Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has selected California Senator, Kamala Harris, as his running mate in the 2020 election. This monumental decision marks the first time a Black and Asian-American woman has run on a major political party ticket.
Who is Kamala Harris?
Kamala Harris was sworn in as the United State Senator of California in 2017 and serves on “the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on the Budget.” She was the former attorney general of California and former San Francisco district attorney. Harris has devoted her time in politics to fighting injustice which was inspired by her Indian-American immigrant mother who was an activist and breast cancer researcher. Harris also ran for president but ended her campaign at the end of 2019.
10 Things to Know About Kamala Harris
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She was born in October 20, 1964 (55 years old)
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She is of Jamaican and Indian descent, born to immigrant parents
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She graduated from Howard University with a B.A. in Political Science and Economics then attended University of California, Hastings College of the Law where she earned a law degree.
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She is the First African-American, first woman and first Asian-American to become attorney general of California
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She is the First South Asian-American attorney general in the nation
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She is the First African-American woman to represent California in the Senate
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In 2019, Harris published her memoir, “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey,” and a picture book, “Superheroes Are Everywhere”
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One of her achievements as district attorney of San Francisco included a program she started that offered first-time drug offenders the chance to earn a high school diploma and find employment.
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In 2012, her first year as California attorney general and during the financial housing crisis, “she won a historic mortgage settlement case that helped more than 84,000 California families” where she brokered a $25 million settlement deal with the nation’s five largest mortgage companies citing improper foreclosure practices.
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A major focus during her time as attorney general was prosecuting transnational gangs that committed drug and human trafficking crimes.
What does Kamala Harris stand for?
Kamala Harris has positioned herself as a candidate who can appeal to both progressives and moderates, largely attributed to her identity as a Black and Asian-American woman, with policies focused on incremental and targeted results that would assist the marginalized communities in the United States. Harris considered herself a “progressive prosecutor” and leaned left on issues like gay marriage and the death penalty but not enough to the satisfaction of liberals. She is considered to be more moderate in her policies compared to Democratic progressives.
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The key policy issues that have plagued 2020 and have largely influenced the decision-making and emotional processing of both policy-makers and American citizens are the COVID-19 response, police brutality and misconduct, and racial injustice.
“When we want to reform systems, it shouldn’t and it can’t only be from the outside on bended knee or trying to break down the door,” she told The Times early in her campaign.
Racial Justice
Harris takes a stance against racial injustice by outlining her vision to end mass incarceration, “cash bail and the death penalty; creating a national police systems review board; making attending historically Black colleges and universities debt-free for students,” just to name a few.
In the wake of the unjust murder of George Floyd, Harris introduced the Justice in Policing Act this summer and spoke out in support of lynching to be considered a federal crime.
Business and Health Care
Harris has come out in support of Medicare for all Americans “but it kept a significant role for health insurance companies by allowing people to choose private plans modeled on Medicare Advantage.” Like Biden, she has called for an increase in taxes for wealthy corporations and households, while raising the national hourly minimum wage to $15/hour and empowering labor unions.
Other Issues
Harris has commented on the teacher wage gap where she proposed pay raises averaging $13,500. Additionally, she has committed to pushing gun control measures that seek mandatory background checks and closing loopholes that allow domestic abusers to gain easy access to firearms. Harris has teamed with Sen. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York “to propose legislation that would establish an independent Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Accountability and rate environmental laws and rules based on their impact on low-income communities.” Finally, Harris has introduced a legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $6,000 for middle-class and working families.
The Significance Behind the Biden-Harris Campaign
Biden’s choice for his Vice President has garnered major media attention, praise, and criticism from all parties across the board. His choice in selecting a female Black and Asian-American candidate with close ties to law enforcement has been considered a strategic move especially during a time of social and political unrest in the United States. Kamala Harris, who is almost 20 years younger than Biden, represents those in historically marginalized groups, women and people of color, which sharply contrasts Joe Biden, an older white man, in an unlikely partnership but with a promised commitment to lead the United States should they win. Their challenge now will be to unite a Democratic coalition that can bring in some of the voters Mr. Trump has put off, while motivating young people and progressives who may not see this ticket as representing their ambitions. The elections this year may be the most significant and controversial of all. Not only was Harris selected because she is a highly ambitious and qualified candidate, but because many believe she answers the question of which candidate could confidently lead this nation as a potential successor in the White House.
What do you think of Biden’s running mate pick? Let us know in the comments!
For More Social Info, You Should Read:
Kamala Harris Made History As The First Vice President To Attend A Pride Parade
