Democratic party presidential bet Joe Biden has named California senator Kamala Harris his running-mate, making her the first Black and South Asian-American woman on a major presidential ticket in U.S. history.
“I’ve decided that Kamala Harris is the best person to help me take this fight to Trump and Mike Pence and then to lead this nation starting in January 2021,” the Democratic presidential nominee stated in an email Tuesday.
Harris was elected back in 2017 as a senator, and she was the second African-American and first South Asian-American woman senator in history. She also served as California Attorney General, where during her tenure, was also the position held by Biden’s late son, Beau, in Delaware.
In a tweet by Biden, he described Harris as “a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants.”
“Back when Kamala was Attorney General, she worked closely with Beau. I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people, and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I’m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden
Before Harris’ selection, Biden made it known months ago that he is committed to picking a woman as his running mate.
In her first public statement after being named Biden as his vice-presidential running mate, Harris stated that she’s “honored” to be the Democrats’ presumptive nominee for the November polls. She also added that Biden “can unify the American people because he’s spent his life fighting” for the people.
Harris will be the third woman to run for a vice-presidential seat for a major political party, joining the likes of Geraldine Ferraro for the Democrats and Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential pick in 1984 and 2008, respectively.
She is currently on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Committee on the Judiciary, Committee on the Budget, and Select Committee on Intelligence. Harris has also been known as a public safety and civil rights leader.
The selection of Harris came at a crucial time when racial injustice has become an intense discussion for the country. After George Floyd’s monumental death, the Californian senator would play a considerable role in pushing for racial justice and police reform.
The Democratic reps are scheduled to make their first public appearance together as running-mates for a speech on Wednesday in Wilmington, Delaware.
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