Asian descent to do so, Mr Emhoff’s position is also one never seen before.

He will be now known as “second gentleman”, although on his Twitter biography he still describes himself as “Kamala Harris’s Hubby”.

2. OK, but who is he?

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1964, Mr Emhoff is an entertainment lawyer in California. In yet another landmark, he will also be the first Jewish spouse of a vice president.

His father was a women’s shoe designer who moved his family to California when Mr Emhoff was a teenager.

Currently, he works at DLA Piper, an international law firm which has offices in the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar.

3. Relationship with Kamala Harris

In an interview earlier this year, Mr Emhoff said he met his future wife on a blind date.

After getting her number, he left his now wife a voicemail introducing himself, which she now plays every year on their anniversary.

They married in 2014 and although they have not had children, Mr Emhoff has two from a previous marriage.

In the past seven years or so, he has strongly supported his wife, even calling her a "warrior" in the interview.

4. Extended family

Mr Emhoff's’ former wife, Kersten, is a staunch supporter of Ms Harris, even going on the campaign trail for her.

The feeling seems mutual, as Ms Harris dedicated a poem to Kirsten for Mother’s Day.

The two families have a close relationship and spend the Thanksgiving holiday together, Mr Emhoff said in the interview.

5. Online profile

Mr Emhoff has recently established a large Twitter following with more than 530,000 followers.

Here, he constantly and consistently publishes pro-Harris content, including a photo of the pair hugging after the announcement was made that Joe Biden won the election.

It is unclear whether he will continue to practise law, or take on other responsibilities as Ms Harris’ spouse in the White House.