Eleanor Finch
Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. In 2024, Harris launched her own presidential campaign and became the Democratic Party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election, selecting Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. However, she ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees, former president Donald Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance. This article explores the question: Is Kamala Harris the new president?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Kamala Devi Harris |
| Date of Birth | 20 October 1964 |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| Previous Positions | District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California, United States Senator |
| Current Position | Vice President of the United States |
| 2024 Presidential Campaign | Lost to Republican nominees, former president Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance |
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What You'll Learn
Kamala Harris's career before becoming vice president
Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice president on January 20, 2021, becoming the first woman, the first African-American, and the first Asian-American to hold the office. Before this, she had a long and distinguished career in law and politics.
Harris began her career in law, graduating with a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings, in 1989 and being admitted to the California Bar in 1990. She started her legal career as a deputy district attorney in Alameda County, California, in 1990. In 1994, California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown appointed her to the state Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and later to the California Medical Assistance Commission. In 1998, she was recruited as an assistant district attorney in San Francisco, becoming chief of the Career Criminal Division. In 2000, she took a new job at San Francisco City Hall, working for city attorney Louise Renne and running the Family and Children's Services Division.
In 2003, Harris became the District Attorney of the City and County of San Francisco, serving two terms. In 2008, she announced her candidacy for California Attorney General, and in 2011, she was sworn in, becoming the first woman and the first African-American to hold the office. In this role, she worked to hold corporations accountable and protect the state's most vulnerable people.
In 2016, Harris announced her intention to run for the United States Senate seat being vacated by Senator Barbara Boxer. She was elected in 2017, becoming the second African-American woman and the first South Asian-American senator in history. As a senator, she served on several committees, including the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence.
In 2020, Joe Biden chose Harris as his running mate in the 2020 presidential election. She became the first African-American woman and the first Asian-American to run for vice president on a major party ticket. On November 7, 2020, Biden and Harris were elected as the next leaders of America.
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Harris's 2024 presidential campaign
Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, launched her 2024 presidential campaign on July 21, 2024, after President Joe Biden withdrew his bid for reelection and endorsed her. Harris made history as the first female, Black, and South Asian vice president. She previously served as California's attorney general and U.S. senator.
Harris's domestic platform included support for national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and addressing climate change. She also advocated for repairing what she called a broken immigration system. She selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, and they faced off against the Republican ticket of former President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator JD Vance of Ohio.
Harris's campaign utilised social media and music to appeal to younger voters, with an active presence on X and Instagram. Memes and edited videos were also employed, along with traditional campaign advertisements. Notable endorsements for Harris included Puerto Rican musicians Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and LeBron James.
Despite her efforts, Harris ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees, Trump and Vance. Harris's loss sparked discussions about her future plans, with some Democrats sceptical about her prospects for another White House bid. However, others, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, recognised the importance of her role in strengthening democracy.
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Her reaction to losing the 2024 election
As the results of the 2024 election began to roll in, Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside President Biden, watched with anticipation and hope. They had run a vigorous campaign, travelling across the country, engaging with voters, and presenting their vision for America's future. However, as the night unfolded, it became apparent that their bid for reelection had fallen short. Conceding defeat was a difficult moment for Vice President Harris. She stood tall, exuding grace and poise, even as she faced the reality of not continuing her service as Vice President.
In her concession speech, delivered with President Biden at her side, Vice President Harris thanked the American people for the opportunity to serve as Vice President and for their support throughout the campaign. She acknowledged the challenges that lay ahead for the nation but expressed her enduring faith in the resilience and strength of America's democracy. With a voice that carried both determination and emotion, she reminded the nation of the progress made during their administration and encouraged Americans to continue fighting for the values they hold dear.
Vice President Harris reflected on the significance of their administration's achievements, particularly in areas such as economic recovery, healthcare access, and environmental protection. She urged Americans to build upon this progress and to keep striving for a more perfect union. With a tone of encouragement, she reminded citizens of their power to shape the country's future and implored them to stay engaged and active in the political process.
While Vice President Harris expressed disappointment in the election results, she also demonstrated her respect for the democratic process and the will of the people. She pledged a smooth transition of power, emphasizing the importance of a peaceful transfer of leadership. In the days following the election, she met with the Vice President-elect, offering her congratulations and support, and worked diligently to ensure a seamless handover of responsibilities.
Despite the loss, Vice President Harris remained steadfast in her commitment to public service. She vowed to continue fighting for the causes she believed in and exploring avenues to contribute to the advancement of her country. Her post-election actions embodied the spirit of unity and resilience, as she worked collaboratively with her team to ensure a smooth conclusion to their time in office. The grace and dignity with which she handled this defeat earned her admiration from both supporters and opponents.
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Harris's role in the Biden administration
Kamala Harris served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. She was the first female U.S. vice president, the first African-American, and the first Asian-American vice president, making her the highest-ranking female and Asian-American official in U.S. history.
As vice president, Harris played a pivotal role in the Biden administration. In March 2021, Biden assigned Harris to work with Mexico and the Northern Triangle nations (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) to address the root causes of migration to the Mexico-United States border. This effort resulted in the Root Causes Strategy (RCS). Despite rejecting the title, Republicans and critics referred to Harris as a "border czar," associating her with the Mexico–United States border crisis.
Harris also assumed a "key diplomatic role," especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. She was dispatched to Germany and Poland to rally support for arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. Additionally, Harris was involved in core decision-making meetings, including the decision to remove all U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
In 2024, Biden withdrew his candidacy for the presidential election, and Harris launched her own campaign with his endorsement. She became the Democratic nominee and selected Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. However, she ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees, former president Trump, and Ohio senator JD Vance.
Throughout her career, Harris has broken barriers, first as a prosecutor and District Attorney of San Francisco, then as Attorney General of California, and later as a United States Senator representing California.
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Harris's legacy as vice president
Kamala Harris served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. Harris is the first woman, the first Black American, and the first Asian American to hold the post. She is also the first HBCU graduate to receive a major presidential nomination.
Harris was a U.S. senator from California from 2017 to 2021 and was the state's attorney general from 2011 to 2017. She also served as district attorney in San Francisco, becoming the first Black person to hold that position in California.
As vice president, Harris was tasked with addressing issues such as migration from Latin America to the U.S. southern border, promoting national legislation to protect voting rights, and preserving women's access to abortion. She also participated in an ABC News presidential debate against former President Donald Trump in September 2024.
In 2024, Harris became the Democratic Party's nominee for president after Biden withdrew from the race. She chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Despite receiving endorsements from prominent figures such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as support from several governors, she was defeated by Trump in the 2024 election.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Kamala Harris is not the new president. She was the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden.
Yes, Kamala Harris launched her own presidential campaign in 2024 after Biden withdrew his candidacy. She lost the election to the Republican nominees, former president Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance.
Before becoming vice president, Kamala Harris served as a United States senator from 2017 to 2021. She was also the attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017 and the district attorney of San Francisco.
