How Do Karen Pence And Doug Emhoff Campaign? What The Spouses Contribute Ahead Of Mike Pence-Kamala Harris Debate

Vice President Mike Pence and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris are set to debate Wednesday evening in Salt Lake City. It will be the first and only debate between the two running mates.

What the two politicians have in common is that their spouses have played a sizable role in the 2020 race. Both second lady Karen Pence and Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, have been visible on the campaign trail on behalf of their spouse's campaign. Both have also avoided being a distraction on the campaigns, taking supportive roles but not making any effort to steal the spotlight.

Karen Pence, a 63-year-old schoolteacher, has frequently stumped for her husband’s reelection campaign. In September, she attended “Women For Trump” and “Evangelicals For Trump” events in Michigan. That same month, she visited Arizona to encourage support for military families and spouses.

But hitting the campaign trail is nothing new for Karen Pence.

"I’ve been campaigning since 1987 so it’s kind of funny for people to think that I’m suddenly campaigning. It may have that appearance, though, to people," she told USA Today in November 2019.

"Actually, it’s been kind of fun. I think now the campaign is starting to realize that I want to be part of the campaign. I want to go and do what I can and do my part. And so they’re sending things my way more and more."

Mike and Karen Pence have been married for 34 years and are seen as an inseparable couple. The 61-year-old vice president met his wife while attending a Catholic church in Indianapolis. The couple later becoming Evangelicals.

The Pences have three children: Michael, Charlotte and Audrey.

Doug Emhoff, a 55-year-old attorney, has teamed up with Joe Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, to campaign on behalf of their spouses. The two have recently visited Iowa and New Hampshire.

Emhoff, who is Jewish, has made an effort to rally Jewish voters behind the Biden campaign in the key swing states of Florida and Ohio. On Monday, Emhoff attended campaign events in South Texas.

“I’m just working night and day, 24/7, running through walls, crawling over glass to help them win,” Emhoff told Marie Claire.

He added that "I’m just a guy. I’m not a politician."

Emhoff, who has two children from his first marriage, married Harris in 2014. He would become the first second gentleman of the United States if the Biden-Harris ticket wins in November.

The Harris-Pence debate comes amid at an outbreak within the Trump administration. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump both tested positive for COVID-19, along with a host of other officials in the Trump administration.

Harris has requested a plexiglass barrier for their debate, due to Mike Pence’s possible exposure to Trump.

The Centers for Disease Control has cleared Mike Pence to attend the debate. Karen Pence has also tested negative for the virus.