All about Ella and Cole Emhoff, the stepkids of Kamala Harris who call her Momala

Kamala Harris, the US Vice President and Democratic nominee for the 2024 Presidential election, has two stepchildren: Ella Emhoff and Cole Emhoff. She became their stepmother in 2014 when she married Doug Emhoff. This wedding blended Harris' first marriage with Doug's second, as he shares these adult children with his ex-wife, Kerstin Emhoff.

Ella and Cole refer to Harris as "Momala," a term of endearment distinct from "stepmom." At the time of their wedding, Ella was still in high school, while 20-year-old Cole was at Colorado College, where he would go on to earn a Psychology degree in 2017.

Cole now works for Plan B Entertainment, a production company co-founded by Brad Pitt. The company has produced acclaimed films such as "The Departed" (2006), "12 Years A Slave" (2013), and "Moonlight" (2016), as well as forthcoming projects like "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" and Netflix's "The Killer" and "3 Body Problem." According to Elle, Cole recently married production development manager Greenley Littlejohn, in a ceremony officiated by Kamala Harris.


Ella Emhoff is pursuing a career in fashion and design. She modeled and gained significant attention at the Biden/Harris 2021 inauguration, wearing a gem-covered Miu Miu coat. A week later, she signed with IMG Models Worldwide. She made her Met Gala debut in 2021, the same year she graduated from the Parsons School of Design in New York City.

An active knitter, Ella founded the Soft Hands Knit Club in New York City to explore opportunities in fashion, design, creative consulting, and hosting events. Her impact on fashion was recognized by Harper's Bazaar, which named her to its 2023 list of icons.

In a 2019 essay for Elle, Kamala Harris shared the story behind her stepchildren's names. Cole was named in honor of saxophonist John Coltrane, while Ella was named after jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.