theguardian--2020-08-11--'Never going away': what Arpaio's primary loss could tell us about Trump's future

Widely viewed as the patriarch of Latino civil rights activism in Arizona , Gutierrez , now 74 , helped Cesar Chavez organize farm workers in California lettuce fields and led immigrant rights marches through the streets of Phoenix .
He ’ s battled institutional white supremacy in the American south-west for most of his life , and his memoir is a primer on the difficulty of eradicating something that is always present but sometimes hides itself .
It follows that Gutierrez was not surprised but “ fascinated ” when 88-year-old Joe Arpaio decided to run again for sheriff of Maricopa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had held on to for 24 rocky years and lost four years ago amid national outrage over his abusive policing tactics and immigration crackdowns .
Last week , voters in this sprawling county of about 4.5 million people in the Phoenix metro area and the surrounding saguaro-cactus-spiked Sonoran desert rejected Arpaio ’ s first step in his bid to win back his top cop seat .
He lost the primary race to be the Republican nominee for sheriff .
Arpaio ’ s defeat is viewed by national politicos as a possible indicator of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona , now a purple state in play in the presidential election .
But the race was so close it couldn ’ t be called for days .
Arpaio lost by about 6,000 votes to his former right-hand man , a once blindly devoted chief deputy named Jerry Sheridan .
That Sheridan beat his former boss by only one percentage point demonstrates to activists that Arpaio ’ s conspiracy theories , rightwing populism and sycophantic devotion to Trump – who saved him from a possible jail sentence with his first presidential pardon in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary voters .
To Latino activists , who make up about 31.4 % of the population and battled Arpaio for decades to reform policing for their community , the outcome holds another interest .
What matters about Arpaio ’ s failed comeback bid , Latino activists say , is that Arizona ’ s experience with Arpaio has long presaged what could occur when Trump leaves office – and , by extension , what other countries might expect when their populist leaders , like Jair Bolsonaro , step down .
The similarities between Arpaio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump as the “ national Arpaio ” and the “ mega Arpaio ” .
Both Trump and Arpaio have latched on to strong authoritarian figures ( Trump to Putin , Arpaio to Trump ) .
They have both embraced and promoted baseless conspiracy theories , including one that aimed to delegitimize the nation ’ s only Black president .
They have both persecuted and hunted unauthorized immigrants to please a xenophobic base of white voters .
They are both hungry for media coverage yet dub even mildly critical stories “ fake news ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point out allegations of their shoddy leadership .
Should Trump lose the election , some predict he – like Arpaio – will retreat to the far-right fringe of the Republican party – only to become reinvigorated and re-emerge from time to time in a bid for electoral legitimacy , relying on a base of racist voters for a Hail Mary victory , activists say .
Salvador Reza , a longtime neighborhood organizer in Phoenix , calls it the “ Manifest Destiny-Maga syndrome ” .
“ That ’ s what got Trump elected and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , ” Reza said .
What ’ s more , Trump ’ s policies , once institutionalized , will be difficult to eradicate , Arizona activists warn .
They say they have fought for years to rid the county sheriff ’ s office of what they view as Arpaio ’ s legacy of institutionalized white supremacy that targets people of color .
“ The racist culture of 24 years continues in the sheriff ’ s department , ” said Carlos Garcia , a 37-year-old Phoenix city council member who led Puente Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that battled Arpaio for years .
Garcia ’ s chief complaint is that Paul Penzone , the Democratic sheriff who replaced Arpaio in 2016 , still follows Arpaio ’ s policy of allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( Ice ) agents into jails to remove unauthorized immigrants and put them on the path to deportation .
The agency has removed at least 5,000 immigrants from Maricopa county jails since Penzone took office in 2017 .
Activists also point to a recent report that signals lingering problems with biased policing .
The report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to stop and search Hispanic and Black motorists than White motorists .
Penzone , through his campaign spokeswoman Sophie O ’ Keefe-Zelman , maintains he does not tolerate the “ costly , illegal and disgraceful practice of using badges to harass and intimidate people of color sanctioned by the previous administration ” .
Penzone has vigorously reached out to the Latino community to build trust shattered by Arpaio , has complied with 90 % of federal court orders meant to correct Arpaio ’ s unconstitutional policing and has “ expanded traffic studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may exist ” in stops and detainments of drivers of color , O ’ Keefe-Zelman said .
Many county residents voted Arpaio out of office in 2016 because they were fatigued by his trademark showboat cruelties , such as forcing some inmates to live in tents and wear pink underwear .
And they disapproved of Arpaio ’ s legal troubles stemming from unconstitutional policing and unconstitutional jails .
Paul Charlton , a Republican attorney in Phoenix who took Arpaio on in court , pointed out the Democratic sheriff had not , like his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the constitution ” .
Maria Castro , a Latinx activist who was 13 when Arpaio first unleashed swarms of deputies into Latino neighborhoods in search of undocumented immigrants , spent her teenage years worrying her mother , an undocumented immigrant , would be deported .
Castro and other activists used Arpaio to register first-time Latino voters in 2016 .
Voting was seen as “ an opportunity to get rid of this monster ” , she said .
But with federal agents still in Penzone ’ s jails , she said , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Penzone “ and may not give him the support he needs to beat a Republican candidate ” .
Over the phone , Arpaio said he might not run for office again .
He said the same thing when he lost the sheriff ’ s race to Penzone .
Two years later , he ran a Republican primary race for a US Senate seat and lost .
In his latest attempt at a comeback , he had spent the last few weeks tooling around the county in a rented RV with a giant photographic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the side , along with the words “ Make Maricopa County Great Again ” .
As the state endured a frightening coronavirus surge , Arpaio posed without a mask for social media videos , chatting away with sunbaked nonagenarians and any person of color he could find .
“ I gave it a good shot , ” Arpaio said .
“ That ’ s the way it is .
I have lost before .
I sure didn ’ t jump off a bridge .
I kept active.
” The former sheriff characterized allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sheriff ’ s office as “ ridiculous ” .
“ Every hour on the hour they call me a racist , ” he said of Latino activists .
“ They don ’ t know what they ’ re talking about .
They will say anything to take me down .
I have a lot of Hispanic support .
Tremendous support.
” Latino activism pushed Arpaio out of the mainstream and into the fringe , Garcia , the city council member , points out .
Now voter displeasure over Trump ’ s handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems to be pushing Trump into the fringe .
If Trump were to lose the election , Gutierrez predicts , “ in order not to become an angry old forgotten man he still has to go out there and speak to these racist hordes that clearly exist .
He can ’ t allow those folks to become quiet ” .
Because Trump , like Arpaio , “ is never going to go away ” .

Terry Greene Sterling in Phoenix, Arizona

Nothing much surprises Alfredo Gutierrez.
Widely viewed as the patriarch of Latino civil rights activism in Arizona, Gutierrez, now 74, helped Cesar Chavez organize farm workers in California lettuce fields and led immigrant rights marches through the streets of Phoenix. He’s battled institutional white supremacy in the American south-west for most of his life, and his memoir is a primer on the difficulty of eradicating something that is always present but sometimes hides itself.
It follows that Gutierrez was not surprised but “fascinated” when 88-year-old Joe Arpaio decided to run again for sheriff of Maricopa county, Arizona – a post Arpaio had held on to for 24 rocky years and lost four years ago amid national outrage over his abusive policing tactics and immigration crackdowns.
Last week, voters in this sprawling county of about 4.5 million people in the Phoenix metro area and the surrounding saguaro-cactus-spiked Sonoran desert rejected Arpaio’s first step in his bid to win back his top cop seat. He lost the primary race to be the Republican nominee for sheriff.
Arpaio’s defeat is viewed by national politicos as a possible indicator of Donald Trump’s diminishing popularity in Arizona, now a purple state in play in the presidential election, with a population that is more than 30% Latino.
But the race was so close it couldn’t be called for days. Arpaio lost by about 6,000 votes to his former right-hand man, a once blindly devoted chief deputy named Jerry Sheridan.
That Sheridan beat his former boss by only one percentage point demonstrates to activists that Arpaio’s conspiracy theories, rightwing populism and sycophantic devotion to Trump – who saved him from a possible jail sentence with his first presidential pardon in 2017 – still resonates with many Republican primary voters.
To Latino activists, who battled Arpaio for decades to reform policing for their community, the outcome holds another interest.
What matters about Arpaio’s failed comeback bid, Latino activists say, is that Arizona’s experience with Arpaio has long presaged what could occur when Trump leaves office – and, by extension, what other countries might expect when their populist leaders, like Jair Bolsonaro, step down.
Manifest Destiny–Maga syndrome
The similarities between Arpaio and Trump prompted activists here to brand Trump as the “national Arpaio” and the “mega Arpaio”.
Both Trump and Arpaio have latched on to strong authoritarian figures (Trump to Putin, Arpaio to Trump). They have both embraced and promoted baseless conspiracy theories, including one that aimed to delegitimize the nation’s only Black president. They have both persecuted and hunted unauthorized immigrants to please a xenophobic base of white voters. They are both hungry for media coverage yet dub even mildly critical stories “fake news”. And they both bristle when reporters point out allegations of their shoddy leadership.
Should Trump lose the election, some predict he – like Arpaio – will retreat to the far-right fringe of the Republican party – only to become reinvigorated and re-emerge from time to time in a bid for electoral legitimacy, relying on a base of racist voters for a Hail Mary victory, activists say.
Salvador Reza, a longtime neighborhood organizer in Phoenix, calls it the “Manifest Destiny-Maga syndrome”.
“That’s what got Trump elected and that is what gives Arpaio his following too,” Reza said.
What’s more, Trump’s policies, once institutionalized, will be difficult to eradicate, Arizona activists warn. They say they have fought for years to rid the county sheriff’s office of what they view as Arpaio’s legacy of institutionalized white supremacy that targets people of color.
Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate, listens as the then sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks to reporters before a campaign rally in Marshalltown, Iowa, in January 2016. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters
“The racist culture of 24 years continues in the sheriff’s department,” said Carlos Garcia, a 37-year-old Phoenix city council member who led Puente Human Rights Movement, a Latino-led civil rights group that battled Arpaio for years.
Garcia’s chief complaint is that Paul Penzone, the Democratic sheriff who replaced Arpaio in 2016, still follows Arpaio’s policy of allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents into jails to remove unauthorized immigrants and put them on the path to deportation. The agency has removed at least 5,000 immigrants from Maricopa county jails since Penzone took office in 2017.
Activists also point to a recent report that signals lingering problems with biased policing. The report says Penzone’s deputies are more likely to stop and search Hispanic and Black motorists than White motorists.
Penzone, through his campaign spokeswoman Sophie O’Keefe-Zelman, maintains he does not tolerate the “costly, illegal and disgraceful practice of using badges to harass and intimidate people of color sanctioned by the previous administration”. Penzone has vigorously reached out to the Latino community to build trust shattered by Arpaio, has complied with 90% of federal court orders meant to correct Arpaio’s unconstitutional policing and has “expanded traffic studies” to figure out whether “disparities may exist” in stops and detainments of drivers of color, O’Keefe-Zelman said.
Many county residents voted Arpaio out of office in 2016 because they were fatigued by his trademark showboat cruelties, such as forcing some inmates to live in tents and wear pink underwear. And they disapproved of Arpaio’s legal troubles stemming from unconstitutional policing and unconstitutional jails.
Paul Charlton, a Republican attorney in Phoenix who took Arpaio on in court, pointed out the Democratic sheriff had not, like his predecessor, “imprisoned people in violation of the constitution”.
Maria Castro, a Latinx activist who was 13 when Arpaio first unleashed swarms of deputies into Latino neighborhoods in search of undocumented immigrants, spent her teenage years worrying her mother, an undocumented immigrant, would be deported.
Castro and other activists used Arpaio to register first-time Latino voters in 2016. Voting was seen as “an opportunity to get rid of this monster”, she said. But with federal agents still in Penzone’s jails, she said, many first-time voters felt “let down by Penzone “and may not give him the support he needs to beat a Republican candidate”.
‘I gave it a good shot’
Over the phone, Arpaio said he might not run for office again. He said the same thing when he lost the sheriff’s race to Penzone. Two years later, he ran a Republican primary race for a US Senate seat and lost.
In his latest attempt at a comeback, he had spent the last few weeks tooling around the county in a rented RV with a giant photographic image of himself and Trump plastered on the side, along with the words “Make Maricopa County Great Again”.
As the state endured a frightening coronavirus surge, Arpaio posed without a mask for social media videos, chatting away with sunbaked nonagenarians and any person of color he could find.
“I gave it a good shot,” Arpaio said. “That’s the way it is. I have lost before. I sure didn’t jump off a bridge. I kept active.”
The former sheriff characterized allegations that he had institutionalized white supremacy in the sheriff’s office as “ridiculous”.
“Every hour on the hour they call me a racist,” he said of Latino activists. “They don’t know what they’re talking about. They will say anything to take me down. I have a lot of Hispanic support. Tremendous support.”
Latino activism pushed Arpaio out of the mainstream and into the fringe, Garcia, the city council member, points out.
Now voter displeasure over Trump’s handling of the pandemic and civil rights protests seems to be pushing Trump into the fringe.
If Trump were to lose the election, Gutierrez predicts, “in order not to become an angry old forgotten man he still has to go out there and speak to these racist hordes that clearly exist. He can’t allow those folks to become quiet”.
Because Trump, like Arpaio, “is never going to go away”.


theguardian--2020-08-11--'They don't know what I know': why Cori Bush is poised to change politics

August ninth was always going to be a difficult day to interview Cori Bush .
Just five days before , Bush was propelled into the spotlight after winning her primary race in Missouri ’ s first congressional district , unseating the Democratic incumbent and ending a half-century family dynasty in Missouri .
In the days since , Bush has barely had a chance to catch her breath .
The win is the result of years of hard work and two unsuccessful campaigns – first for Senate in 2016 and again in 2018 for Congress .
This time around , Bush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million calls ; signed up more than 2,000 volunteers ; and knocked on 25,000 doors .
Her grassroots campaign shunned corporate Pac money in favor of individual donations – and in the end , she both outraised the incumbent William Lacy Clay and outspent him on television advertisements .
But when we talk via Zoom on a Sunday afternoon , it ’ s not the exhaustion or the back-to-back interviews that are on Bush ’ s mind .
9 August is the anniversary of the death of Michael Brown , an unarmed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ferguson , Missouri , in 2014 – and Bush has just been at his memorial service .
“ It ’ s hard looking at Michael Brown ’ s father and knowing that just last week he found out again that this officer won ’ t be charged , ” she says , referencing the result of a five-month review that was decided last week .
“ Just looking at him in his face , and seeing the other activists crying is tough .
It has been six years and we keep coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not seeing change , ” she adds , fighting tears .
Following Brown ’ s death , Bush spent some 400 days campaigning on the streets of Ferguson .
For her , six years marks the culmination of one of her areas of work – to get into politics – but not the other : to find justice for Black lives .
“ Today is just a rough day , period , because it is when all of our lives changed , ” she explains .
“ It changed and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unbelievable place for such a long time.
” Just two months before Michael Brown ’ s death , Lacy Clay , then Missouri ’ s representative , voted against a Democratic amendment that would stop the military from providing police forces with heavy weapons and vehicles .
Then , on 10 August 2014 , the Ferguson uprisings began .
A nurse and ordained pastor , Bush would often arrive at the protests still in her scrubs .
People knew her by sight , calling her Mom or Pastor Cori .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wore down two pairs of shoes – one was a brand-new pair of Nike Hi-Tops .
Bush and her fellow activists would sometimes have a moment ’ s respite , when they could break bread together , cranking up the volume on the speakers and dancing in the early evening while still on the frontlines .
But those moments of joy only briefly punctuated the long battle against police , which featured teargas , armoured vehicles and violent clashes – and an incident in which Bush herself was assaulted .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to breathe and knowing other people couldn ’ t breathe , watching people laying on the ground , hurt or in pain … There were some pretty terrifying times out there , ” she says .
The assault itself is a source of deep upset for Bush ; she begins to tear up when I ask her about it .
She still seems bewildered at how her body came to be lifted into the air by the same cops called on to protect people .
When her body hit the ground moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steel boots on her face and wondered whether she would die .
“ My face was pressed up against the ground and I [ was ] feeling all of these steel-toe boots stomping me and my body was going from side to side .
And I was just thinking ; who do I scream out to ?
” asks Bush .
The fury of having to ask that question was what led her to return to the protests day after day , and it is what shapes her support for the growing movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For her that means reallocating funds , drastically downsizing police budgets and investing in health services , social workers and hospitals instead of armed police .
“ I know some people have said that the police don ’ t have enough money or officers , but we have plenty of money for teargas and Swat gear stockpiled in warehouses .
Bear spray , pepper spray , skunk spray , rubber bullets – where does that money come from ?
” she asks .
Soon , she will move from being a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called to do her part to fix these problems .
But Bush believes she is uniquely placed to have those conversations .
“ I can talk to congresspeople now , and say : I know you read this , but this is what actually happened , ” she explains .
After seeing the county ’ s first black prosecutor reach the same outcome as his predecessors – not to charge the officer who killed Brown – is she overwhelmed by the responsibility ?
“ No , I feel relief , ” says Cori @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Now we have some type of hope .
I feel that little bit better knowing that I may be able to do something on a bigger scale for these families and these activists that have worked so hard for our community , ” she says .
If Bush wins Missouri in November ( which she probably will – the seat has been blue since 1949 , with Clay and his father in power since 1969 ) her life will change again , forever .
She will have to get used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the phone when her children call ( her daughter , 19 , and son , 20 , both call during our interview – and Bush stops me for a second to make sure a member of her team answers ) .
She certainly won ’ t be able to drive her son home like she does nowwhen he is visiting her at her campaign office , out of fear that something bad will happen to him on the way back if she doesn ’ t .
“ With the climate of our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children .
My son is 20 years old , he is taller than me .
He ’ s a black boy .
I worry about [ him ] , every single day .
Every minute of the day .
I ’ m not exaggerating , ” she says .
Bush has never been inside the Capitol .
“ I ’ m kind of glad that I haven ’ t because , the first time I get to cross the threshold [ might ] be as the congresswoman , ” she says .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the people ’ s house.
” Bush was backed by Justice Democrats , the group responsible for kickstarting the political careers of other outsiders such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar .
They won 11 of the 15 primary races they vied for this election cycle .
But while their candidates are characterized by an unwillingness to take corporate Pac money and backing a slate of progressive policies – a $ 15 minimum wage , Medicare for All and a universal basic income of $ 2,000 a month – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderate candidates .
Joe Biden , the Democratic nominee for president , won ’ t back Medicare for All ; meanwhile , during the presidential primary debates , racism , police reform and criminal justice reform were seldom mentioned .
Bush , who ran for Congress without insurance and has spent chunks of time living out of a car , knows her priorities .
She is deeply committed to Medicare for All , as well as a $ 15 minimum wage : “ Some of our essential workers were going to work for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them lost their lives because they kept going to work – and then some of them contracted Covid , ” she says .
“ Medicare for All – I know that is really not one of Joe Biden ’ s priorities … but I am going to continue to fight for it because I believe that is right : you breathe , you deserve healthcare.
” When I ask Bush what she thinks of Biden , she can barely keep herself from laughing .
“ I think … He is the nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , before shaking her head .
She adds : “ We have what we have , and we have to get Trump out of the seat.
” This could prove tricky .
Bush will have to build support across the party if she wants any of her ideas to filter through .
And if defunding the police is one of her cornerstone commitments , she may have to be ready to compromise .
Does that concern her ?
“ No , not really , ” she responds , looking defiant .
“ Maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to do things a little differently than what I planned , but in this area , no … We haven ’ t been strong enough in this area in this country and I feel that ’ s why we are here , ” she says .
So she isn ’ t intimidated thinking about meeting her new colleagues on her first day on Capitol Hill , not even one bit ?
“ No .
I feel like , they don ’ t know what I know .
I may not be an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – but when it comes to activism and advocacy , there are a lot of things I can do that they can not .
”

August ninth was always going to be a difficult day to interview Cori Bush. Just five days before, Bush was propelled into the spotlight after winning her primary race in Missouri’s first congressional district, unseating the Democratic incumbent and ending a half-century family dynasty in Missouri.
In the days since, Bush has barely had a chance to catch her breath.
The win is the result of years of hard work and two unsuccessful campaigns – first for Senate in 2016 and again in 2018 for Congress. This time around, Bush’s team made almost half a million calls; signed up more than 2,000 volunteers; and knocked on 25,000 doors. Her grassroots campaign shunned corporate Pac money in favor of individual donations – and in the end, she both outraised the incumbent William Lacy Clay and outspent him on television advertisements.
But when we talk via Zoom on a Sunday afternoon, it’s not the exhaustion or the back-to-back interviews that are on Bush’s mind. 9 August is the anniversary of the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed, 18-year-old who was shot dead by police in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 – and Bush has just been at his memorial service.
“It’s hard looking at Michael Brown’s father and knowing that just last week he found out again that this officer won’t be charged,” she says, referencing the result of a five-month review that was decided last week.
“Just looking at him in his face, and seeing the other activists crying is tough. It has been six years and we keep coming back here every single year and we’re not seeing change,” she adds, fighting tears.
Following Brown’s death, Bush spent some 400 days campaigning on the streets of Ferguson. For her, six years marks the culmination of one of her areas of work – to get into politics – but not the other: to find justice for Black lives.
“Today is just a rough day, period, because it is when all of our lives changed,” she explains. “It changed and it went into such a dark, dark, unbelievable place for such a long time.”
Just two months before Michael Brown’s death, Lacy Clay, then Missouri’s representative, voted against a Democratic amendment that would stop the military from providing police forces with heavy weapons and vehicles.
Then, on 10 August 2014, the Ferguson uprisings began.
A nurse and ordained pastor, Bush would often arrive at the protests still in her scrubs. People knew her by sight, calling her Mom or Pastor Cori. In the ensuing months, Bush walked so much she wore down two pairs of shoes – one was a brand-new pair of Nike Hi-Tops.
There were some pretty terrifying times out there
Bush and her fellow activists would sometimes have a moment’s respite, when they could break bread together, cranking up the volume on the speakers and dancing in the early evening while still on the frontlines. But those moments of joy only briefly punctuated the long battle against police, which featured teargas, armoured vehicles and violent clashes – and an incident in which Bush herself was assaulted.
“We were teargassed so heavily. Not being able to breathe and knowing other people couldn’t breathe, watching people laying on the ground, hurt or in pain … There were some pretty terrifying times out there,” she says.
The assault itself is a source of deep upset for Bush; she begins to tear up when I ask her about it. She still seems bewildered at how her body came to be lifted into the air by the same cops called on to protect people. When her body hit the ground moments later, she felt numerous officers’ steel boots on her face and wondered whether she would die.
“My face was pressed up against the ground and I [was] feeling all of these steel-toe boots stomping me and my body was going from side to side. And I was just thinking; who do I scream out to?” asks Bush.
Cori Bush: years of hard work. Photograph: Joe Martinez/The Guardian
The fury of having to ask that question was what led her to return to the protests day after day, and it is what shapes her support for the growing movement calling for the police to be defunded. For her that means reallocating funds, drastically downsizing police budgets and investing in health services, social workers and hospitals instead of armed police.
“I know some people have said that the police don’t have enough money or officers, but we have plenty of money for teargas and Swat gear stockpiled in warehouses. Bear spray, pepper spray, skunk spray, rubber bullets – where does that money come from?” she asks.
Soon, she will move from being a political outsider to an insider and will be called to do her part to fix these problems. But Bush believes she is uniquely placed to have those conversations.
“I can talk to congresspeople now, and say: I know you read this, but this is what actually happened,” she explains.
After seeing the county’s first black prosecutor reach the same outcome as his predecessors – not to charge the officer who killed Brown – is she overwhelmed by the responsibility?
“No, I feel relief,” says Cori, and she smiles for a moment.
“Now we have some type of hope. I feel that little bit better knowing that I may be able to do something on a bigger scale for these families and these activists that have worked so hard for our community,” she says.
If Bush wins Missouri in November (which she probably will – the seat has been blue since 1949, with Clay and his father in power since 1969) her life will change again, forever.
She will have to get used to not being able to always pick up the phone when her children call (her daughter, 19, and son, 20, both call during our interview – and Bush stops me for a second to make sure a member of her team answers).
She certainly won’t be able to drive her son home like she does nowwhen he is visiting her at her campaign office, out of fear that something bad will happen to him on the way back if she doesn’t.
I am excited for it to finally be the people's house
“With the climate of our country and our world I worry about my children. My son is 20 years old, he is taller than me. He’s a black boy. I worry about [him], every single day. Every minute of the day. I’m not exaggerating,” she says.
Bush has never been inside the Capitol. “I’m kind of glad that I haven’t because, the first time I get to cross the threshold [might] be as the congresswoman,” she says. “I am excited for it to finally be the people’s house.”
Bush was backed by Justice Democrats, the group responsible for kickstarting the political careers of other outsiders such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar. They won 11 of the 15 primary races they vied for this election cycle.
But while their candidates are characterized by an unwillingness to take corporate Pac money and backing a slate of progressive policies – a $15 minimum wage, Medicare for All and a universal basic income of $2,000 a month – the party is still dominated by more moderate candidates.
Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, won’t back Medicare for All; meanwhile, during the presidential primary debates, racism, police reform and criminal justice reform were seldom mentioned.
I believe Medicare for All is right: you breathe, you deserve healthcare
Bush, who ran for Congress without insurance and has spent chunks of time living out of a car, knows her priorities. She is deeply committed to Medicare for All, as well as a $15 minimum wage: “Some of our essential workers were going to work for $9 an hour. But some of them lost their lives because they kept going to work – and then some of them contracted Covid,” she says.
“Medicare for All – I know that is really not one of Joe Biden’s priorities … but I am going to continue to fight for it because I believe that is right: you breathe, you deserve healthcare.”
When I ask Bush what she thinks of Biden, she can barely keep herself from laughing.
“I think … He is the nominee for Democratic president,” she replies, before shaking her head. She adds: “We have what we have, and we have to get Trump out of the seat.”
This could prove tricky. Bush will have to build support across the party if she wants any of her ideas to filter through. And if defunding the police is one of her cornerstone commitments, she may have to be ready to compromise. Does that concern her?
“No, not really,” she responds, looking defiant. “Maybe [in] other areas we might have to do things a little differently than what I planned, but in this area, no … We haven’t been strong enough in this area in this country and I feel that’s why we are here,” she says.
So she isn’t intimidated thinking about meeting her new colleagues on her first day on Capitol Hill, not even one bit?
“No. I feel like, they don’t know what I know. I may not be an attorney, I’m a nurse – but when it comes to activism and advocacy, there are a lot of things I can do that they cannot.”


theguardian--2020-08-11--What do Trump's executive actions mean for $600 unemployment aid?

Donald Trump unveiled four executive actions meant to bolster the economy on Saturday after Congress failed to reach an agreement on a new coronavirus stimulus package .
Trump praised himself for stepping up with the actions , saying that they will “ take care , pretty much , of this entire situation ” , but the reality is – of course - more complicated .
Here is what you need to know about Trump ’ s stimulus executive actions .
Trump unveiled issued executive actions , including three memorandums and one executive order , meant to assist Americans affected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal tax collection for anyone whose bi-weekly pre-tax paychecks are below $ 4,000 .
A second memorandum boosts unemployment insurance by $ 400 a week , though cash-strapped state governments are expected to foot a fourth of the bill .
The last memorandum defers the collection of student loan payments and waives interest fees on student loans until the end of the year .
The last executive action is an order that calls on the heads of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is unclear .
The US constitution gives Congress the power to spend money and set taxes , while the president can approve or veto those decisions .
Through his executive actions , Trump is trying to step around Congress , which could be unconstitutional .
Democrats in Congress have suggested that they are too busy trying to negotiate the stimulus package to do something about the executive actions even if they are unconstitutional .
“ Right now we want to address the needs of the American people , ” Speaker of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As my constitutional advisers tell me , they ’ re absurdly unconstitutional.
” Do the executive actions include a second stimulus check ?
No .
Trump does not have the ability to fund a second round of stimulus checks without Congress .
Instead , Trump opted to implement a payroll tax holiday that would pause collection of federal taxes for people whose bi-weekly paychecks are $ 4,000 or less .
Americans pay 6.2 % of their paychecks in a tax for social security and 1.45 % of their paychecks go to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on 1 September and end on 31 December .
A payroll tax holiday is , of course , much different from checks that go directly into the pockets of Americans .
For one thing , the holiday is just a deferral period – only Congress can turn the deferral into a tax cut – meaning that most employers will probably continue to withhold the same amount from their employees ’ paychecks in case they have to pay the tax once the holiday is over .
Secondly , even if the deferral turns into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are collecting a paycheck , leaving out those who are out of a job or who can not work .
What do the executive actions do to unemployment insurance ?
Trump called for a “ lost wages assistance program ” that would use money from the Department of Homeland Security ’ s disaster relief fund , typically used for natural disaster relief , to provide unemployed Americans an additional $ 300 a week .
The program is expected to last until the fund , which the White House says has more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 billion , or 6 December , whichever comes first .
The memorandum says that an extra $ 400 would ultimately be given to unemployed Americans , with the expectation that states will shoulder $ 100 a week to top off the federal government ’ s $ 300 .
This is unlikely to happen as most state budgets have been completely decimated by the downturn .
Experts say that the program will probably take months to implement since , unlike the extra $ 600 Congress included in the Cares Act – funds that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the program expects states to set up a new system instead of operating within existing unemployment systems .
Will the executive actions help homeowners and renters ?
Not really .
The executive order instructed federal officials to consider whether evictions were necessary and asked the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the treasury department to identify funds that could be used to help renters and homeowners .
In the Cares Act , Congress instituted a federal eviction moratorium , which expired in July , and even that only benefited those living in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the most power in enacting and enforcing eviction moratoriums during the pandemic , but many of the moratoriums have since expired , leaving millions at risk of homelessness without further assistance .
A statement from the National Low Income Housing Coalition said Trump ’ s executive order “ is an empty shell of a promise that does nothing to prevent evictions and homelessness and acts only to mislead renters into believing that they are protected when they are not ” .
When can we expect to see the actions taking effect ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional unemployment benefits and executive order for rents and homeowners is unclear .
The former requires coordination from state governments , while the latter requires action from departments and agencies within the federal government .
The payroll tax holiday is set to begin on 1 September , but employers will probably choose to continue withholding federal taxes from their employees ’ paychecks , anticipating that they will need to be paid at a future date .
The pause on student loan payments is under way and will last until the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Is Congress still negotiating its stimulus package ?
Over the last two weeks , Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been negotiating a stimulus package that could pass the Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate , but to no avail .
Talks paused on Friday , with both sides blaming each other over the weekend for stalling talks .
When and if they will go back to the negotiating table is uncertain .
The price of the stimulus package has been the sticking point in negotiations , with Democrats advocating for the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May while the Republicans push a package closer to $ 1tn .

Donald Trump unveiled four executive actions meant to bolster the economy on Saturday after Congress failed to reach an agreement on a new coronavirus stimulus package.
Trump praised himself for stepping up with the actions, saying that they will “take care, pretty much, of this entire situation”, but the reality is – of course - more complicated. Here is what you need to know about Trump’s stimulus executive actions.
What are Trump’s executive actions?
Trump unveiled issued executive actions, including three memorandums and one executive order, meant to assist Americans affected by the economic downturn.
One memorandum halts federal tax collection for anyone whose bi-weekly pre-tax paychecks are below $4,000. A second memorandum boosts unemployment insurance by $400 a week, though cash-strapped state governments are expected to foot a fourth of the bill. The last memorandum defers the collection of student loan payments and waives interest fees on student loans until the end of the year.
The last executive action is an order that calls on the heads of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to “consider” a moratorium on evictions.
Are the executive actions legal?
It is unclear. The US constitution gives Congress the power to spend money and set taxes, while the president can approve or veto those decisions. Through his executive actions, Trump is trying to step around Congress, which could be unconstitutional.
Democrats in Congress have suggested that they are too busy trying to negotiate the stimulus package to do something about the executive actions even if they are unconstitutional. “Right now we want to address the needs of the American people,” the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, told CNN. “As my constitutional advisers tell me, they’re absurdly unconstitutional.”
Do the executive actions include a second stimulus check?
No. Trump does not have the ability to fund a second round of stimulus checks without Congress.
Instead, Trump opted to implement a payroll tax holiday that would pause collection of federal taxes for people whose bi-weekly paychecks are $4,000 or less. Americans pay 6.2% of their paychecks in a tax for social security and 1.45% of their paychecks go to the Medicare tax. The holiday would begin on 1 September and end on 31 December.
A payroll tax holiday is, of course, much different from checks that go directly into the pockets of Americans. For one thing, the holiday is just a deferral period – only Congress can turn the deferral into a tax cut – meaning that most employers will probably continue to withhold the same amount from their employees’ paychecks in case they have to pay the tax once the holiday is over.
Secondly, even if the deferral turns into a tax cut, it only benefits people who are collecting a paycheck, leaving out those who are out of a job or who cannot work.
What do the executive actions do to unemployment insurance?
Trump called for a “lost wages assistance program” that would use money from the Department of Homeland Security’s disaster relief fund, typically used for natural disaster relief, to provide unemployed Americans an additional $300 a week. The program is expected to last until the fund, which the White House says has more than $70bn, reaches $25bn, or 6 December, whichever comes first.
The memorandum says that an extra $400 would ultimately be given to unemployed Americans, with the expectation that states will shoulder $100 a week to top off the federal government’s $300. This is unlikely to happen as most state budgets have been completely decimated by the downturn.
Experts say that the program will probably take months to implement since, unlike the extra $600 Congress included in the Cares Act – funds that expired at the end of July – the program expects states to set up a new system instead of operating within existing unemployment systems.
Will the executive actions help homeowners and renters?
Not really. The executive order instructed federal officials to consider whether evictions were necessary and asked the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the treasury department to identify funds that could be used to help renters and homeowners.
In the Cares Act, Congress instituted a federal eviction moratorium, which expired in July, and even that only benefited those living in federally assisted properties.
State governments have had the most power in enacting and enforcing eviction moratoriums during the pandemic, but many of the moratoriums have since expired, leaving millions at risk of homelessness without further assistance.
A statement from the National Low Income Housing Coalition said Trump’s executive order “is an empty shell of a promise that does nothing to prevent evictions and homelessness and acts only to mislead renters into believing that they are protected when they are not”.
When can we expect to see the actions taking effect?
The timeline for the rollout of the additional unemployment benefits and executive order for rents and homeowners is unclear. The former requires coordination from state governments, while the latter requires action from departments and agencies within the federal government.
The payroll tax holiday is set to begin on 1 September, but employers will probably choose to continue withholding federal taxes from their employees’ paychecks, anticipating that they will need to be paid at a future date.
The pause on student loan payments is under way and will last until the end of the year, per Trump’s memorandum.
Is Congress still negotiating its stimulus package?
Over the last two weeks, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been negotiating a stimulus package that could pass the Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate, but to no avail. Talks paused on Friday, with both sides blaming each other over the weekend for stalling talks. When and if they will go back to the negotiating table is uncertain.
The price of the stimulus package has been the sticking point in negotiations, with Democrats advocating for the $3.5tn Heroes Act the House passed in May while the Republicans push a package closer to $1tn.


theguardian--2020-08-12--Kamala Harris named as Joe Biden’s running mate – as it happened

Republicans and the Trump campaign have taken to calling Kamala Harris ’ politics “ extreme ” and leftist .
Though her politics have evolved left , Harris is a solidly moderate candidate who ideologically matches Joe Biden .
“ Harris ’ radical policies may be popular among liberals , but they are well outside the mainstream for most Americans , ” wrote Republican party chair Ronna McDaniel .
But Harris continues to draw criticism from the left for her record as a prosecutor .
As a presidential candidate , she put out a health care plan that was a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — which would provide Medicare for all Americans , but would also allow people to choose private plans .
Her stance wasn ’ t quite as progressive as that of Bernie Sanders .
On a call with reporters , Trump campaign adviser Katrina Pierson and Republican senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee criticized Harris for not being tough enough on crime and her record as a prosecutor that earned her the title of “ top cop ” .
“ It ’ s sort of conflating the issue — I mean she ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong people , ” Pierson told reporters as an explanation for the contradiction .

Maanvi Singh (now), Adam Gabbatt and Martin Belam (earlier)

12 Aug 2020 01.02 BST Summary Joe Biden has named Kamala Harris has his running mate. Harris is the first Black and first Asian American woman to be nominated for a major party’s presidential ticket. Biden’s campaign experienced the best hour of fundraising it had ever had after Harris was named as his running mate. Other women who were top contenders to become vice-presidential candidates, as well as many prominent Democrats, including Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders congratulated Harris. “Joe Biden nailed this decision,” said Obama.
Harris is the first Black and first Asian American woman to be nominated for a major party’s presidential ticket. Biden’s campaign experienced the best hour of fundraising it had ever had after Harris was named as his running mate. Other women who were top contenders to become vice-presidential candidates, as well as many prominent Democrats, including Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders congratulated Harris. “Joe Biden nailed this decision,” said Obama. Donald Trump and his campaign immediately attacked Harris as an extreme liberal, despite her relatively moderate politics. On a call with reporters, Trump campaign adviser Katrina Pierson and Republican senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee criticized Harris for not being tough enough on crime and her record as a prosecutor that earned her the title of“top cop”.
On a call with reporters, Trump campaign adviser Katrina Pierson and Republican senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee criticized Harris for not being tough enough on crime and her record as a prosecutor that earned her the title of“top cop”. During a news conference, Trump continued to repeat misleading statements and downplayed the severity of the coronavirus pandemic in the US. He also criticized Harris for her questioning of justice Brett Kavanaugh, who is accused of rape. In choosing Kamala Harris, Biden may have found the anti-Trump Read more
11 Aug 2020 00.48 BST Republicans and the Trump campaign have taken to calling Kamala Harris’ politics “extreme” and leftist. Though her politics have evolved left, Harris is a solidly moderate candidate who ideologically matches Joe Biden. Kamala Harris’ extreme positions, from raising taxes to abolishing private health insurance to comparing law enforcement officials to the KKK, show that the left-wing mob is controlling Joe Biden’s candidacy, just like they would control him as president. — Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) August 11, 2020 “Harris’ radical policies may be popular among liberals, but they are well outside the mainstream for most Americans,” wrote Republican party chair Ronna McDaniel. But Harris continues to draw criticism from the left for her record as a prosecutor. As a presidential candidate, she put out a health care plan that was a bit to the left of Biden’s — which would provide Medicare for all Americans, but would also allow people to choose private plans. Her stance wasn’t quite as progressive as that of Bernie Sanders. On a call with reporters, Trump campaign adviser Katrina Pierson and Republican senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee criticized Harris for not being tough enough on crime and her record as a prosecutor that earned her the title of“top cop”. “It’s sort of conflating the issue — I mean she’s a phony. She was going after the wrong people,” Pierson told reporters as an explanation for the contradiction.
11 Aug 2020 00.10 BST Joe Biden had promised to choose a woman as his running mate, but his naming of a Black woman as his vice president is not only historic but also an acknowledgment that Black women’s voting power — and how crucial Black women are to Democratic candidates success in elections. As Nikole Hannah Jones, the Pulitzer prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project points out, “so few Black women voted for Trump in 2020 that they fell within the statistical margin of error”. If you look at support for social safety net programs, for livable wages, for public goods and opposition to programs that are punitive and individualistic, Black women have consistently shown a support for the common good over the individual at the highest rates. — Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) August 11, 2020
Updated at 00.10 BST
11 Aug 2020 23.41 BST Elizabeth Warren, who was also a top contender to be Biden’s vice-president, congratulated her fellow senator Harris. “I’ve known Kamala Harris for a long time —– from when she took on Wall Street during the financial crisis as attorney general to working for the people every day as a United States senator,” Warren wrote. .@KamalaHarris will be a great partner to @JoeBiden in making our government a powerful force for good in the fight for social, racial, and economic justice. pic.twitter.com/q5ggXBro5B — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 11, 2020 Speculation has already begun over what – if any – role Biden might offer Warren in his administration if he wins the November election.
Updated at 23.49 BST
11 Aug 2020 23.26 BST Joe Biden’s campaign has said that the hour when Kamala Harris was announced as his running mate was the best fundraising hour ever for the presidential candidate. and just like that! 4-5pm this evening just became our best fundraising hour ~ever over at @TeamJoe. obviously this is a huge day for the campaign w @KamalaHarris joining the team and i think it's only a sign of all the great things to come!
text READY to 30330 to join us 🙂 — clarke humphrey (@_clarkekent) August 11, 2020
11 Aug 2020 23.23 BST Donald Trump exited the news briefing after taking questions from mostly friendly reporters. He did not answer a question, shouted as he left the podium, about his past donation to Harris, per reporters in the room.
11 Aug 2020 23.20 BST Fact check: “The fact is, we caught Joe Biden, President Obama the whole group ... we caught them spying on our campaign. This was an illegal act,” Trump said. “This was the highest level of treason.” The fact is, there was no treason. The president has often accused Obama of “illegally” overseeing an FBI investigation into the Trump 2016 campaign. But, the Department of Justice inspector general found no “documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivation” after investigating the origins of the FBI investigation into Russian interference in the elections.
Updated at 23.33 BST
11 Aug 2020 23.07 BST “She was my No 1 draft pick,” for Biden’s running mate, Trump said of Harris. Mispronouncing her first name, Trump said Harris was “nasty to a level that was just a horrible thing” to the supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh, and “nasty” to Biden during the campaign as well.
Updated at 23.21 BST
11 Aug 2020 23.02 BST Fact check: Once again, Donald Trump has been spouting false and misleading statements in an attempt to play down the severity of the coronavirus pandemic in the US. One example: Trump pointed to surges in cases in Germany, France, Spain and other European countries. Those surges are far smaller than what the US is experiencing. Germany yesterday reported 966 cases and four deaths. France reported an average of about 1,600 new infections a day for the past seven days. The US reported 40,522 new cases and 565 new deaths today. Per the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, the US ranks 10th highest in the world for coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people.
Updated at 23.22 BST
11 Aug 2020 22.40 BST A visual for our pandemic times. Here’s Biden telling Harris he’d like her to be his running mate – via video chat. This picture captures a moment from the conversation @JoeBiden had with @KamalaHarris earlier this afternoon when he told her she would be his running mate, per source familiar. https://t.co/HM6C1DSszz — Marianna Sotomayor (@MariannaNBCNews) August 11, 2020
Updated at 23.23 BST


theguardian--2020-08-11--In choosing Kamala Harris, Biden may have found the anti-Trump

Joe Biden may have just chosen the anti-Trump as his running mate – and , if he wins , as his successor .
The selection of California senator Kamala Harris for the Democrats ’ vice-presidential nomination puts a woman of colour on a major party ticket for the first time in America ’ s 244-year-old history .
It also comes loaded with symbolism in an era that has seen the election of a president roared on by white supremacists , the dawn of the # MeToo movement and a mass uprising for the cause of Black Lives Matter .
Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It makes it look more like America , ” Eugene Robinson , a newspaper columnist , told the MSNBC network .
“ It makes it more like the America that we are becoming than the other party which looks more like the America we once were , or the America that many think we once were.
” Just when it seemed the contrast between these national visions could not be more vivid , it became even more so .
The moment of racial reckoning became even more acute .
And given Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 78 years old on inauguration day – and his lack of clear commitment to serving a second term , Harris is now better placed than anyone to be America ’ s first female president , a glass ceiling that Hillary Clinton did not manage to shatter in 2016 .
That is why this vice-presidential pick is way more important than usual .
John Adams , the first person to hold the job , called it “ the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not worth a bucket of warm spit ” .
Walter Mondale said : “ The office is handmade for ridicule and for dismissal .
In the nature of it , you always look like a supplicant , a beggar , a person on a string.
” Clinton ’ s choice in 2016 , Tim Kaine , was no game changer .
She has said her three considerations for choosing a running mate were someone ready to take over as president ; a governing partner she was comfortable with ; someone who could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hindsight , she may have got those priorities in the wrong order .
After four years of Donald Trump and his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic at a cost of tens of thousands of lives , Democrats understand that winning is everything .
That will have figured prominently in Biden ’ s thinking , despite his insistence on finding someone with whom he is “ simpatico ” .
As a candidate , Harris ’ s strengths are formidable and her weaknesses are relatively slight .
Her legal career means she is well placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the vice-presidential debate in October and against Trump ’ s administration in general .
She has demonstrated this skill during congressional hearings , notably grilling the president ’ s highly controversial supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh , and even in debates against Biden himself .
Trump cited both incidents at a White House briefing on Tuesday , branding Harris as “ nasty ” , echoing the “ nasty woman ” phrase he used about Clinton in 2016 .
But he has , so far , failed to come up with a disparaging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former prosecutor also goes some way to neutralising Trump ’ s “ law and order ” campaign theme , which seeks to portray Biden and Democrats as soft on crime .
And despite hailing from “ coastal elite ” California , Harris is less vulnerable than a choice such as the progressive senator Elizabeth Warren would have been to the Republican critique that Biden is a Trojan horse for the radical left .
Biden performed strongly among African American voters during the Democratic primary but continues to make gaffes , saying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem figuring out whether you ’ re for me or Trump , then you ain ’ t black.
” Democrats will be hoping that Harris ’ s historic candidacy dampens such concerns .
Like Barack Obama , she is mixed race ( her father from Jamaica , her mother from India ) , spent part of her childhood abroad ( in Canada ) , protested against apartheid in South Africa and became a lawyer and then a Democratic senator .
She has seen the world through eyes that no white man can .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hold : An American Journey , Harris describes how her mother became conditioned to discrimination at airport customs because of her accent and skin colour .
So when Harris and her husband , Doug Emhoff , who is white , first went through customs together , her muscle memory kicked in , she writes .
“ I was preparing myself in the usual way , making sure we had everything just right and in order .
Meanwhile , Doug was as relaxed as ever .
It frustrated me that he was so casual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wondering , ‘ What ’ s the problem ?
’ We had been raised in different realities .
It was eye-opening for us both.
” Harris ’ s selection offers a measure of redemption for Democrats who , after holding the most diverse primary race in history , still went for the septuagenarian white guy .
The defeat of Harris and others was a bitter blow for many in a party that has declared Black women to be its “ backbone ” .
Now , as Trump leans into white identity politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnout of female and African American voters , not least in critical swing states such as Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin , where a dip in Black turnout last time cost Clinton dearly .
But this will be a stress test for Democratic party unity .
Harris can be seen as being to the left of Biden , but that is not saying very much .
Progressives have worried about her career as California ’ s attorney general , including her support of an initiative that threatened the parents of repeatedly truant schoolchildren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , the Democrats have done a better job than in 2016 of putting their differences to one side , such is the existential threat posed by Trump .
They will know that in voting for Biden-Harris in 2020 , they may well be voting for Harris in 2024 .
“ The Democrats now have a presidential ticket that reflects the American people better than the GOP ticket and every presidential ticket in US history , ” tweeted the historian and author Ibram X Kendi .
“ It ’ s not everything .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism + sexism .
It ’ s not the freeing of Black womanhood .
But it can be the start .
”

Joe Biden may have just chosen the anti-Trump as his running mate – and, if he wins, as his successor.
The selection of California senator Kamala Harris for the Democrats’ vice-presidential nomination puts a woman of colour on a major party ticket for the first time in America’s 244-year-old history.
It also comes loaded with symbolism in an era that has seen the election of a president roared on by white supremacists, the dawn of the #MeToo movement and a mass uprising for the cause of Black Lives Matter. Tuesday shows how the picture is changing.
“It makes it look more like America,” Eugene Robinson, a newspaper columnist, told the MSNBC network. “It makes it more like the America that we are becoming than the other party which looks more like the America we once were, or the America that many think we once were.”
Just when it seemed the contrast between these national visions could not be more vivid, it became even more so. The moment of racial reckoning became even more acute.
And given Biden’s age – he will be 78 years old on inauguration day – and his lack of clear commitment to serving a second term, Harris is now better placed than anyone to be America’s first female president, a glass ceiling that Hillary Clinton did not manage to shatter in 2016.
That is why this vice-presidential pick is way more important than usual. John Adams, the first person to hold the job, called it “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived”. John Nance Garner famously said it “is not worth a bucket of warm spit”. Walter Mondale said: “The office is handmade for ridicule and for dismissal. In the nature of it, you always look like a supplicant, a beggar, a person on a string.”
Kamala Harris and Joe Biden during a campaign stop in Detroit, Michigan, on 9 March. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Clinton’s choice in 2016, Tim Kaine, was no game changer. She has said her three considerations for choosing a running mate were someone ready to take over as president; a governing partner she was comfortable with; someone who could help her win the election.
With hindsight, she may have got those priorities in the wrong order. After four years of Donald Trump and his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic at a cost of tens of thousands of lives, Democrats understand that winning is everything. That will have figured prominently in Biden’s thinking, despite his insistence on finding someone with whom he is “simpatico”.
As a candidate, Harris’s strengths are formidable and her weaknesses are relatively slight. Her legal career means she is well placed to prosecute the case against Mike Pence in the vice-presidential debate in October and against Trump’s administration in general.
04:59 Kamala Harris: memorable moments from Joe Biden's VP pick – video
She has demonstrated this skill during congressional hearings, notably grilling the president’s highly controversial supreme court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, and even in debates against Biden himself. Trump cited both incidents at a White House briefing on Tuesday, branding Harris as “nasty”, echoing the “nasty woman” phrase he used about Clinton in 2016. But he has, so far, failed to come up with a disparaging nickname for her.
Her career as a former prosecutor also goes some way to neutralising Trump’s “law and order” campaign theme, which seeks to portray Biden and Democrats as soft on crime. And despite hailing from “coastal elite” California, Harris is less vulnerable than a choice such as the progressive senator Elizabeth Warren would have been to the Republican critique that Biden is a Trojan horse for the radical left.
Biden performed strongly among African American voters during the Democratic primary but continues to make gaffes, saying in May: “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
Democrats will be hoping that Harris’s historic candidacy dampens such concerns. Like Barack Obama, she is mixed race (her father from Jamaica, her mother from India), spent part of her childhood abroad (in Canada), protested against apartheid in South Africa and became a lawyer and then a Democratic senator.
Kamala Harris speaks during a senate judiciary committee hearing in Washington DC in June. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
She has seen the world through eyes that no white man can. In her memoir, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey, Harris describes how her mother became conditioned to discrimination at airport customs because of her accent and skin colour. So when Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, who is white, first went through customs together, her muscle memory kicked in, she writes.
“I was preparing myself in the usual way, making sure we had everything just right and in order. Meanwhile, Doug was as relaxed as ever. It frustrated me that he was so casual. He was genuinely perplexed, innocently wondering, ‘What’s the problem?’ We had been raised in different realities. It was eye-opening for us both.”
Harris’s selection offers a measure of redemption for Democrats who, after holding the most diverse primary race in history, still went for the septuagenarian white guy. The defeat of Harris and others was a bitter blow for many in a party that has declared Black women to be its “backbone”.
Now, as Trump leans into white identity politics, Democrats believe that Harris will maximise the turnout of female and African American voters, not least in critical swing states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where a dip in Black turnout last time cost Clinton dearly.
But this will be a stress test for Democratic party unity. Harris can be seen as being to the left of Biden, but that is not saying very much. Progressives have worried about her career as California’s attorney general, including her support of an initiative that threatened the parents of repeatedly truant schoolchildren with prison sentences.
So far, however, the Democrats have done a better job than in 2016 of putting their differences to one side, such is the existential threat posed by Trump. They will know that in voting for Biden-Harris in 2020, they may well be voting for Harris in 2024.
“The Democrats now have a presidential ticket that reflects the American people better than the GOP ticket and every presidential ticket in US history,” tweeted the historian and author Ibram X Kendi. “It’s not everything. It’s not the crushing of racism + sexism. It’s not the freeing of Black womanhood. But it can be the start.”


theguardian--2020-08-11--Kamala Harris: trailblazer who went from Joe Biden’s rival to running mate

Just a year ago , Kamala Harris and Joe Biden were sparring on a debate stage over racism .
Harris , then a Democratic presidential candidate , attacked her rival over his past opposition to mandated busing to integrate racially segregated schools .
“ I do not believe you are a racist , ” Harris told Biden .
“ There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day .
That little girl was me.
” A year later , Harris is once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after agreeing to serve as the former vice-president ’ s running mate in his bid to unseat Donald Trump .
Biden announced Tuesday that he had selected Harris as his running mate , making the California senator the first woman of color to join a major political party ’ s presidential ticket .
Harris , the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants , will be the first Black and Asian American vice-president if she and Biden defeat Trump in the November presidential election .
Harris ’ career has been defined by trailblazing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Alameda county district attorney ’ s office , Harris became the first Black woman to be elected as San Francisco ’ s district attorney .
Seven years later , she made history again as the first Black woman to be elected as California attorney general .
“ I ’ m proud to call @ KamalaHarris my dear friend and sister – and next year , I ’ ll be even more proud to call her our Vice President , ” tweeted fellow senator Cory Booker .
“ This is history .
Kamala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country well as the first Black and Asian American woman on a major party ’ s ticket.
” As a member of the Senate judiciary committee , she quickly became known for her tough questioning of Trump administration officials , such as former attorney general Jeff Sessions , who said Harris made him “ nervous ” .
During the tense supreme court confirmation hearing for Donald Trump ’ s controversial pick Brett Kavanaugh , Harris earned praise from liberals for her line of questioning .
“ Can you think of any laws that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions about the male body ?
” she asked the conservative judge as she grilled him on his views on Roe v Wade , the landmark 1973 case that recognized a woman ’ s constitutional right to abortion .
However , while Harris ’ past roles appear to have prepared her well for committee hearings , her prosecutorial record has also attracted criticism , with many criminal justice activists arguing Harris did not go far enough to crack down on police misconduct .
That criticism hampered Harris ’ s own presidential campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The rising star had originally been considered a frontrunner for the nomination , and she jumped in the polls after she confronted Biden at the first Democratic debate .
But Harris ’ post-debate polling bump was short-lived , and she was forced to suspend her campaign late last year as her fundraising dried up .
After her withdrawal , Harris and Biden indicated they were on excellent terms , despite their debate dust-up , and she endorsed her former rival in March .
There had been widespread speculation that Harris would join @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she worked with Biden ’ s late son .
Harris and Beau Biden simultaneously served as state attorneys general , and the pair developed a close friendship as they worked on cases together .
Beau died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46 .
“ Back when Kamala was attorney general , she worked closely with Beau , ” Biden said in a tweet announcing his selection .
“ I watched as they took on the big banks , lifted up working people , and protected women and kids from abuse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.
” The selection of Harris could further improve Biden ’ s standing among Black voters , who were instrumental in his successful bid to capture the Democratic nomination .
During her presidential campaign , Harris frequently cited her degree from Howard University , a historically Black university , and her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha , the nation ’ s oldest Black sorority , to help her develop closer ties with African American women .
Harris ’ presence on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnout , but she will also probably face continued criticism over her long prosecutorial career , particularly as the nation experiences a reckoning over racism and policing .
In the weeks after the death of George Floyd , an African American man who was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer , Biden was urged to choose a Black woman as his running mate .
However , many progressives complained Harris ’ s background as a prosecutor made her an inappropriate choice .
Those critiques were clearly not enough to sway Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighter for the little guy , and one of the country ’ s finest public servants ” .

Just a year ago, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden were sparring over racism on a debate stage. Harris, then a Democratic presidential candidate, attacked her rival over his past opposition to mandated bussing, a policy that aimed to integrate racially segregated schools in the late 1960s and 70s.
In one of the defining moments of the Democratic primary race, Harris - the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants – opened up a little about her own childhood growing up in Berkeley and Oakland in California.
“I do not believe you are a racist,” Harris told Biden, after criticising other off the cuff comments he had made on his fond memories of working alongside segregationist senators.
“There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day. That little girl was me.”
There was a little girl in California who was bussed to school. That little girl was me. #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/XKm2xP1MDH — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 28, 2019
A year later, Harris is once again sharing a stage with Biden, after agreeing to serve as the former vice-president’s running mate in his bid to unseat Donald Trump. The former rivals have now turned team mates.
Harris is the first woman of color to join a major political party’s presidential ticket, and will be the first Black and Asian American vice-president if she and Biden defeat Trump in the November presidential election. And her career to-date has been defined by trailblazing too.
“I was raised to take action,” Harris says in a video she posted on Twitter on Wednesday, her first since becoming Biden’s running mate. “My mother knew that she was raising two Black daughters who would be treated differently because of how they looked.
Growing up, whenever I got upset about something, my mother would look me in the eye and ask: ‘so what are you gonna do about it?’”
Born in 1964 to Shyamala Gopalan, a Indian-born Tamil American cancer researcher, and Donald Harris, an American economist from Jamaica, Harris has spoken of how her parents bonded over civil rights, and she was taken to protests as a child with her sister, Maya.
After her parents divorced when she was seven, the siblings were raised by their mother, whom Harris has praised as a barrier-breaker with a huge influence on her life.
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Harris is the first person to have graduated from a historically black college and university (HBCU) to be nominated on a presidential ticket for a major political party.
In the 1980s, she attended Howard University in Washington DC, where fellow students remember her as being a “focused” student who “[meant] business” and didn’t back down from making a point.
“[Our generation] came up after the Civil Rights Act. We came up after the Voting Rights Act,” Jill Louis, one of her sorority sisters at Howard, told ABC. “So we believed that the legal barriers were now gone, and now it was about reaching out and grabbing opportunity.”
Fast forward to 2003, and after several years in the Alameda county district attorney’s office, Harris became the first Black woman to be elected as San Francisco’s district attorney. Seven years later, she made history again as the first Black woman to be elected as California attorney general.
“I’m proud to call Kamala Harris my dear friend and sister – and next year, I’ll be even more proud to call her our Vice President,” tweeted fellow senator Cory Booker.
“This is history. Kamala is a trailblazer who will serve this country well as the first Black and Asian American woman on a major party’s ticket.”
As a member of the Senate judiciary committee, she quickly became known for her tough questioning of Trump administration officials, such as former attorney general Jeff Sessions, who said Harris made him “nervous”.
During the tense supreme court confirmation hearing for Donald Trump’s controversial pick Brett Kavanaugh, Harris earned praise from liberals for her line of questioning.
“Can you think of any laws that give the government the power to make decisions about the male body?” she asked the conservative judge as she grilled him on his views on Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 case that recognized a woman’s constitutional right to abortion.
However, while Harris’ past roles appear to have prepared her well for committee hearings, her prosecutorial record has also attracted criticism, with many criminal justice activists arguing Harris did not go far enough to crack down on police misconduct.
That criticism hampered Harris’s own presidential campaign, which came to an end in December. The rising star had originally been considered a frontrunner for the nomination, and she jumped in the polls after she confronted Biden at the first Democratic debate.
But Harris’ post-debate polling bump was short-lived, and she was forced to suspend her campaign late last year as her fundraising dried up. After her withdrawal, Harris and Biden indicated they were on excellent terms, despite their debate dust-up, and she endorsed her former rival in March.
Kamala Harris waves next to her husband, Douglas Emhoff, during a rally launching her presidential campaign in January 2019 in Oakland. Photograph: Noah Berger/AFP/Getty Images
Harris, 55, had often highlighted the support she received from her husband, entertainment lawyer Douglas Emhoff, who frequently joined her on the campaign trail and spoke at events.
“Finally catching up, and I’m loving all of the amazing responses, reactions, reachouts and of course, just so happy for the #KHive,” he tweeted on Tuesday after Harris’s nomination was announced, using the nickname for her supporters. “But now, the work begins. Let’s all come together and do this for Joe. #KHiveForBiden #BidenHarris2020.”
Raised with Hindu and Christian influences, Harris identifies as a Baptist, and brought another faith into her life in 2014 when she married Emhoff, a divorced father of two children who is Jewish. Harris’s two adult stepchildren have given her the nickname of “Momala,” a rhyme with her name that recalls the Yiddish term “mamaleh.”
Jeff Sessions ‘nervous’ during Capitol Hill questioning – video Guardian
There had been widespread speculation that Harris would join the Democratic presidential ticket, particularly because she worked with Biden’s late son. Harris and Beau Biden simultaneously served as state attorneys general, and the pair developed a close friendship as they worked on cases together. Beau died of brain cancer in 2015 aged 46.
“Back when Kamala was attorney general, she worked closely with Beau,” Biden said in a tweet announcing his selection. “I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people, and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I’m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.”
The selection of Harris could further improve Biden’s standing among Black voters, who were instrumental in his successful bid to capture the Democratic nomination. During her presidential campaign, Harris frequently cited her degree from Howard University and her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s oldest Black sorority, to help her develop closer ties with African American women.
Harris’ presence on the presidential ticket could help boost African American turnout, but she will also probably face continued criticism over her long prosecutorial career, particularly as the nation experiences a reckoning over racism and policing.
In the weeks after the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer, Biden was urged to choose a Black woman as his running mate. However, many progressives complained Harris’s background as a prosecutor made her an inappropriate choice.
Those critiques were clearly not enough to sway Biden, who described Harris as “a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants”.
Associated Press contributed to this report


theguardian--2020-08-11--Joe Biden picks Kamala Harris as his running mate in historic first for a woman of color

Joe Biden has named California senator Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate , a historic choice he believes will bolster his chances of beating Donald Trump in an election year shaped by the global coronavirus pandemic and a national reckoning on race .
Harris – Biden ’ s former Democratic presidential rival and a barrier-breaking former prosecutor – is the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India and is the first Black woman and the first Asian American to be nominated for a major party ’ s presidential ticket .
“ I have the great honor to announce that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fearless fighter for the little guy , and one of the country ’ s finest public servants – as my running mate , ” Biden wrote on Twitter .
In a tweet , Harris said she was “ honored ” to join Biden on the Democratic ticket and pledged to “ do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief ” .
Biden announced the selection in a text and email message to supporters .
His campaign said the two would hold their first event together on Wednesday , in Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though Biden and Harris clashed during the Democratic presidential debates before she dropped out of the race last year , she has become a strong supporter and a voice of authority on issues of racial justice in an election year convulsed by nationwide protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd .
The decision is of great consequence , not only for Democrats ’ immediate political prospects but for the future of the party .
Biden , who , at 77 , would be the oldest person ever elected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate ” and a “ bridge ” to a new generation of leaders , fueling speculation that should he be elected , he would be a one-term-president .
In selecting Harris , a 55-year-old Democratic star , he may not only be naming a partner but a potential successor who could become the nation ’ s first female president .
Harris is among the most prominent Black women in American politics , with appeal across the party ’ s ideological spectrum .
She served six years as the attorney general of California before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During the primary , Harris struggled to reconcile her prosecutorial record with her support for criminal justice reform , facing criticism from progressives who doubted her evolution on the issue .
But on Tuesday , the announcement was celebrated by Democrats from diverse political backgrounds .
“ Joe Biden nailed this decision , ” said Barack Obama , who went through a similar process in 2008 when he selected Biden as his running mate , in a statement .
“ By choosing Senator Kamala Harris as America ’ s next vice president , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and character .
Reality shows us that these attributes are not optional in a president .
They ’ re requirements of the job.
” “ She understands what it takes to stand up for working people , fight for health care for all , and take down the most corrupt administration in history , ” Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted .
Black women were critical to Biden ’ s success in the Democratic primary , lifting him to victory in South Carolina after series of stinging losses .
But the political landscape changed after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , touching off months of mass anti-racism protests that intensified pressure on Biden to to select a Black running mate .
“ For a little girl who grew up poor , Black and female in the South to be considered during this process has been an incredible honor , ” said the Florida congresswoman Val Demings , who was one of six Black women considered for the role .
“ I feel so blessed .
To see a Black woman nominated for the first time reaffirms my faith that in America , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succeed no matter who they are or where they come from.
” Harris ’ own presidential campaign began on a high note in January 2019 , as she announced her candidacy on Martin Luther King Day and paid tribute to Shirley Chisholm , the first Black woman to seek the nomination of a major party .
She officially kicked off her campaign with an Oakland rally attended by more than 20,000 people .
The one-term senator was considered an early frontrunner for the nomination , and her polling numbers surged after a contentious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate .
Harris pushed Biden on his past opposition to mandated busing to racially integrate schools .
“ There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bussed to school every day .
That little girl was me , ” Harris told Biden .
Biden appeared taken aback by the confrontation , but the two Democrats indicated they had made amends after Harris suspended her campaign in December .
Harris endorsed Biden ’ s presidential bid in March .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange to cast Harris as hypocrite , while assailing her – in the same sentence – as both a tough-on-crime prosecutor and a far-left radical .
“ Not long ago , Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an apology she never received , ” said Katrina Pierson , a senior adviser to the Trump campaign and one of his most high-profile Black surrogates .
“ Clearly , Phony Kamala will abandon her own morals , as well as try to bury her record as a prosecutor , in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat party.
” Though Harris has long been viewed as a likely contender for the nomination , some advisers and allies of the former vice-president harbored reservations .
In the weeks before she was selected , reports surfaced that the former senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut , part of Biden ’ s vice-presidential vetting panel , had told donors she demonstrated “ no remorse ” for her attacks on Biden while on a debate stage .
Others anonymously accused her of having too much “ ambition ” and a personality that can “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For many Democratic women , the backlash was further evidence of the importance of selecting a candidate who demonstrated the vital role of Black women within the party .
“ Senator Harris is a fearless champion for justice , ” said Adrianne Shropshire , executive director of BlackPac .
“ She understands the urgency of the moment and will work to restore competent , moral leadership to Washington.
” Harris was elected to the Senate in 2016 , becoming only the second black woman ever to serve in the chamber .
A fierce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national attention for her prosecutorial-style inquisitions during Senate committee hearings with Trump administration officials .
In one memorable exchange , a flustered Jeff Sessions , then the attorney general , told her : “ I ’ m not able to be rushed this fast – it makes me nervous.
” Biden was unusually candid about the selection process , an affair traditionally shrouded in secrecy and intrigue .
Having spent eight years serving as vice-president to the nation ’ s first Black president , Biden recalled the experience fondly and presented their working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was looking for in a running mate .
During Zoom meetings with donors and supporters , he would often expand on his search , emphasizing that he wanted someone “ simpatico ” with his personality and his world view as well as someone who was ready to govern on day one .
Only two women have previously been nominated for the vice presidency of a major political party and neither was successful : Sarah Palin , the governor of Alaska , in 2008 , and the congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 .
Angela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became a prominent figure in the Black Power movement , was twice nominated as the vice-presidential candidate of the Communist party in the 1980s .
“ Today is a spark of hope and a watershed moment for Black women and women of color , ” said Aimee Allison , Founder of She the People , an organization dedicated to mobilizing women of color .
“ This is one step in a much larger fight for representation towards the multi-racial Democracy women of color have dreamed of , fought for and bled for , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latina , Indigenous , and Asian American women leading at every level of American politics .
”

Lauren Gambino and Joan E Greve in Washington

Joe Biden has named California senator Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate, a historic choice he believes will bolster his chances of beating Donald Trump in an election year shaped by the coronavirus pandemic and a national reckoning on race.
Harris – Biden’s one-time presidential rival and a barrier-breaking former prosecutor – is the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India and is the first Black woman and the first Asian American to be nominated for a major party’s presidential ticket.
04:50 Why Joe Biden picked Kamala Harris as his running mate – video explainer
“I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked Kamala Harris – a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants – as my running mate,” Biden wrote on Twitter.
In a tweet, Harris said she was “honored” to join Biden on the Democratic ticket and pledged to “do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief”.
Biden announced his selection in a text and email message to supporters. His campaign said the two would hold their first event together on Wednesday, in Biden’s home town of Wilmington, Delaware.
Though Harris clashed with Biden during the Democratic debates before she dropped out of the race last year, she has become a strong supporter and a voice of authority on issues of racial justice in an election year convulsed by nationwide protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd.
The decision is of great consequence, not only for Democrats’ immediate political prospects but for the future of the party.
Biden, who at 77 would be the oldest person ever elected, has pitched himself as a “transitional candidate” and a “bridge” to a new generation of leaders, fueling speculation that should he be elected, he would be a one-term-president.
In selecting Harris, a 55-year-old Democratic star, he may not only be naming a partner but a potential successor who could become the nation’s first female president.
Biden and Harris speak after the Democratic presidential debate at Texas Southern University in September in Houston. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Harris is among the most prominent Black women in American politics, with appeal across the party’s ideological spectrum. She served six years as the attorney general of California before arriving in the Senate in 2016.
During the primary, Harris struggled to reconcile her prosecutorial record with her support for criminal justice reform, facing criticism from progressives who doubted her evolution on the issue. But on Tuesday, the announcement was celebrated by Democrats from diverse political backgrounds.
“Joe Biden nailed this decision,” said Barack Obama, who went through a similar process in 2008 when he selected Biden as his running mate, in a statement. “By choosing Kamala Harris as America’s next vice president, he’s underscored his own judgment and character. Reality shows us that these attributes are not optional in a president. They’re requirements of the job.”
“She understands what it takes to stand up for working people, fight for health care for all, and take down the most corrupt administration in history,” Bernie Sanders tweeted.
Black women were critical to Biden’s success in the Democratic primary, lifting him to victory in South Carolina after series of stinging losses. But the political landscape changed after Floyd was killed in Minneapolis in May, touching off months of mass anti-racism protests that intensified pressure on Biden to to select a Black running mate.
“For a little girl who grew up poor, Black and female in the South to be considered during this process has been an incredible honor,” said the Florida congresswoman Val Demings, who was one of six Black women considered for the role. “I feel so blessed. To see a Black woman nominated for the first time reaffirms my faith that in America, there is a place for every person to succeed no matter who they are or where they come from.”
Harris’ own presidential campaign began on a high note in January 2019, as she announced her candidacy on Martin Luther King Day and paid tribute to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to seek the nomination of a major party.
She officially kicked off her campaign with an Oakland rally attended by more than 20,000 people. The one-term senator was considered an early frontrunner for the nomination, and her polling numbers surged after a contentious exchange with Biden at the first Democratic debate.
Harris, left, with her sister, Maya, and mother, Shyamala, outside their apartment in Berkeley, California, in 1970. Photograph: Kamala Harris campaign/AP
Harris pushed Biden on his past opposition to mandated busing to racially integrate schools. “There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bussed to school every day. That little girl was me,” Harris told Biden.
Biden appeared taken aback by the confrontation, but the two Democrats indicated they had made amends after Harris suspended her campaign in December. Harris endorsed Biden’s presidential bid in March.
The Trump campaign immediately seized on their debate exchange to cast Harris as hypocrite, while assailing her – in the same sentence – as both a tough-on-crime prosecutor and a far-left radical.
“Not long ago, Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an apology she never received,” said Katrina Pierson, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign and one of his most high-profile Black surrogates. “Clearly, Phony Kamala will abandon her own morals, as well as try to bury her record as a prosecutor, in order to appease the anti-police extremists controlling the Democrat party.”
02:45 Trump's surprise as Joe Biden selects Kamala Harris as running mate: 'She was very nasty' – video
Though Harris has long been viewed as a likely contender for the nomination, some advisers and allies of Biden harbored reservations. In the weeks before she was selected, reports surfaced that the former senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, part of Biden’s vice-presidential vetting panel, had told donors she demonstrated “no remorse” for her attacks on Biden while on a debate stage. Others anonymously accused her of having too much “ambition” and a personality that can “rub people the wrong way”.
For many Democratic women, the backlash was further evidence of the importance of selecting a candidate who demonstrated the vital role of Black women within the party.
The Rev Al Sharpton escorts Harris past media and well-wishers as they arrive for a lunch meeting at Sylvia’s Restaurant in the Harlem neighborhood of New York in February 2019. Photograph: Bebeto Matthews/AP
“Senator Harris is a fearless champion for justice,” said Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPac. “She understands the urgency of the moment and will work to restore competent, moral leadership to Washington.”
Harris was elected to the Senate in 2016, becoming only the second black woman ever to serve in the chamber. A fierce critic of the president, Harris drew national attention for her prosecutorial-style inquisitions during Senate committee hearings with Trump administration officials. In one memorable exchange, a flustered Jeff Sessions, then the attorney general, told her: “I’m not able to be rushed this fast – it makes me nervous.”
Biden was unusually candid about the selection process, an affair traditionally shrouded in secrecy and intrigue. Having spent eight years serving as vice-president to the nation’s first Black president, Biden recalled the experience fondly and presented their working relationship as a model for what he was looking for in a running mate.
During Zoom meetings with donors and supporters, he would often expand on his search, emphasizing that he wanted someone “simpatico” with his personality and his world view as well as someone who was ready to govern on day one.
Only two women have previously been nominated for the vice presidency of a major political party and neither was successful: Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, in 2008, and the congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro in 1984.
Angela Davis, the philosopher and activist who became a prominent figure in the Black Power movement, was twice nominated as the vice-presidential candidate of the Communist party in the 1980s.
“Today is a spark of hope and a watershed moment for Black women and women of color,” said Aimee Allison, Founder of She the People, an organization dedicated to mobilizing women of color. “This is one step in a much larger fight for representation towards the multi-racial Democracy women of color have dreamed of, fought for and bled for, for generations. We need Black, Latina, Indigenous, and Asian American women leading at every level of American politics.”