August 13, 2020

Joe Biden chooses Sen. Kamala Harris as running mate

Former Vice President Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate, making good on his months-long promise to choose a woman to be the vice presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket.

Harris, D-Calif., was Biden's competitor in the Democratic primary, but dropped out of the race in December. She endorsed the former vice president in March.

"I have the great honor to announce that I've picked @KamalaHarris -- a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country's finest public servants -- as my running mate," Biden tweeted Tuesday.

"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."

During a March Democratic primary debate, Biden committed to picking a woman to be his vice presidential candidate. With the announcement, Harris became the third woman to run as vice president on a major party's ticket.

Then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was the late Sen. John McCain's pick in 2008 and Geraldine Ferraro ran with Walter Mondale in 1984. Several other women have run for vice president on third-party tickets in the Green, Libertarian, Reform, New Alliance, Progressive and Citizens parties.

If Biden wins the Nov. 3 election, Harris would be the first woman in history to serve as vice president of the United States. She would also the first Black and first Asian woman to be second-in-command.

Biden's selection came after an intense vetting process that at one point included more than a dozen candidates, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth, Reps. Karen Bass and Val Demings, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, former national security adviser Susan Rice and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan.

In recent elections, presumptive presidential nominees usually announced their chosen running mate ahead of their party's convention. The Democratic National Convention, which will be held remotely this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is scheduled for Monday through Aug. 20. Biden is slated to give his acceptance speech Aug. 20 from his Delaware home, and it's likely Harris also will make an appearance in some capacity.

Biden's campaign began the vetting process for potential running mates in May, led by a committee including Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., former Sen. Chris Dodd, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and attorney and adviser Cynthia Hogan.

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