The former wife of Doug Emhoff, husband of Kamala Harris, is defending the Democratic nominee for president from Republican attacks against her lack of biological children.
“These are baseless attacks,” Kerstin Emhoff told CNN in a statement. “ For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and I. She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present.”
The attacks against women Democratic leaders without children began after an old Tucker Carlson interview with Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance began circulating on social media. In it, Vance bashes Democratic leadership as “a bunch of childless cat ladies,”
Kerstin Emhoff was married to Doug Emhoff for 16 years, and the couple had two children together. After marrying Harris in 2014, Harris embraced her new stepchildren, even adopting the moniker “Momola.”
Read also: Pete Buttigieg slams J.D. Vance’s ‘childless’ attack
“I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it,” Kerstin Emhoff's statement said.
Even more people came to Harris' defense on X, including author Shelli Stevens.
"Kamala has kids. Stop saying she doesn’t.," Stevens wrote on X. "Stop with the childless cat comments. You’re diminishing step-parents love for their kids everywhere."
Another user, @Toepick5, said that "Kamala Harris not having children is a feature, not a bug.
"It’s a message to every girl and young woman that you get to CHOOSE," they wrote on X. "This is the last thing the patriarchy wants women to be able to do."
Yale lecturer Sushant Singh said Harris should use the "childless" criticisms to her advantage.
"She might add that getting pregnant is not a qualification for the White House," Singh wrote on X. "None of the previous 46 presidents gave birth."
