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The Candidates

Kamala Harris (D), District Attorney, San Francisco (2004-2010)

In December 2003, Kamala Harris was elected as the first woman District Attorney in San Francisco's history, and the first African American woman and South Asian American woman in California to hold the office. She was overwhelmingly reelected to a second term in November 2007.

After growing up and attending public schools in the East Bay, her strong commitment to justice and public service led her to Howard University and then to the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Harris has brought much-needed consistency and innovation to the handling of narcotics and quality-of-life crimes. Her office has tripled the number of misdemeanor cases taken to trial, and Harris has assigned senior prosecutors to specialize in prosecuting graffiti, vandalism and auto burglaries. She has also launched unprecedented programs of outreach to San Francisco communities and brought free legal clinics to immigrant neighborhoods.

California's largest legal newspaper, The Daily Journal, designated Harris as one of the top 75 women litigators in California, as well as one of the top 100 lawyers in the state. She was recognized as a "Woman of Power" by the National Urban League and received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the National Black Prosecutors Association. She was selected as one of 24 elected leaders from throughout the country to serve as a Rodel Fellow with the Aspen Institute. Additionally, Harris was elected to the board of directors of the California District Attorneys Association and is a vice president of the National District Attorney's Association.