US election campaign - Five things to know about Kamala Harris
After Joe Biden's withdrawal from the US Presidency race, all eyes are on Kamala Harris. Biden's deputy in the White House intends to run for the Democratic Party's presidency with Biden's blessing. It remains to be seen if the party will rally behind the 59-year-old. Five things about the woman who will face the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump:
- Harris is the first Woman and the first Black in the US Vice Presidency
She was born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California. Her father had immigrated to the USA to study economics. The expectations for Harris as a pioneer in the role of Vice President were immense. However, as Biden's deputy in recent years, she could not make a significant impact.
- Harris is also the first American with Asian roots in the Vice Presidency
Her mother - a cancer researcher and civil rights activist - came from India and met Harris' father in the 60s in the USA. Harris' parents divorced later. She herself says that India is an essential part of her life. When they were still children, she and her sister Maya would travel almost every second year to India to visit relatives - and to develop a love for Indian food.
- Harris has a "Law-and-order" past
She was the first black district attorney of San Francisco and later the first justice minister in her home state California. Her tough Law-and-Order policy in the past was too extreme for some in the party. When she joined the US Senate in 2017, she used her experience as a district attorney in Congress and stood out with a hard and effective questioning style at hearings.
- Harris wears sneakers often
The Vice President has a fondness for sneakers. Whenever the occasion permits, Harris can be seen in sneakers. Her favorite model: the iconic "Chucks" from the manufacturer Converse. "I love my Chucks," she said during the 2021 campaign while shopping for sneakers publicly for PR purposes.
- Harris met her husband at a blind date
Harris found her partner Doug Emhoff relatively late in life. A friend arranged a blind date for the two of them in California, where they lived at the time. The following year, they married. Emhoff has two grown children from his first marriage: Cole and Ella. They call Harris "Momala". Emhoff became the first man to be named "Second Gentleman" in the USA. He could potentially become the "First Gentleman," which would also be a novelty.
- If Harris wins the Democratic Party's presidency nomination, she will face Donald Trump in the US Election 2024.
- Harris's campaign in California, including her stops in Oakland, have garnered support from various communities, including Jamaica's diaspora.
- Ms. Harris's election victory would make history, not just as the first woman and the first Black in the US Vice Presidency, but also as the first female US President.
- The Democratic Party's platform for the US election campaign, under Harris's leadership, could focus on issues such as education, healthcare, and climate change.
- Joe Biden, in supporting Harris's US election campaign, has shown confidence in her ability to lead the United States of America.
- The contrast between Harris's "Law-and-order" past and her current progressive leanings could be a point of debate in the US election campaign.
- If elected, Harris could potentially be the first President with a strong connection to India, given her mother's origins.
