The First Second—And Jewish—Gentleman, Doug Emhoff, Will Put His Career On Hold To Support His Wife, Vice-President Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff said he will put his career on hold and serve as America’s first Second Gentleman.

In an article written by Emhoff for GQ magazine, he said, “The moment I met Kamala, I knew I was in love. Not just because of who she is—the warm, funny and compassionate woman who grounds our family—but also because of the deep resolve with which she fights for the causes she believes in. As we built our lives together, we began joining our families and traditions. And though I had always admired and supported her work, until recently, our professional lives had remained separate worlds.”

He added, “That changed the day Joe Biden called and asked her to join the ticket as his running mate. On that day, it quickly became clear that this wasn’t just about my love for my wife, but also about my love for this country. Stepping back from my career as an entertainment lawyer was a decision that we made together—this was about something bigger than either of us.”

During the presidential race, Emhoff was the dutiful political spouse. He will play the same role now, as Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office on Wednesday.

The 56-year-old Emhoff is putting a pause on his successful career as an entertainment lawyer at the premier law firm, DLA Piper. He resigned from his law practice to avoid any appearance of conflicts and to be available to help his wife.

Emhoff, who is also the first Jewish Second Gentleman, will follow the advice of President Joe Biden when he told him, “Doug, you’re going to have to learn what it means to be a barrier-breaker yourself.” It’s become commonplace for women to be the primary money-earner in the family. Seeing this take place on the larger stage sends a strong message to the world. “I might be the first Second Gentleman, but I don’t want to be the last,’” wrote Emhoff in the GQ piece.