On Tuesday afternoon, Joe Biden announced that 55-year-old Senator Kamala Harris will be the one to help him challenge Donald Trump at the polls on November 3, a historic move after numerous calls for him to choose a black running mate since historic protest movement against racism and police violence.
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“I have the great honor to announce that Kamala Harris, a fighter devoted to the courageous defense of the popular classes and one of the greatest servants of the state, will be my running mate,” tweeted the 77-year-old Democrat.
But who is Kamala Harris?
Here are 8 things to know about the Vice Presidential candidate.
- She is the first woman of color to be considered for the post of vice president
She is only the third woman to obtain this position, after Sarah Palin (2008) and Geraldine Ferraro (1984).
- She served two terms as Attorney General of California, between 2011 and 2017.
The one with a legal background had thus become the first woman, but also the first black person, to head the Department of Justice of the most populous American state.
- Despite this roadmap, he is criticized for having been tough and lacking leadership.
In 2004, she was opposed to the relaxation of the minimum penalties, which she nevertheless assured to want to reform when she campaigned last year for the Democratic nomination.
In 2010, she laughed at a question about the legalization of cannabis, an iconic issue in California, which ended up adopting it in 2018.
“In California, Kamala Harris had the reputation of a prosecutor who waited rather than she showed the way, who only moved on controversial subjects when she saw that they were politically viable”, summed up the daily last month. Sacramento Bee.
Across the nation, some black and progressive voters criticize him for his harshness. As a prosecutor, she made various punitive decisions against petty crimes, such as drug possession, which her critics say have primarily affected minorities.
In 2015, she refrained from taking a position on a bill aimed at making systematic independent investigations in the event of “use of lethal force” by a police officer.
“It is seen by some, especially among black youth, as part of the problem, not the solution,” warned David Barker, professor of political science at American University.
- His arrival in the Senate made history
In January 2017, she became the first woman from South Asia to sit there, but also the second black senator in the country’s history.
- She could replace Joe Biden during her tenure
The poor health of the aspiring president is no secret. He himself has hinted that his vice president, in this case Harris, could become the Democratic presidential candidate in 2024. She could even be called upon to replace him during his term if he has serious problems. health or dies.
- Trump (almost) complimented her
In July, the president, who usually gives his heart’s content to criticize his political opponents, said she would make “a good choice” for Joe Biden.
He recovered well Tuesday during a conference at the White House, saying he was “surprised” by this choice “because it was very poor” during the Democratic primaries.
- During the primaries, she did not hesitate to attack Biden
During a debate in June 2019, she criticized Biden for having long opposed the desegregation of schools in urban areas. She also attacked him over his dealings with pro-segregation senators.
Regardless, she finally gave him her official support in March 2020, a few months after dropping out of the nomination contest due to a lack of financial support.
- She shared a special relationship with Joe’s deceased son
One of Joe Biden’s sons, Beau, worked closely with Harris before he died of brain cancer on May 30, 2015.
He was Attorney General of Delaware at the same time Harris worked at the same post in California.
Together, they drew up a game plan to bring the US banks responsible for the foreclosure scandal that hit the US in 2010 to justice.
She considered him a close friend and an exceptional colleague.
For this reason, she has developed a very friendly relationship with Joe Biden over the years, as many of the Democratic candidate’s entourage have told CNN.
- She did her high school … in Montreal!
She graduated from Westmount High in 1981.
– With information from Agence France-Presse