During an election cycle in the United States, voters are constantly exposed to visuals of the candidates—addressing crowds, engaging with supporters, and descending from planes. However, a closer look reveals their formative years and backgrounds. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump both appear in photographs from their early childhoods, unaware of their future political paths.

Harris, the Democratic nominee, grew up in Oakland, California, while Trump, the Republican nominee, was raised in Queens, New York. Kamala was primarily raised by her Indian mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who was a cancer researcher and social activist. In contrast, Trump’s roots trace back to Germany and Scotland, with his father Fred Trump being the son of German immigrants and his mother Mary Anne MacLeod hailing from Scotland; he attended New York Military Academy starting at age 13.

Harris spent five years studying in Montreal when her mother accepted a teaching position at McGill University. She later attended Howard University in Washington D.C., a historically black college. Trump has claimed that his experience at military academy instilled leadership qualities in him; however, he avoided serving in Vietnam due to multiple deferments—four for educational reasons and one for a medical issue.

From a young age, Harris was influenced by her mother’s teachings about civil rights and took part in the annual Martin Luther King Jr Freedom March in 2004. After graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Trump became poised to take over the family business. Meanwhile, Harris returned to California and rapidly advanced within the state’s criminal justice system as attorney general before successfully running for the U.S. Senate in 2016.

While she entered Congress that same year, Trump made headlines by defeating Hillary Clinton to become president. In 2019, Harris’s presidential campaign did not gain significant traction; however, Joe Biden selected her as his running mate when he won the Democratic primary. Together they triumphed over Trump and Mike Pence.

The transition from Trump’s presidency to Biden-Harris administration faced challenges including COVID-19 lockdowns and civil unrest following George Floyd’s death. While initially struggling as vice president to carve out her role, Harris found her focus when the Supreme Court overturned abortion rights in 2022, becoming a key advocate for pro-choice policies.

In contrast, Trump’s presidency saw him appointing conservative judges who influenced rulings like this one while distancing America from international agreements and tightening immigration policies. His first official overseas trip was to Saudi Arabia in 2017.

As vice president, Harris’s initial international engagement included a visit to Guatemala aimed at addressing migration issues from Central America. Her tenure has also involved navigating foreign policy challenges such as conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

Harris is married to Doug Emhoff and embraces her role as stepmother to his two children while navigating her political journey as she prepares for another presidential run after Biden’s withdrawal. She aims to make history as the first woman of color leading a major party ticket while Trump seeks another nomination after previously making history himself by running again post-presidency.