Malcolm Rivera
Kamala Harris is an American politician who served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2024 under President Joe Biden. Harris is a member of the Democratic Party and was the party's nominee for president in the 2024 election. She was the first African American, the first Indian American, and the third woman to be the vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket. Harris has also served as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, and represented California in the U.S. Senate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kamala Harris |
| Current Political Position | 49th Vice President of the United States |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| Political Career | San Francisco District Attorney, California Attorney General, US Senator, Vice President |
| Noteworthy Political Moments | First African American, first Indian American, and third woman to be a vice-presidential nominee; first woman vice president; first African-American vice president; first Asian-American vice president; third person with non-European ancestry to become president or vice president |
| Political Focus | Reproductive healthcare, criminal justice, civil rights, national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, addressing climate change, federal cannabis legalization, strengthening voting rights, strengthening the Affordable Care Act, federal funding of housing, environmental justice |
| Political Allies | Joe Biden, Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator Marco Rubio, Governor Tim Walz, John Doerr, Reid Hoffman, Tom Steyer, Doug Emhoff |
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What You'll Learn
- Kamala Harris is a member of the Democratic Party
- Harris was the first woman vice president of the United States
- Harris is the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president
- Harris is considering a run for governor of California in 2026
- Harris has pledged support for federal cannabis legalization
Kamala Harris is a member of the Democratic Party
Harris has served in various roles, including as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, and senator for California. She has also been a strong advocate for several causes, including supporting national abortion protections, LGBT+ rights, stricter gun control, and addressing climate change.
In 2024, Harris announced her presidential campaign, selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. She became the Democratic Party nominee and framed her campaign around the ideals of freedom and the future, highlighting her experience as an attorney general and prosecutor. Harris's domestic platform resembled that of President Biden, and she also focused on reproductive healthcare, criminal justice, and civil rights issues.
Harris has played a key diplomatic role in the Biden administration, particularly in rallying support for arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia following the Russian invasion in February 2022. She has also been vocal about investigating human rights abuses, such as the persecution of Uyghurs in China and the death of Roxsana Hernández, a transgender woman who died in ICE custody.
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Harris was the first woman vice president of the United States
Kamala Harris is an American politician who served as the first female vice president of the United States. Harris is a member of the Democratic Party and served under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2024. She was the first African American, the first Indian American, and the third woman to be the vice-presidential nominee on a major-party ticket. Harris is also the first resident of the Western United States to appear on the Democratic Party's national ticket.
Harris was born and raised in Oakland, California, to a Tamil Indian mother and a Jamaican father. She graduated from Howard University, one of the nation's historically black colleges and universities, which she has described as a formative experience. Harris served as the district attorney of San Francisco and the attorney general of California before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016.
As a senator, Harris gained a reputation for her rigorous questioning of witnesses and her advocacy for criminal justice reform, voting rights, and reproductive healthcare. She was also a strong supporter of San Francisco's sanctuary city policy, refusing to inquire about immigration status during criminal investigations. In 2020, Biden selected Harris as his running mate, and they went on to win the 2020 presidential election.
Harris made history as the first woman to hold the vice presidency, as well as the first African American and Asian American to do so. She assumed a key diplomatic role in the Biden administration, particularly in rallying support for Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. Harris also played a significant role in shaping domestic policy, with a focus on issues such as civil rights, criminal justice reform, and addressing climate change.
In 2024, Harris launched her own presidential campaign, announcing her bid for the Democratic nomination after Biden withdrew from the race. She selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate and focused her campaign on issues such as federal cannabis legalization, affordable housing, and reproductive rights. However, Harris ultimately lost the election to Republican candidate Donald Trump. Despite this setback, Harris remains an influential figure in American politics, with a potential gubernatorial run in California on the horizon.
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Harris is the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president
Kamala Harris is a member of the Democratic Party. She was elected Vice President of the United States in 2020, alongside President Joe Biden. Harris is the United States' first female vice president, as well as the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president.
Harris's election to the vice presidency was a historic moment, marking several firsts. Harris is the first woman to serve in the role. She is also the first African-American and the first Asian-American vice president. Harris's multifaceted identity has been described as helping her to connect with voters who see themselves in her. Her election has been hailed as breaking down barriers that previously silenced the voices of people of colour and women.
Harris is of Indian and Jamaican heritage. She grew up engaged with her Indian heritage, joining her mother on visits to India. However, Harris's mother also immersed her and her sister in Oakland's black culture, later writing in her autobiography, "My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters... She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as black girls and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud black women." Harris's biracial roots and upbringing have been described as allowing her to engage with and appeal to many Americans.
Harris's election as vice president was the culmination of a career in which she had already broken down several barriers. She was the first Indian-American district attorney in California, as well as the first female and first African-American attorney general of California. In 2016, she was elected as California's junior US senator, only the second black woman ever elected to the US senate. Harris was also the first African-American woman with the political experience typical of vice presidents to be considered as a running mate for Biden.
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Harris is considering a run for governor of California in 2026
Kamala Harris, the former US vice-president, is considering a run for governor of California in 2026. Harris, a Democrat, has been weighing up a return to politics since her defeat in the 2024 presidential election. She is expected to make a final decision by the end of the summer.
Harris has a strong connection to California, having served as the state's attorney general before becoming vice president in 2021. She is also a former district attorney and created a Hate Crimes Unit, focusing on hate crimes against LGBT+ children and teens in schools. In 2004, she established the San Francisco Reentry Division, which successfully reduced recidivism rates.
If Harris enters the Democratic primary for governor, she would be the favourite to win the nomination. However, the primary contest is expected to be highly competitive, with a large field of candidates vying for the nomination. The current governor, Gavin Newsom, is term-limited and cannot run for re-election, leaving the race wide open.
Aides to Harris believe that her name recognition and experience at both the national and state levels would make her a strong candidate. They argue that she has the ability to run a successful campaign and unite the Democratic Party in California. However, a run for governor could preclude a second presidential bid in 2028, an option that Harris is reportedly keeping open.
Harris's potential candidacy has drawn attention and speculation, with some believing she would be a "great" fit for the job. She has been networking with Democratic power brokers and assessing her options for the future. Harris's potential return to California politics has sparked interest and will likely be a significant development in the state's political landscape.
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Harris has pledged support for federal cannabis legalization
Kamala Harris, the current Vice President of the United States, is a member of the Democratic Party. She has had a long and prominent political career, serving as District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California, and United States Senator from California before becoming Vice President in 2021. Harris has generally maintained a progressive stance on social issues, and one area where this is evident is in her position on cannabis legalization.
Harris has indeed voiced her support for federal cannabis legalization. This stance is in line with the broader shift in public opinion and policy regarding cannabis in recent years, as an increasing number of states have moved to legalize the drug for medical and/or recreational use. During her 2016 Senate campaign, Harris stated that "we need to tax and regulate marijuana like we do alcohol and tobacco, and use those tax dollars to invest in our schools." This statement indicates a pragmatic approach to cannabis legalization, suggesting that it could provide a valuable source of revenue for investment in public services.
In 2019, during her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, Harris reaffirmed her support for legalization at the federal level. She co-sponsored the Marijuana Justice Act, introduced by Senator Cory Booker, which aimed to remove cannabis from the list of controlled substances and expunge federal cannabis-related criminal records. The act also sought to address social equity and justice issues arising from the War on Drugs, which disproportionately impacted communities of color. By endorsing this legislation, Harris signaled her commitment not just to legalization but also to rectifying the social injustices caused by cannabis prohibition.
Additionally, Harris has supported cannabis-related legislation during her vice presidency. For instance, in 2022, she expressed her backing for the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, which, similar to the Marijuana Justice Act, sought to remove cannabis from the controlled substances list and provide funding for communities affected by the War on Drugs. This continued advocacy demonstrates Harris's sustained commitment to federal cannabis legalization and social equity in cannabis policy.
In conclusion, Kamala Harris's stance on federal cannabis legalization aligns with her broader progressive values and her commitment to social justice. Through her support for various pieces of legislation, she has consistently advocated for ending federal prohibition and addressing the negative consequences of the War on Drugs. Harris's position on this issue reflects a pragmatic and socially conscious approach, recognizing the potential benefits of legalization, including increased tax revenue and the reduction of social injustices associated with cannabis prohibition.
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Frequently asked questions
Harris is a member of the Democratic Party.
Harris was the first female vice president of the United States. She served under President Joe Biden from 2021 until 2024, when Biden withdrew his bid for reelection and endorsed her.
Harris served as San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, and represented California in the U.S. Senate.
Harris announced her 2024 campaign for president, becoming the Democratic Party nominee. She selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.
