Doug Emhoff, the husband of Sen. Kamala Harris, is making plans to leave his private law practice by January to move into his presumptive new role at the White House.
Emhoff, 56, has said little about what he wants to focus on in his role, but Kim Nalder, a political science professor at California State University-Sacramento, told the Associated Press that him leaving his private ventures symbolizes a shift in gender roles.
“We’ve been waiting for this sort of gender switch for decades now,” Nalder said. “There is a lot of symbolism from a man stepping back from his high-powered career in order to support his wife’s career.”
In August, Emhoff took a leave of absence from the multinational law firm DLA Piper after Harris was named as now-presumptive President-elect Joe Biden’s running mate. He plans to cut ties with the firm permanently prior to Inauguration Day, set for Jan. 20.
Emhoff’s decision to leave may indicate the avoidance of ethical issues in a Biden administration, especially after controversies surrounded Biden’s family members over their business affairs. DLA Piper has a large lobbying presence for the federal government, often on behalf of Comcast, Raytheon, and the government of Puerto Rico.
However, Emhoff is not a lobbyist, and he spent most of his career as a high-profile entertainment lawyer in Southern California. He married Harris in 2014.
During Harris’s tenure as attorney general of California, Emhoff was the managing director for the West Coast branch of Venable LLP, focusing on trademark and intellectual property issues for clients in the entertainment industry. Some of his clients included Walmart and a Fresno-based arms dealer.
Emhoff moved to DLA Piper in 2017 when Harris embarked on her senatorial debut. The firm had a presence in Los Angeles and in Washington, D.C., where the couple split their time.
His break in gender norms mirrors Jill Biden’s desire to remain teaching while assuming the presumptive role of first lady. Biden would be the first first lady to work full time outside of the White House.
Regardless of Emhoff’s preparation for his new role, President Trump has yet to concede the election. His campaign has alleged that voter fraud took place in several states that infringed on his supporters. It has begun embarking on lawsuits in various states and is heading towards a recount in Wisconsin, which has 10 electoral votes. Little evidence of fraud has yet to be proven.
