US Election 2016: Kamala Harris makes history as California's new senator

State Attorney General Kamala Harris, 52, has made history by being elected California's new US senator in 24 years. Born to parents of Indian and Jamaican origin, Harris was the Democratic Party favourite. In fact, Harris was the first woman to be elected as California attorney general as well. She is seen as African American by the US media because of her mixed heritage.

Kamala Harris was born in Oakland and is the eldest of two daughters. She told NBC News, "My parents met at Berkeley. Mom was a scientist, and my father was a professor of economics. We grew up always being told that you have a responsibility to serve." Her parents were active in the Civil Rights movement.

She went to Howard University where she graduated in political science and economics. She went on to earn her juris doctorate at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Harris then moved on to working in law in California as Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County, California. In 2003, she was elected District Attorney of San Francisco and served two terms before she became in Attorney General in 2011.

Some of the issues that Harris works closely on are criminal justice and immigration reform, creating good-paying jobs, enacting family leave and equal pay policies, college affordability and universal pre-kindergarten for children and tackling climate change.

She is very passionate about children's issues and told NBC News, "I've worked hard to protect and support children, and I've seen what happens when we don't," she said. "So I've developed this strong feeling that, as a community, we have a responsibility to make sure that every child is safe, is healthy and has access to a high quality education. We not only owe it to those children, but we owe it to the entire community."

Harris is married to attorney Doug Emhoff and among her friends is -- she is proud to state – current President Barack Obama.