Vice President Kamala Harris’ emergence as the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination is a historic moment for the United States, as she seems poised to become the first Black woman and Asian American to lead a major party ticket.
The 2024 general election will be the first since 1976 that does not include someone named Bush, Clinton or Biden on the ticket.
Harris quickly garnered support from influential Democrats and raised a record $81 million within 24 hours of President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race. From Sunday to Tuesday evening, Team Harris raised $126 million since the endorsement.
She is preparing for her most significant moment yet, as she hits the ground running and makes the case for why voters should elect her the next president.
VIDEO: Who is Kamala Harris?
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Her story began in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a first-generation American, born to an Indian mother and a Jamaican father who divorced when she was 6 years old.
She attended law school at UC Law San Francisco. She worked her way up the political chain, first as deputy district attorney in Oakland in the 1990s, prosecuting gang violence, drug trafficking and sexual abuse cases. In 2004, she became the first woman to serve as the district attorney in San Francisco. She later became California’s first female and person of color to be elected as attorney general before joining the U.S. Senate in 2017.
Harris gained recognition for her work on the judicial and intelligence committees. She held a strong stance on civil rights and abortion rights, which she questioned future Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh about during his nomination hearing.
Harris ran for president in 2019. Although she was not elected as the Democratic nominee. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in debating Harris in 2019 criticized her, for example, saying there’s no excuse for her record as a prosecutor and she owed an apology to those who suffered under her reign.
Harris oversaw more than 1,900 marijuana convictions in San Francisco, according to previously unreported records, which became a point of criticism. Her critics pointed to her prosecutors appearing to convict people on marijuana charges at a higher rate than her predecessor, based on city data.
After she dropped out of the race in 2019, Biden chose her as his running mate.
Five years later, she now has the opportunity to become president of the United States.
“My biggest thing is making sure that Trump doesn’t get in the White House,” David Brown, a Democratic voter, said in an AP interview. “But I would want to know what her policies are, that’s the big thing for me.”
Harris has secured commitments from enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee if they all honor their commitment when voting, according to ABC News reporting.
And now speculation is turning to who her running mate would be – with prominent figures in battleground states rising to the top, such as Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
VIDEO: Who could be Kamala Harris’ running mate?
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“Harris’ team, they’re already talking about picking someone from a potential swing state, somebody who hails from one of these critical states that Harris would need to win the presidency,” said Rachael Bade, a Politico reporter and an ABC News contributor. “They’re trying to figure out a way that she can extend her reach beyond her typical base.”
Other potential running mates for Harris are Governors Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Roy Cooper of North Carolina.
Though a source familiar tells ABC News’ Mary Bruce the pool is roughly 12 people being considered for Harris’ running mate. Harris is expected to make her announcement by Aug. 7.
Without wasting any time, Harris’ team is launching their first campaign ad hammering Republicans over their anti-abortion rights position.
As Harris steps into the spotlight, she will face criticisms of her past — from Republicans over issues like immigration and Democrats wary of her time as a prosecutor.
Biden had tasked Harris with leading diplomatic efforts in 2021 to address the root causes of migration in three Central American countries. The White House has praised her work, but Republicans have strongly criticized her on the immigration issue.
During her first overseas trip as vice president, she advised Guatemalan migrants not to come to the U.S., which drew criticism from immigration advocates.
With the Democratic convention just weeks away in Chicago, Republicans are taking aim at the likely nominee. Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance made his first solo campaign appearance Monday and attacked Harris.
“If you want to lead this country, you should feel grateful for it,” Vance said. “You should feel a sense of gratitude and I never hear that gratitude come through when I listen to Kamala Harris.”
Vance took another jab at Harris and the Democratic Party at his rally in Virginia Monday evening.
VIDEO: Veepstakes: Kamala Harris ramps up her presidential campaign
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“A couple of elite Democrats got a smoke-filled room and decided to throw Joe Biden overboard,” Vance said. “That is not how it works. That is a threat to democracy.”
Trump has expressed frustration over restarting his campaign now that Biden has exited the race. While Republicans and the Trump campaign used Biden’s age as a problem, with Biden out of the race Trump is now the oldest presidential nominee in history.
Trump himself was once a supporter of Harris. He donated $6,000 to her campaign for reelection as California attorney general, including a $5,000 check.
Both campaigns are gearing up for a fight with only three months left before voters go to the polls.
“We have doors to knock on, we have people to talk to, we have phone calls to make, and we have an election to win,” Harris said Monday in Wilmington, Delaware.
In a historic turn of events, Kamala Harris is set to become the first female president of the United States following an endorsement from two influential political figures, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama. This groundbreaking announcement has sent shockwaves through the political landscape and has sparked a wave of excitement and anticipation among supporters of the Vice President.
Pelosi, a long-standing figure in the Democratic Party and a powerful force in Congress, made the endorsement during a press conference on Capitol Hill. She praised Harris for her leadership, intelligence, and dedication to serving the American people. Pelosi highlighted Harris’s experience as a former Attorney General of California and her strong track record of fighting for justice and equality.
Obama, who served as the 44th President of the United States, also threw his support behind Harris, citing her as a unifying figure who can bring the country together during these divisive times. He commended her for her resilience and determination in breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings.
The endorsement from Pelosi and Obama comes at a critical moment in American politics, as the country grapples with a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and social unrest. Many see Harris as a beacon of hope and a symbol of progress, with her historic election as Vice President already marking a significant milestone in American history.
Harris’s ascension to the presidency would not only be a historic moment for women and people of color but also a testament to the power of perseverance and determination. Throughout her career, Harris has faced numerous challenges and obstacles but has always remained steadfast in her commitment to serving the American people.
As the first female president, Harris would bring a fresh perspective and a new approach to governing, with a focus on inclusivity, equality, and justice for all. Her leadership style, characterized by empathy and compassion, has resonated with many Americans who are looking for a leader who can unite the country and address the pressing issues facing our nation.
With the endorsements from Pelosi and Obama, Harris’s path to the presidency seems more certain than ever. As she prepares to assume the highest office in the land, Harris will undoubtedly face many challenges and obstacles, but her supporters remain confident in her ability to lead with grace, dignity, and strength.
In conclusion, Kamala Harris’s impending presidency represents a historic moment in American history and a significant step forward for women and people of color in politics. With the support of influential figures like Pelosi and Obama, Harris is poised to make history once again and lead the country towards a brighter and more inclusive future.
