Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) once again made history by becoming the first Black woman to sit on a presidential ticket, when former Vice President and current Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced her as his running mate last night (August 11) via Twitter.
Calling Harris “a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants,” Biden also tweeted about Harris’ stint as California’s attorney general: “I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people and protected women and kids from abuse.”
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.
rn— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 11, 2020
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In one of her responses, Harris tweeted her recognition of this moment, where, by her sheer existence she represents intersecting populations that have long been ignored and marginalized: women, people of color and children of Black and brown immigrants. “Black women and women of color have long been underrepresented in elected office and in November we have an opportunity to change that,” she tweeted.
Black women and women of color have long been underrepresented in elected office and in November we have an opportunity to change that. Let’s get to work.https://t.co/aiVwuBrwqR
rn— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 11, 2020
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Harris’ bio is one of a budding political legend. In addition to being the eldest daughter of two immigrant parents (her father is from Jamaica and her mother is from India), she was raised by a single mom in Oakland; graduated from an HBCU, Howard University; was the first Black person and the first woman elected as California’s attorney general in 2011; and, in 2017, became the second Black woman and first South Asian-American to join the senate in U.S. history. Of course, she was the only Black woman to run for this year’s top political seat, in a crowded Democratic primary that at one time had more than 20 people vying for votes.
Once the news broke, after much speculation, politicians and pundits took to social media to congratulate Harris on the historic achievement, including former president Barack Obama, who knows all about breaking boundaries:
I’ve known Senator @KamalaHarris for a long time. She is more than prepared for the job. She’s spent her career defending our Constitution and fighting for folks who need a fair shake. This is a good day for our country. Now let’s go win this thing. pic.twitter.com/duJhFhWp6g
rn— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 11, 2020
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I am thrilled that @KamalaHarris, a @HowardU alumna, who was the first Black woman attorney general in the country, will now have the opportunity to help lead this nation with @JoeBiden.
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rnShe’s going to make a great vice president of these United States. https://t.co/7sTIUEPwt8rn— Tish James (@TishJames) August 12, 2020
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I’m proud to call @KamalaHarris my dear friend and sister—and next year, I’ll be even more proud to call her our Vice President.
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rnThis is history. Kamala is a trailblazer who will serve this country well as the first Black and Asian American woman on a major party’s ticket. pic.twitter.com/zUlL2TXkJ3rn— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) August 11, 2020
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Congratulations to @kamalaharris and @JoeBiden on a fantasic and historic ticket. Now, let’s go win! https://t.co/gspoW29xUb
rn— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) August 11, 2020
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We are waiting to counter your silly attacks. https://t.co/vFQtpSAeT6
rn— Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) August 12, 2020
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I’ve known Senator @KamalaHarris for a long time. She is more than prepared for the job. She’s spent her career defending our Constitution and fighting for folks who need a fair shake. This is a good day for our country. Now let’s go win this thing. pic.twitter.com/duJhFhWp6g
rn— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 11, 2020
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I am thrilled that @KamalaHarris, a @HowardU alumna, who was the first Black woman attorney general in the country, will now have the opportunity to help lead this nation with @JoeBiden.
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rnShe’s going to make a great vice president of these United States. https://t.co/7sTIUEPwt8rn— Tish James (@TishJames) August 12, 2020
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I’m proud to call @KamalaHarris my dear friend and sister—and next year, I’ll be even more proud to call her our Vice President.
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rnThis is history. Kamala is a trailblazer who will serve this country well as the first Black and Asian American woman on a major party’s ticket. pic.twitter.com/zUlL2TXkJ3rn— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) August 11, 2020
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Congratulations to @kamalaharris and @JoeBiden on a fantasic and historic ticket. Now, let’s go win! https://t.co/gspoW29xUb
rn— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) August 11, 2020
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We are waiting to counter your silly attacks. https://t.co/vFQtpSAeT6
rn— Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) August 12, 2020
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(1/2) Was there ever more of an exciting day? For our entire country of course, but especially for my Black and Indian sisters, many of us who have gone our entire lives thinking that someone who looks like us may never hold high office? We work so hard and contribute to the pic.twitter.com/LpG0DvsGuT
rn— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) August 11, 2020
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