Who is Kamala Harris? The next likely Democratic presidential nominee
After President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal as the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party for the November election, expectations have turned towards Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his place. The 59-year-old former prosecutor and senator, if she wins in November, would become the first female president of the United States.
Vice President Kamala Harris is the first woman and black person to serve as vice president. Credit: AP
Who is Kamala Harris?
Harris is already the first woman and black person to serve as vice president. She began her career as a prosecutor in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2003, she moved into politics, running for district attorney and winning. While District Attorney of San Francisco in 2004, Harris refused to seek the death penalty against David Hill, who was convicted of murdering a California police officer.
In 2007, she flew to Iowa to stump for then-candidate presidential Barack Obama. When Obama was elected, he endorsed her successful 2010 campaign for California attorney general. Later, she was elected as senator of the powerful state of California, in 2017.
After that, she staged a faltering presidential run before Joe Biden selected her as his VP pick. She married entertainment lawyer Douglas Emhoff in 2014.
Kamala Harris as a senator in 2019 with colleague Cory Booker.Credit: AP
What are her achievements?
In her time as California attorney general, she has been seen as a hardliner on criminal justice, appearing to side with law enforcement on issues like body cameras and investigations of police shootings. As a prosecutor, Harris has grilled Trump nominees and appointees during Senate committee hearings.
After struggling to find footing as vice president, Harris has emerged as a forceful and articulate critic of the decision to allow abortion to be outlawed by states after the repeal of Roe v Wade by the right-leaning Supreme Court.
How will Harris take over from Biden?
Democrats will hold their convention in Chicago on August 19-22. Instead of Biden cakewalking into his nomination, there will now be an open contest for nearly 4700 delegate votes. Harris will have to stump for those votes.
Why is there criticism against her?
In her time as prosecutor, Harris backed some police reforms amid a spate of killings of young black men. But not all. Her background as a prosecutor also fostered scepticism from the black community. As vice president, Harris was tasked by Biden to build up diplomatic ties with countries in Latin America with high volumes of illegal migrants.
“Do not come,” she warned an audience in Guatemala. “The United States will continue to enforce our laws and secure our borders.” Republicans have sought to tie Harris to the border issue, which is seen as a vote-winner for anti-migrant Donald Trump.
Will Harris win the Democratic presidential nomination?
She is the likely lead contender, and there is momentum among many Democrats to quickly back her now that Biden has signalled his intention to withdraw from the White House race.
While Harris is the logical successor, support for her is not guaranteed. “If you think that there is consensus among the people who want Joe Biden to leave that they will support Kamala – Vice President Harris – you would be mistaken,” Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, a Biden supporter, said early on Friday morning (US time) before the president withdrew from the race on Sunday afternoon. “There’s no safe option.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is considered a rising star in Democrat ranks.Credit: AP
If not, what other candidates could the Democratic Party throw up?
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is popular and hails from a swing state, has national recognition. But she has said she won’t run. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s name has surfaced as a possible contender.
He, too, comes from a crucial swing state – and he signalled his intention not to run for the White House. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is considered an effective communicator. California Governor Gavin Newsom has been in the public eye but doesn’t offer much geographic advantage over Harris, as they both come from the same state.
Can Harris beat Trump?
Harris and Donald Trump were tied with 44 per cent support each in a July 15-16 Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted immediately after the assassination attempt against Trump, in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup. Harris’s approval ratings, while low, are a tick higher than Biden’s. According to polling outfit Five Thirty Eight, 38.6 per cent of Americans approve of Harris while 50.4 per cent disapprove. Biden has 38.5 per cent approval and 56.2 per cent disapproval.
With wire agencies
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here.