President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, endorsing Jamaican-American Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.
In a social media post, Biden wrote, “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 of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
If Harris runs and wins in November, she would make history as the first female, first Caribbean-American, and first Asian-American to be elected President of the United States.
Despite facing low approval ratings during her tenure as vice president, Harris’ supporters highlight her advocacy for reproductive rights, her appeal among black voters, and her background as a prosecutor. This background may prove advantageous as she runs against a now-convicted felon.
Harris, a former senator from California, began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and became the district attorney of San Francisco in 2003. She was later elected as the first woman and first black person to serve as California’s attorney general. In 2017, she was elected as California’s junior US senator, earning a reputation as one of the Democratic Party’s rising stars.
Harris’ initial presidential campaign in 2020 was unsuccessful, but she was later selected by Joe Biden as his running mate.
Kamala Harris’ background
Born in 1964 to parents active in the civil rights movement, Harris was raised by her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, an Indian immigrant, and her father, Donald Harris, a Jamaican immigrant. Her parents met at the University of California, Berkeley, a hub of 1960s activism. Harris often speaks of her late mother as the most important influence in her life.
Kamala Harris identifies as a Black woman, reflecting the upbringing instilled by her mother. She attended Howard University, a historically Black college, and pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s first sorority created by and for Black women.
Throughout her career, Harris has campaigned at HBCUs and addressed issues important to young Black men and women, advocating for strong measures to dismantle systemic racism.
Married to Doug Emhoff, a Jewish man, Harris is also a stepmother, affectionately called “Momala” by Emhoff’s children from a previous marriage.
Read: President Biden drops out of 2024 US presidential race
