In a strong rebuttal to recent sexist criticisms, Kerstin Emhoff, ex-wife of second gentleman Doug Emhoff, has come out in defense of Vice President Kamala Harris. Emhoff addressed the criticisms targeting Harris’s lack of biological children, labeling them as “baseless” and expressing her appreciation for Harris’s role in their blended family.
“These are baseless attacks.For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and I,” Emhoff said in a statement. “She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present. I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it.”

Emhoff’s statement comes in response to resurfaced comments from Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance. In a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson, Vance criticized several public figures, including Harris, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, calling them “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives.”
“It’s just a basic fact — you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC — the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children,” Vance remarked.
Kerstin Emhoff, a prominent film producer, shares two children, Cole and Ella, with Doug Emhoff. Harris has embraced her role as stepmother, with the children affectionately calling her “Momala.”