Senator Kamala Harris Becomes First Black Woman Named V-P Candidate

Senator Kamala Harris became the first Black woman named as the vice-presidential nominee on a major party ticket. Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, secured a crucial bloc of his party’s base and kept a campaign promise to select a woman by naming Harris as his running mate. 

“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 tweeted.

For weeks political pundits and women’s groups weighed in on the choice for the second spot on the Democrats’ slate for the 2020 Presidential race. In March when Biden pledged to add a woman as his running mate, he significantly narrowed the field of possible candidates for the position. And, as the issue of race rose to the forefront of the national dialogue after the murder of George Floyd by a former Minneapolis police officer and protests spread around the nation, selecting a woman of color became both a practical and aspirational decision.

“Such a choice is within the current unfolding of Black politics/BLM and the necessary step of tuning in to women and politics as well,” stated Dr. Shayla Nunnally who teaches American Politics, Race and Politics, and African American Politics. 

During the conversations about possible candidates, the California Senator’s name was included on many short lists for her moderate views and national profile. Former United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice, Florida Congresswoman Val Demings, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer were also vetted for the ticket.   

A group of prominent African American women affiliated with “Sisters Lead Sisters Vote” recently published a letter urging Biden to choose a Black woman running mate.

“It is a fact that the road to the White House is powered by Black women and Black women are the key to a Democratic victory in 2020,” they wrote. “Black women are not only the most loyal voters for the Democratic party — we are key to igniting Black voters across all demographics to show up in record numbers. There has not been a Democratic presidential nominee in over 40 years that has won the White House without Black women’s leadership and vote — including President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, and President Jimmy Carter.”

And, on Monday more than 100 Black men signed an open letter, advocating for a Black woman as Biden’s running mate. Among those signing the letter were Civil Rights attorney, Benjamin Crump, actor and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs along with CNN commentators, Van Jones and Bakari Sellers.