Who is Kamala Harris and what is her connection to Wisconsin? Vice president’s age, ethnicity, parents

Vice President Kamala Harris is on track to become the new Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden on Sunday announced his decision to drop out of the race.

Harris plans to visit Milwaukee Tuesday, the state’s largest, blue city that will be critical to her campaign. But Harris also has ties to Madison, also a crucial hub of Democratic voters.

Here’s what to know about Harris’ ties to Wisconsin.

Did Kamala Harris grow up in Wisconsin?

From the ages of 3 to 5, Harris lived on the west side of Madison, before leaving in 1970. Harris visited her childhood home when she campaigned in Madison in March.

At that event, Harris said the home had been renovated from the “cabin” it was when she had lived there, and stood with the current homeowner on the back patio overlooking Lake Mendota. 

“I don’t remember the house as much as I remember the path down to the lake,” she told reporters. “Welcome to my Madison roots.”

Harris told the crowd at the campaign event that the thing she remembered most was Lake Mendota.

“So I do feel a very strong personal connection, and I’m very happy to be here with all of you doing the work we’re going to do together,” Harris said.

More: Kamala Harris rallies voters, and works in a visit to her childhood home, in return to Madison

Kamala Harris was born in California, but considers herself a Madison native

In 2018, Harris joined Sen. Tammy Baldwin at a rally in the state’s capital where she told the crowd she was a Madison “native,” Madison365 reported.

“Little-known fact: I lived in Madison,” Harris said. She added the rally was “kinda personal” for her.

Harris was born in Oakland, California. She also lived in Illinois before her few years living in Madison.

Did Kamala Harris’ parents work at UW-Madison?

Both of Harris’ parents worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during her childhood.

At the time, her father, Donald Harris, was an associate professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, worked as a breast cancer researcher in the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research.

In her autobiography, “The Truths We Hold,” Harris cited the move to Madison as the reason for her parents’ separation.

More: Kamala Harris won’t get her moment in Milwaukee — but her roots are deeper in the state than some realize

Where did Kamala Harris go to school?

While she has connections to Madison, Harris is not a Badger.

Kamala Harris studied political science and economics at Howard University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in 1986. She earned a law degree in 1989 from the University of California, Berkeley Hastings College of Law.

What is Kamala Harris’ ethnic background?

Her father was born in Jamaica and her mother was born in India. Harris is the first woman and the first African American and the first person of South Asian descent to be vice president.

How old is Kamala Harris?

Harris, born on Oct. 20, 1964, is 59 years old.

USA TODAY and Lawrence Andrea of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.