Joe Biden Has Named Kamala Harris As His Running Mate

Joe Biden has officially announced his running mate for the 2020 presidential election, naming California Democratic senator Kamala Harris as his pick for vice president. If elected, Harris will be the first Black woman and Asian American to hold that office.

“I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked Kamala Harris—a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate,” Biden, 77, wrote in a tweet on Tuesday afternoon. 

“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,” Biden continued via Twitter. “I was proud then, and I’m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.”

It’s a strategic pick for Biden; although he and Harris may have initially clashed on racial issues during the primary debates, the senator’s strong stance on inclusive politics and background gives the Democratic ticket some much-needed racial and generational diversity. 

Harris is currently the only Black woman in the U.S. Senate, and after running in the Democratic primaries herself, she dropped out of the race to publicly endorse Biden as a presidential candidate in March. Since then, many have speculated about her becoming Biden’s VP pick, especially after he announced on March 15th that his running mate would be female. 

National Security Adviser Susan Rice, who was also a contender for Vice President, tweeted her support for Harris, calling her a “tenacious and trailblazing leader.”

Congrats to Harris, and don’t forget to vote on November 3rd, 2020.