Who is Maya Harris? How is she related to Kamala Harris?

Maya Harris has focused her career on policy, civil rights, and issues of racial and gender justice.

Maya Harris, the younger sister of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, has been a significant influence in her sister's life and career. Recently, she addressed the attendees of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, reflecting on their relationship and the legacy of their late mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris. During her speech, Maya highlighted how their mother instilled in them the belief that they "could be and do anything," a principle that Kamala Harris has carried throughout her career. "She knew that we could be the authors of our own story," Maya said, praising her sister for "fighting for each of us to have that freedom."

Maya has played a major role in her sister's professional life, particularly as the campaign chairperson during Kamala Harris' first presidential run in 2020. Her involvement in politics extends beyond her sister's campaign; she also served as a senior policy advisor to Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential bid, where she led a team of policy experts and developed Clinton's domestic policies.

Maya Harris is a Stanford Law School graduate who has focused her career on policy, civil rights, and issues of racial and gender justice. She has held various notable positions, including being a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and the vice president of democracy, rights, and justice at the Ford Foundation. Additionally, she served as the executive director of the ACLU of Northern California.

On a personal note, Maya is a mother and grandmother, often sharing moments with her family on social media. She has one daughter, Meena, and two granddaughters, Amara and Leela.