HISTORY MAKER
Is Kamala Harris the first woman Vice President?
KAMALA Harris has become the next vice president of the United States, breaking through another racial and gender barrier in US politics.
Harris, who was revealed as Biden's pick on August 11, is the first black woman to serve in the role.
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Is Kamala Harris the first woman Vice President?
Yes, Kamala Harris is the first female Vice President of the US.
This is the first time in history a woman, and a woman of color, has been elected to such a position in the White House.
Joe Biden won the presidency after triumphing in Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral votes on Saturday November 7, following days of vote counting after a record turnout.
Shortly after the race was called Kamala Harris tweeted.
She said: “This election is about so much more than @JoeBiden or me,” she said. “It’s about the soul of America and our willingness to fight for it. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Let’s get started.”
Who is Kamala Harris and how old is she?
Kamala Harris is the Vice President.
She was an American attorney and politician who was currently serving as the junior US Senator for California since 2017.
The 55-year-old was born in Oakland, California, and is a member of the Democratic Party.
She is married to Douglas Emhoff who is also a lawyer.
The couple reportedly met on a blind date after a set-up by a close friend of Harris.
Emhoff is currently a California attorney at Venable LLp.
Harris served as the 32nd Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017, and as District Attorney of San Francisco from 2004 to 2010.
She graduated from Howard University in Washington DC, and got her law degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
After graduating, she worked in the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and the City Attorney of San Francisco's office.
In 2004, she was elected District Attorney of San Francisco.
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When was she announced as Joe Biden's running mate?
Harris was revealed as Democrat Biden's pick for the 2020 US Presidential race on August 11, 2020, making history as the first black woman in the role.
The Californian previously intended to run for POTUS, but withdrew prior to the primaries.
The US senator faced off against her opposite number Mike Pence in a Vice Presidential debate in the lead-up to the November elections.
And became the first woman, first African-American and first Asian-American vice president.
When did she launch her presidential campaign?
On January 21, 2019, Harris announced her intention to run against Trump in the 2020 elections vowing to "bring our voices together".
She made her long anticipated announcement on ABC’s Good Morning America, saying: “I am running for president of the United States and I’m very excited about it.”
She portrayed herself as a fighter for justice, decency and equality in a video distributed by her campaign as she announced her bid.
“They’re the values we as Americans cherish, and they’re all on the line now. The future of our country depends on you and millions of others lifting our voices to fight for our American values.”
Harris launched her presidential campaign as the nation observed what would have been the 90th birthday of the slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
She abandoned the formality of launching an exploratory committee, instead going all in on a presidential bid.
She did a formal campaign launch in Oakland on January 27, based in Baltimore, with a second office in Oakland.
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What did she say about running for presidency in 2020?
Harris has acted as a senator since 2017, and said Americans were ready for a black woman to lead during an appearance on ABC's The View.
She said: "I’m not saying that about myself, but I am saying that about the capacity of the American public.
"We need to give the American public more credit."
Harris told The View that when it came down to what people really cared about, the race and gender of the leader didn't matter so much.
She said when voters woke up in the middle of the night with concerns, “they aren't waking up thinking that thought through the lens of the party with which they’re registered to vote”.
She continued: "When they wake up thinking that thought, it usually has to do with one of very few things.
"It usually has to do with their personal health, about their children or their parents."
She continued: "Can I get a job? Keep a job? Pay the bills by the end of the month? Retire with dignity?
"The vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us."
Kamala Harris says America chose ‘decency, science and TRUTH’ after historic election win
More on kamala harris
What happened to her campaign?
Kamala Harris broke records as she raised £1.2million in just 24 hours after she announced her 2020 presidential run.
However despite a promising start, she dropped out of the race in December 2019, blaming a lack of funds.
Harris tried to toe a line to appeal to both wings of the party, but dwindling performances in the polls contributed to her suspending her campaign.
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