I have typically avoided discussing the spouses of presidential candidates, and I don’t spend much time reading about them either. The reason is that a person’s marriage has little to do with their governance, and voters do not elect spouses. However, I am looking forward to Doug Emhoff’s appearance this fall, as his role in this campaign is intriguing and potentially significant.
Emhoff’s potential role is particularly interesting because he will be stepping into a position that has never been held in American history — that of the first gentleman. While he is only the second man to be in this position, following Bill Clinton, it is important to note that Clinton was a former president and a distinct political figure whose main task during the 2016 campaign was to remain in the background.
Traditionally, aspiring first ladies have had to navigate a delicate balancing act in front of the public. They are expected to be strong individuals while also not overshadowing the candidates. They should convey passion and relatability one moment, then step back and show admiration the next.
In contrast, Emhoff’s balancing act will entail a different challenge. If I were crafting his speech, I would want him to express admiration for Kamala Harris, highlighting her warmth and sense of humor as a wife and stepmother, while also ensuring that he does not appear completely overshadowed by her. It is crucial for American men to see Harris positively through her husband’s eyes without viewing Emhoff as an untrustworthy subordinate figure.
What makes Emhoff’s role potentially pivotal for the campaign extends beyond gender to issues of race and ethnicity. It’s a complex topic, as race relations in the United States are often shadowed by unspoken words during private conversations. My Black friends often believe that White people have different discussions about race when alone, and many White individuals assume the same about Black Americans.
Barack Obama was able to bridge this gap by emphasizing his White heritage, while he was not burdened by the stereotype of the “angry Black woman.”
It’s likely that many White men who are undecided about voting for former President Donald Trump may harbor suspicions about a Black female prosecutor like Harris, believing she might hold negative views of them.
Simultaneously, Harris must also address the concerns of American Jews, a crucial voting demographic for the Democrats. She has been vocal about human rights violations during the Israel-Gaza conflict, which may raise questions among American Jews, especially older ones, about her stance on Israel.
In both scenarios, Emhoff can serve as a vital validator for Harris. As a White man, he can help reassure other White voters that Harris does not harbor hidden resentments. Furthermore, as an American Jew who has spoken out against antisemitism, Emhoff is positioned to convey to Jewish voters that while Harris may criticize Israeli leadership, she does not harbor animosity towards Jews or the Jewish state.
Harris’s identity as a half-Black and half-Indian woman brings nuances to her experiences that she may not fully articulate. If any of us were to experience her life, our perspectives on race and power would likely be similarly complex. Emhoff’s task in the upcoming months will be to clarify this complexity and reassure White voters that a President Kamala Harris poses no threat, and if there were any cause for concern, he would certainly be aware of it.