Joe Biden has named Kamala Harris as his running mate. She is the first Black and South Asian American woman to run on a major political party’s presidential ticket.
“I’ve decided that Kamala Harris is the best person to help me take this fight to Donald Trump and Mike Pence and then to lead this nation starting in January 2021,” the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee wrote in an email Tuesday.
The two of them are going to appear together for the first time for a speech Wednesday in Wilmington, Delaware, home states of Joe Biden. The California senator is the former Democratic primary candidate who centered her campaign to take on Donald Trump and show Americans she would fight for them.
Kamala Harris was not the only candidate for the job. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Harris and former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice were among the others seen as the most serious contenders. The former vice president spoke directly to the final contenders, according to people familiar with the process, through either face-to-face meetings or remote conversations.
Immediately after the announcement many welcomed the decision, seeing her multi-racial background as the child of two immigrants to the United States, as a complement to Biden and a symbol of a changing America.
Progressives also quickly welcomed Harris to the Democratic ticket. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders tweeted that Harris “will make history as our next Vice President.”
“She understands what it takes to stand up for working people, fight for health care for all and take down the most corrupt administration in history. Let’s get to work and win,” he said.
