A resurfaced piece of ABC News footage from 1995 captures a young Kamala Harris being asked about her relationship with Willie Brown, the then-mayor of San Francisco.
The video, originally part of a Daily Mail profile on Brown, has gained renewed attention as Harris prepares for her first debate against Donald Trump.
In the clip, a reporter asks Harris, who was 29 at the time, if she is Brown's daughter. Harris, laughing, responds with a firm "No, I'm not." The footage highlights the 31-year age gap between Harris and Brown, who was 60 when they began dating.
Willie Brown was a prominent figure in California politics, serving as the speaker of the state legislature for 14 years. When he met Harris, he was considered the most powerful politician in California and was running for mayor of San Francisco.
Despite being married, Brown was estranged from his wife Blanche when he started dating Harris. Their relationship coincided with Brown's mayoral campaign, during which Harris was present at his election party, presenting him with a "Da Mayor" hat to celebrate his victory.
The relationship between Harris and Brown sparked speculation in San Francisco gossip columns about a potential marriage. However, Brown ended the relationship in December 1995, shortly after winning the mayoral election.
Since entering politics, Harris has made efforts to distance herself from her former relationship with Willie Brown.
In a 2003 magazine profile during her run for District Attorney of San Francisco, Harris emphatically stated: "Willie Brown is not going to be around. He's gone—hello people, move on."
This statement underscores Harris's desire to be recognized for her own merits rather than her past association with Brown. Notably, Harris's memoir, first published in 2018, makes no mention of Willie Brown.
The resurfaced video has reignited discussions about Harris's early career and political connections. While Harris has long moved past her relationship with Brown, marrying Douglas Emhoff in August 2014, the footage serves as a reminder of her early days in San Francisco politics.
Brown, now 90 years old, occasionally comments on Harris, although she has consistently tried to distance herself from him since launching her political career. The video's circulation, just hours before Harris's debate with Trump, highlights the continued scrutiny of her past relationships and political beginnings.
The unearthed footage from 1995 shows a young Kamala Harris being questioned about her relationship with Willie Brown, then 60 years old and running for mayor of San Francisco. Harris, at 29, denied being Brown's daughter in the clip.
The video has resurfaced as Harris prepares for a debate with Donald Trump, reigniting discussions about her early political connections. Despite Harris's efforts to distance herself from Brown since entering politics, the footage remains a point of interest in her political narrative.
