Vice President Kamala Harris has announced her intention to seek the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden stepped aside and endorsed her.
This is a historic bid, as she could become the first Black woman to lead a major political party’s ticket.
In her first speech after her endorsement, she said: “I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said in a statement.
Biden’s endorsed Harris after he decided to drop his re-election bid. His decision came after a poor performance in the first presidential election debate that raised doubts about his ability to win a second term and govern effectively.
“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee,” Biden stated.
Despite Biden’s backing, it remains unclear if Harris will secure the nomination.
Some Democrats have called for an open nomination process, while others work to solidify Harris’s path.
Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison stated that the party will “undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November.”
Logistically, Harris, as Biden’s running mate, is the natural heir to the ticket. The Biden-Harris campaign has already amended filings with the Federal Election Commission to rename its principal committee “Harris for President.”
Harris has dealt with challenging issues like voting rights and immigration as a Vice President. She has faced criticism from these topics. Recent events have seen Harris gain praise from within her party.
Prominent Democrats, including the Congressional Black Caucus PAC and Bill and Hillary Clinton, have rallied behind Harris. Her supporters have been working behind the scenes to secure delegate support, ensuring she is well-positioned if Biden steps aside.
LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter Said: “We are grateful for President Biden’s service and ecstatic that he has put his endorsement behind Vice President Kamala Harris. We expect the full Democratic apparatus to do the same and if they don’t, they will lose this election.”
Harris began her journey as a deputy district attorney. Harris served as district attorney for San Francisco and later as California’s attorney general, becoming the first woman, first Black person, and first Asian American to hold the position.
In 2016, Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate, known for her prosecutorial questioning style during hearings.
In January 2019, she entered the Democratic presidential primary, but she later dropped out.
Harris became a prominent and was named Biden’s vice presidential pick in August 2020.
[…] Trump had refused to debate Harris, who is currently the vice president and the likely Democratic nominee for the November election, citing that she was not the official […]