Jonah Patel
Kamala Harris served as the 49th vice president of the United States from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden. In 2024, Biden withdrew his candidacy for the presidential election, and Harris launched her own campaign with his endorsement. She selected Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Harris ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees, former president Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of selection announcement | August 5, 2024 |
| Running mates | Governors Tim Walz of Minnesota and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania |
| Other contenders | Mark Kelly, Pete Buttigieg, Andy Beshear, J.B. Pritzker |
| Harris' role at the time of selection | Democratic presidential candidate |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, was Kamala Harris's vice president pick
- Harris was the first female US vice president and presidential nominee
- Harris was the first African-American and Asian-American vice president and presidential nominee
- Harris was the highest-ranking female and Asian-American official in US history and the first HBCU graduate to receive a major presidential nomination
- Harris's 2024 presidential campaign was hindered by her low approval ratings and unpopularity
Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota, was Kamala Harris's vice president pick
As governor, Walz has championed progressive policies, including free school meals, expanded paid worker leave, universal gun background checks, and the codification of abortion rights. He has also signed legislation to bolster state infrastructure and provide free college tuition for low-income families. In 2023, he signed bills that banned the practice of conversion therapy and protected gender-affirming care in Minnesota. Walz has also been an advocate for Harris, attacking Trump and Vance as "weird", a term that became a popular meme and has been widely used by Democrats.
Harris, the US vice president at the time, announced Walz as her running mate in the 2024 election. She made the announcement on August 6, 2024, ahead of her first scheduled public appearance with her running mate that evening at Temple University in Philadelphia. Harris had narrowed her search for a vice presidential running mate to two finalists: Walz and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.
Harris and Walz's ticket was ultimately defeated by Republican nominees Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Harris' Win: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Harris was the first female US vice president and presidential nominee
Kamala Harris made history when she was sworn in as the 49th US vice president on 20 January 2021, becoming the first woman, the first Black American, and the first Asian American to occupy the office. She was also the third woman to be named on a major political party's ticket, following Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Sarah Palin in 2008. Harris had also made her own presidential bid in the 2020 Democratic Party's primary before suspending her campaign and endorsing Joe Biden.
Harris is a former US senator from California, serving from 2017 to 2021. She was the second Black woman and first South Asian American US senator. As a senator, she advocated for stricter gun control laws, the DREAM Act, federal legalization of cannabis, and reforms to healthcare and taxation. She gained a national profile while asking pointed questions of officials in the first administration of Republican President Donald Trump during Senate hearings.
In August 2024, Harris became the second woman, first Black woman, and first South Asian person to be a major party's presidential nominee. She secured the Democratic nomination after incumbent President Joe Biden dropped his bid for re-election and endorsed her. Harris 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.
Had she won, Harris would have been the first female and first Asian-American president of the United States, and the second African-American president after Barack Obama. She was also the first nominee who did not participate in the primaries since Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968, and she had the shortest general election presidential campaign in history, at 107 days.
Stop Political Calls: Remove Yourself from Call Lists
You may want to see also
Harris was the first African-American and Asian-American vice president and presidential nominee
Kamala Harris is a boundary-breaker. She was the first African-American and Asian-American vice president of the United States, serving from 2021 to 2024, when she became the Democratic nominee for president. Harris is the daughter of an Indian biologist and a Jamaican father, both of whom were active in the civil rights movement. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was the most important influence in her life. Harris was born in 1964, and her name in Sanskrit means "lotus flower". She gave nods to her Indian heritage throughout her campaign, including in her first speech as Joe Biden's running mate, where she used the Tamil word "chitthis" for a maternal aunt.
Harris was also the first woman vice president, and the third person with acknowledged non-European ancestry to become president or vice president. Her victory as vice president gave hope to women, and she herself acknowledged the women who came before her, saying, "I stand on their shoulders". As the highest-ranking woman ever elected in American government, she also represented the multiculturalism that defines America but is largely absent from Washington's power centres.
Harris's career began in earnest when she served as San Francisco's district attorney. She then became California's attorney general, gaining a reputation as one of the Democratic Party's rising stars. This momentum propelled her to election as California's junior US senator in 2017. She was the second Black woman ever elected to the US Senate. Harris's very presence in the Senate made the institution "more accessible to more people", according to her colleague, Senator Cory Booker.
Harris launched her presidential campaign in 2019, but it was short-lived due to her failure to articulate a clear rationale and muddled answers to key policy questions. However, she was chosen as Biden's running mate in 2020, and they went on to win the election. As vice president, Harris cast 33 tie-breaking votes, more than any other vice president, to pass significant legislation such as the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Strategies for Running a Winning Political Campaign
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Harris was the highest-ranking female and Asian-American official in US history and the first HBCU graduate to receive a major presidential nomination
Kamala Harris is a history-maker. She is the first HBCU graduate to receive a major presidential nomination, and she has also served as the highest-ranking female and Asian-American official in US history.
Harris graduated from Howard University, a historically Black college, in 1986. Her time at Howard played a central role in her political campaigns, and she has proudly acknowledged her "HBCU brothers and sisters" as "family". Harris has also prioritised HBCU funding, promising to issue $18 billion in grants to make these schools more affordable for students. In 2024, as Vice President, she recorded a video commencement message for graduates at HBCUs across the country, expressing her pride as an HBCU graduate and encouraging students to strive for excellence and fight for rights and freedoms.
Harris' nomination as the Democratic Party's vice-presidential candidate in 2020 was a significant milestone. She became the first woman of colour to be nominated for this position and, had she won, would have been the first female and Asian-American president in US history. Harris' nomination inspired many, particularly women and girls of colour, symbolising hope and the potential for greater representation in American politics.
Harris' political career has been characterised by her commitment to public service and breaking glass ceilings. She previously served as California's Attorney General and, in January 2021, became the highest-ranking female official in US history as Vice President. Harris' achievements have paved the way for increased diversity and representation in government, serving as an inspiration for future generations.
While Harris did not become president, her journey from an HBCU graduate to the vice presidency remains an extraordinary accomplishment. Her success has challenged stereotypes and demonstrated the value of an HBCU education, inspiring and empowering individuals from all backgrounds to pursue their ambitions.
Understanding the Meaning of "Campaign" in Various Contexts
You may want to see also
Harris's 2024 presidential campaign was hindered by her low approval ratings and unpopularity
Kamala Harris, the former vice president of the United States, launched her presidential campaign in July 2024, following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race and subsequent endorsement of her. Despite this, Harris's campaign was hindered by her low approval ratings and unpopularity.
Harris had one of the lowest approval ratings of any vice president during her tenure. In August 2022, a record low of 34.8% of Americans viewed her favourably, according to a RealClear Politics polling average. While her ratings did improve after becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, her popularity remained an issue.
Harris's public image was damaged by viral video clips, such as one from 2023 that resurfaced during her 2024 campaign, in which she made remarks that were widely shared as memes. Her boisterous laughter, a defining personal trait, also attracted attention and scrutiny.
Despite her historic significance as the first Black and South Asian American woman to be nominated for president, Harris faced challenges in connecting with voters. Her selection of a running mate was closely watched, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro emerging as finalists. Walz, a former teacher and Army National Guard member, had proven appeal to rural, white voters and progressive policies. Shapiro, a former state attorney general, would have added to the ticket's historical significance as the country's first Jewish vice president. However, his strong support for Israel could have been a double-edged sword, appealing to moderate voters but alienating progressives.
Ultimately, Harris's low approval ratings and struggles with public image hindered her 2024 presidential campaign, resulting in her loss to the Republican nominees, former President Trump, and Ohio Senator JD Vance.
Volunteering for Kamala: A Guide to Getting Involved
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Kamala Devi 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. She was the first female U.S. vice president, as well as the first African-American and Asian-American vice president.
Yes, Kamala Harris was the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential election. She selected Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate. She ultimately lost the election to the Republican nominees, former president Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance.
No, Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election to the Republican nominees, former president Trump and Ohio senator JD Vance.
