theguardian--2020-08-13--Facebook adds labels to US posts about voting ahead of presidential election

Beginning Thursday , US Facebook users who post about voting may start seeing an addendum to their messages – labels directing readers to authoritative information about the upcoming presidential election .
It ’ s the social network ’ s latest step to combat election-related misinformation on its platform as the presidential election nears , one in which many voters may be submitting ballots by mail for the first time .
Facebook began adding similar links to posts about in-person and mail-in balloting by federal politicians , including Donald Trump , in July .
These labels will link to a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 that Facebook says has been seen by billions of users around the world .
The labels will read , “ Visit the Voting Information Center for election resources and official updates.
” Despite such efforts , Facebook continues to face widespread criticism about how it handles misinformation around elections and other matters .
The company has generally refused to factcheck ads by politicians , for instance , and a two-year audit of its civil rights practices faulted the company for leaving US elections “ exposed to interference by the president and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confusion and suppress voting ” .
The effectiveness of such labels will depend on how well Facebook ’ s artificial intelligence system identifies the posts that really need them , said Ethan Zuckerman , the director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ’ s Center for Civic Media .
If every post containing the word “ vote ” or “ voting ” gets an informational link , he said , “ people will start ignoring those links ” .
Facebook expects the voter hub to reach at least 160 million people in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who serves as head of social impact at the company .
The primary focus is registering people to vote , she said , but the information people see will evolve throughout the election season .
“ This is a unique election and a unique election season , “ she said .
“ Certainly we have never gone through an election during a global pandemic.
“ Other tech companies , Twitter and Google , which owns YouTube , have undertaken similar efforts around the November election .
Twitter said it is working on expanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique challenges ” related to this year ’ s elections , including misinformation around mail-in voting .
Looking ahead to November , Facebook said it was “ actively speaking with election officials about the potential of misinformation around election results as an emerging threat ” .
The company did not give details on the potential threats , but said that a prolonged ballot process where results are not immediately clear “ has the potential to be exploited in order to sow distrust in the election outcome ” .
“ One way we plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voting Information Center and the US Elections digest in Facebook News to make sure people have easy access to the latest , authoritative information and news on and after Election Night , “ Naomi Gleit , the vice-president of product management and social impact , wrote in a blogpost .

Beginning Thursday, US Facebook users who post about voting may start seeing an addendum to their messages – labels directing readers to authoritative information about the upcoming presidential election.
It’s the social network’s latest step to combat election-related misinformation on its platform as the presidential election nears, one in which many voters may be submitting ballots by mail for the first time. Facebook began adding similar links to posts about in-person and mail-in balloting by federal politicians, including Donald Trump, in July.
These labels will link to a new voter information hub similar to one about Covid-19 that Facebook says has been seen by billions of users around the world. The labels will read, “Visit the Voting Information Center for election resources and official updates.”
Despite such efforts, Facebook continues to face widespread criticism about how it handles misinformation around elections and other matters. The company has generally refused to factcheck ads by politicians, for instance, and a two-year audit of its civil rights practices faulted the company for leaving US elections “exposed to interference by the president and others who seek to use misinformation to sow confusion and suppress voting”.
The effectiveness of such labels will depend on how well Facebook’s artificial intelligence system identifies the posts that really need them, said Ethan Zuckerman, the director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Civic Media. If every post containing the word “vote” or “voting” gets an informational link, he said, “people will start ignoring those links”.
Facebook expects the voter hub to reach at least 160 million people in the US, said Emily Dalton Smith, who serves as head of social impact at the company. The primary focus is registering people to vote, she said, but the information people see will evolve throughout the election season.
“This is a unique election and a unique election season,“ she said. “Certainly we have never gone through an election during a global pandemic.“
Other tech companies, Twitter and Google, which owns YouTube, have undertaken similar efforts around the November election. Twitter said it is working on expanding its policies to address “new and unique challenges” related to this year’s elections, including misinformation around mail-in voting.
Looking ahead to November, Facebook said it was “actively speaking with election officials about the potential of misinformation around election results as an emerging threat”.
The company did not give details on the potential threats, but said that a prolonged ballot process where results are not immediately clear “has the potential to be exploited in order to sow distrust in the election outcome”.
“One way we plan to fight this is by using the Voting Information Center and the US Elections digest in Facebook News to make sure people have easy access to the latest, authoritative information and news on and after Election Night,“ Naomi Gleit, the vice-president of product management and social impact, wrote in a blogpost.


theguardian--2020-08-13--‘It sends a strong signal’: Black voters respond to Kamala Harris’ nomination

China Cochran met Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Detroit last year and was swept away by the California senator ’ s ambition , charisma and leadership .
So when the Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden named Harris as his running mate on Tuesday – making her the first Black woman on a major US party ’ s presidential ticket – Cochran wasn ’ t just struck by the history .
It represented a full-circle moment for Black women , who the Democratic party often refer to as its backbone of support , yet who for generations have fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political aspirations recognized .
“ It tells Black girls that they can be president , ” Cochran , who recently ran for state representative in Michigan , told the Associated Press .
“ I think it ’ s important for us to look at that and see other young women of color realize that they can go after their dreams and really make change in our world.
” Harris ’ selection also marks the first time a person of Asian descent is on the presidential ticket .
Born to a Jamaican father , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she often speaks of her deep bond with her late mother , Shyamala Gopalan , whom she has called her single biggest influence .
“ My mother understood very well she was raising two Black daughters .
She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya [ Harris ’ s younger sister ] and me as Black girls , and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident Black women , ” Harris wrote in her 2018 autobiography , The Truths We Hold .
As they appeared together for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high school in Biden ’ s home town of Wilmington on Wednesday , Biden and Harris reflected on the significance of the moment .
“ This morning , all across the nation , little girls woke up – especially little Black and brown girls , who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities .
But today , today , just maybe , they ’ re seeing themselves for the first time in a new way , ” Biden said .
Paying tribute to the many women that paved the way for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all of the “ heroic and ambitious women before me , whose sacrifice , determination and resilience make my presence here today even possible ” .
Harris joins the ticket during a national reckoning on racism in the US .
The coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately affected Black Americans and other people of color .
Protests against systemic racism and police brutality are prominent in the minds of potential voters .
Black women in particular helped rescue Biden ’ s campaign earlier this year by delivering a resounding victory in the South Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination .
As he prepares for the general election on 3 November , Biden is trying to recreate the multiracial and cross-generational coalition that twice sent Barack Obama to the White House .
That will hinge on Black voters in battleground states like Michigan to turn out in force in November .
“ We ’ ve seen from an electoral process what happens if we don ’ t vote , that can mean the difference between winning and losing a state , ” said Karen Finney , a senior Democratic strategist and spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
“ We ’ re in this moral inflection point of this country and Vice-President Biden is someone who ’ s talked about healing the soul of our country and certainly one of the ways to do that is to uplift the voices of Black women.
” Strategists said that Harris will help that effort .
“ It sends a strong signal about not only the current state of our party but what the future of our party looks like , ” Antjuan Seawright , a veteran political strategist in South Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what better way to reward a group of people who have been the political glue in this party than to put an African American woman on the ticket.
” Harris ’ vice-presidential nomination also represents the first time that a graduate of a historically Black college or university ( HBCU ) will be represented on the ticket .
Harris graduated from Howard University in Washington DC and is a member of the storied Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha .
In Wilmington on Wednesday , Debbie Harrington , a member of the AKA sorority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choice of Harris had revealed something new about the candidate .
“ It showed that he was listening to the people who are speaking up around the world and asking for equity , justice and fairness , ” said Harrington , referring to the nationwide anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May .
“ His pick said : ‘ I hear you .
And not only did I hear you , I understand you and I ’ m going to do something about it.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely been applauded among the Democratic party and voters , some have also raised concerns .
Harris has previously labelled herself both a “ top cop ” and a “ progressive prosecutor ” , and her record as California attorney general and district attorney in San Francisco could make it difficult for Biden to galvanize support among younger Black and Latino voters .
Lindsey Roland , a 31-year-old Black woman and Michigan real estate agent , said that background gave her pause .
“ While I fully appreciate her scope of responsibilities while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still think she was empowered to stand up more for minorities , and I think it was just a really missed opportunity , ” she said .
“ But I absolutely will be voting .
We have far too much at stake .
And for me , as a mother , I ’ m frightened and I just feel like another four years with this administration will be catastrophic.
” Writing in the Guardian , social movement lawyer Derecka Purnell said progressives will need to defend Harris against racist and sexist attacks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account .
“ When activists criticized President Barack Obama , we were scathingly reminded how hard it was for him to be a Black man in the White House , ” she wrote .
“ He had significant executive power and influence to shift resources , call for legislation , and even free people from prison ( which his own administration seemingly neglected ) .
We were told to wait.
” Some of the nation ’ s leading activists who have long fought for criminal justice reform see Harris as a potential ally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Change ’ s president , Rashad Robinson , said Harris has evolved over time and declared herself a “ progressive prosecutor ” who backs reform .
“ What I appreciate about her is that she ’ s been willing to listen and willing to evolve , and she ’ s been willing to put legislation behind that evolution and policy platforms behind that evolution , ” Robinson said .
“ Yes , I think there will be very real things that people will raise , but I think that she has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Alicia Garza , the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement , said the nation was in a moment where “ deep and profound change is needed ” .
“ For some activists , it is important that a Black woman is represented on this ticket , and for other activists , substance is going to be much more important than symbolism , ” Garza said .
“ The trick of getting people out to vote will be a successful combination of the two .
This is an incredible moment of opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is rife with possibility and I ’ m still hopeful that this newly announced ticket will rise to meet the moment.
” It ’ s also not lost on many that the selection comes nearly 100 years after the 19th amendment was ratified , giving women the right to vote .
But for Black women , the freedom to vote didn ’ t come until much later , part of a historical pattern of being denied justice offered to others .
For Nse Ufot , CEO of the New Georgia Project , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reminder how much more work needs to be done .
Ahead of the election , her organization is working to register more than one million Black , Latino and Asian American voters .
So , far they ’ ve registered 425,000 in the state .
“ It took an additional 45 years of organizing to secure the rights to vote for Black women and other women of color , ” Ufot said .
“ And so , you know , there is a long history of , sort of , uncredited work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to make it easier for us to have conversations , particularly in places like Georgia ’ s rural black belt about why they need to vote.
” Melanie Campbell , president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation , was overcome with emotion after the announcement .
She wished her late mother could have lived to see the historic moment .
She also wished that Black women who came before Harris – civil rights activists Fannie Lou Hamer , Dorothy Height , Ella Baker and many others – could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ culminated into this powerful moment .
“ I thought about my mother , my grandmother .
I thought about my sisters .
I thought about in this moment that as a Black woman , we are seen , ” Campbell said .
“ This moment is more than about the VP slot .
It affirms Black women and all we did for this country .
I ’ m glad I lived to see it.
” Associated Press contributed to this report

Lauren Gambinoin Wilmington, Enjoli Liston and agencies

China Cochran met Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Detroit last year and was swept away by the California senator’s ambition, charisma and leadership.
So when the Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden named Harris as his running mate on Tuesday – making her the first Black woman on a major US party’s presidential ticket – Cochran wasn’t just struck by the history.
It represented a full-circle moment for Black women, who the Democratic party often refer to as its backbone of support, yet who for generations have fought for their voices to be heard and political aspirations recognized.
“It tells Black girls that they can be president,” Cochran, who recently ran for state representative in Michigan, told the Associated Press. “I think it’s important for us to look at that and see other young women of color realize that they can go after their dreams and really make change in our world.”
Harris’ selection also marks the first time a person of Asian descent is on the presidential ticket. Born to a Jamaican father, Donald Harris, and Indian mother, she often speaks of her deep bond with her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, whom she has called her single biggest influence.
“My mother understood very well she was raising two Black daughters. She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya [Harris’s younger sister] and me as Black girls, and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident Black women,” Harris wrote in her 2018 autobiography, The Truths We Hold.
It’s important for us to look at that and see other young women of color realize that they can go after their dreams China Cochran
As they appeared together for the first time as running mates at a high school in Biden’s home town of Wilmington on Wednesday, Biden and Harris reflected on the significance of the moment.
“This morning, all across the nation, little girls woke up – especially little Black and brown girls, who so often feel overlooked and undervalued in their communities. But today, today, just maybe, they’re seeing themselves for the first time in a new way,” Biden said.
Paying tribute to the many women that paved the way for her, Harris said she was mindful of all of the “heroic and ambitious women before me, whose sacrifice, determination and resilience make my presence here today even possible”.
Harris joins the ticket during a national reckoning on racism in the US. The coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately affected Black Americans and other people of color. Protests against systemic racism and police brutality are prominent in the minds of potential voters.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Black women in particular helped rescue Biden’s campaign earlier this year by delivering a resounding victory in the South Carolina primary, powering him to the Democratic nomination.
As he prepares for the general election on 3 November, Biden is trying to recreate the multiracial and cross-generational coalition that twice sent Barack Obama to the White House. That will hinge on Black voters in battleground states like Michigan to turn out in force in November.
“We’ve seen from an electoral process what happens if we don’t vote, that can mean the difference between winning and losing a state,” said Karen Finney, a senior Democratic strategist and spokeswoman for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.
“We’re in this moral inflection point of this country and Vice-President Biden is someone who’s talked about healing the soul of our country and certainly one of the ways to do that is to uplift the voices of Black women.”
Strategists said that Harris will help that effort.
“It sends a strong signal about not only the current state of our party but what the future of our party looks like,” Antjuan Seawright, a veteran political strategist in South Carolina, told the AP. “And what better way to reward a group of people who have been the political glue in this party than to put an African American woman on the ticket.”
Harris’ vice-presidential nomination also represents the first time that a graduate of a historically Black college or university (HBCU) will be represented on the ticket. Harris graduated from Howard University in Washington DC and is a member of the storied Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha.
It sends a strong signal about not only the current state of our party but what the future of our party looks like Antjuan Seawright
In Wilmington on Wednesday, Debbie Harrington, a member of the AKA sorority, told the Guardian Biden’s choice of Harris had revealed something new about the candidate.
“It showed that he was listening to the people who are speaking up around the world and asking for equity, justice and fairness,” said Harrington, referring to the nationwide anti-racism protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
“His pick said: ‘I hear you. And not only did I hear you, I understand you and I’m going to do something about it.’”
However, while Harris’ selection has largely been applauded among the Democratic party and voters, some have also raised concerns. Harris has previously labelled herself both a “top cop” and a “progressive prosecutor”, and her record as California attorney general and district attorney in San Francisco could make it difficult for Biden to galvanize support among younger Black and Latino voters.
Lindsey Roland, a 31-year-old Black woman and Michigan real estate agent, said that background gave her pause.
“While I fully appreciate her scope of responsibilities while she was in that role, I still think she was empowered to stand up more for minorities, and I think it was just a really missed opportunity,” she said. “But I absolutely will be voting. We have far too much at stake. And for me, as a mother, I’m frightened and I just feel like another four years with this administration will be catastrophic.”
Writing in the Guardian, social movement lawyer Derecka Purnell said progressives will need to defend Harris against racist and sexist attacks, but they must still hold her to account.
“When activists criticized President Barack Obama, we were scathingly reminded how hard it was for him to be a Black man in the White House,” she wrote. “He had significant executive power and influence to shift resources, call for legislation, and even free people from prison (which his own administration seemingly neglected). We were told to wait.”
Kamala Harris talks to Dr Christine Blasey Ford during a Senate judiciary committee testimony in Washington DC on 27 September 2018. Photograph: Pool/Getty Images
Some of the nation’s leading activists who have long fought for criminal justice reform see Harris as a potential ally in their push for change.
Color of Change’s president, Rashad Robinson, said Harris has evolved over time and declared herself a “progressive prosecutor” who backs reform.
“What I appreciate about her is that she’s been willing to listen and willing to evolve, and she’s been willing to put legislation behind that evolution and policy platforms behind that evolution,” Robinson said.
“Yes, I think there will be very real things that people will raise, but I think that she has been listening and working to address those things.”
Alicia Garza, the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, said the nation was in a moment where “deep and profound change is needed”.
“For some activists, it is important that a Black woman is represented on this ticket, and for other activists, substance is going to be much more important than symbolism,” Garza said.
“The trick of getting people out to vote will be a successful combination of the two. This is an incredible moment of opportunity, it’s a moment that is rife with possibility and I’m still hopeful that this newly announced ticket will rise to meet the moment.”
I still think she was empowered to stand up more for minorities, and I think it was just a really missed opportunity Lindsey Roland
It’s also not lost on many that the selection comes nearly 100 years after the 19th amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote.
But for Black women, the freedom to vote didn’t come until much later, part of a historical pattern of being denied justice offered to others.
For Nse Ufot, CEO of the New Georgia Project, that’s a call for action and a reminder how much more work needs to be done. Ahead of the election, her organization is working to register more than one million Black, Latino and Asian American voters. So, far they’ve registered 425,000 in the state.
“It took an additional 45 years of organizing to secure the rights to vote for Black women and other women of color,” Ufot said. “And so, you know, there is a long history of, sort of, uncredited work. I think the Biden-Harris ticket is going to make it easier for us to have conversations, particularly in places like Georgia’s rural black belt about why they need to vote.”
Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, was overcome with emotion after the announcement.
She wished her late mother could have lived to see the historic moment. She also wished that Black women who came before Harris – civil rights activists Fannie Lou Hamer, Dorothy Height, Ella Baker and many others – could know how their legacy and hard work culminated into this powerful moment.
“I thought about my mother, my grandmother. I thought about my sisters. I thought about in this moment that as a Black woman, we are seen,” Campbell said. “This moment is more than about the VP slot. It affirms Black women and all we did for this country. I’m glad I lived to see it.”
Associated Press contributed to this report


theguardian--2020-08-13--I used to be critical of Kamala Harris. Now I am going to defend her at every turn | Shanita Hubbard

The historic announcement of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden ’ s VP pick is another reminder that multiple things can be true at the same time .
Harris is undeniably brilliant , has recently introduced bills that would specifically improve the quality of live for Black Americans , and by all accounts she is superior in every way imaginable to the current president .
In fact , adding her to the ticket has made me far more enthusiastic about this race than I was even days before the announcement .
Throughout this campaign , Biden has said things that made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , let alone his commitment to fight against social inequality .
And yet , here we are , squarely seated in that space where many truths exist at once .
Does Biden give me pause ?
Oh , absolutely .
Do I believe he will be a better leader than Trump ?
Without a shadow of a doubt .
But is that the bar ?
Are millions of Americans expected to capitulate to such a defeating standard from our future leaders ?
That question lingered in the air of every political conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past few months .
Yet with the announcement that caught very few of us by surprise , a jolt of excitement was inserted back into this election .
Rightfully so .
While lots of articles will focus on the historical weight of this moment , we can not ignore that Harris isn ’ t just representation .
She is a viable force who has the skills to be the vice-president of the United States .
This will undoubtedly bring out more support for the ticket .
However , here we are again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding space for multiple facts to exist at the same time .
What does this selection mean for those of us who had fair criticism of Harris when she was running for president ?
How do we even express this concern knowing that our policy-based questions could be conflated with the sea of misogynoir she will surely face ?
If Hillary Clinton faced an insane amount of hatred and sexism , what does this mean for Harris in a country where we are still fighting to declare that Black lives actually matter ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly expressed concern about Harris during her presidential campaign .
A few key things have changed since then .
She impressed me with her actions , and I ’ m hoping that this apparent pivot is what voters can expect of her .
Yet more importantly than her recent actions , my politics have changed .
While I wholeheartedly still believe in the power of voting , I ’ m now more committed to what I call zoning in .
I ’ m narrowing the focus of my political efforts and treating voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This change in my political view has caused me to emotionally divest more from a failing two-party system that often places its most vulnerable citizens in the position of choosing between how slowly we want to be metaphorically killed .
This is my truth .
Yet it is also true that I intend to vote for the Biden and Harris ticket because I believe they present a better chance at improving the lives of marginalized communities than this current administration .
I will do this while increasing my efforts to organize on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my disposal to fight for a path for justice that isn ’ t predicated on me choosing between the “ lesser of two evils ” .
Simultaneously , while Harris starts to fight like hell to re-energize the Democratic base , I ’ ll use my position as a writer to push back on unfair attacks on her that are simply misogynoir masked as criticism .
This nomination almost guarantees that valid criticism and utter hatred of Black women will be on full display , and we will have to quickly learn the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently expressing concern , I challenge you to sit with it a minute and consider if this concern was ever present for any of the other highly questionable candidates .
I invite those with criticism to still express it and demand the best from Harris , but I will challenge them to interrogate the root of their angst .
I intend to do the same .
I ’ m going to stand with Harris and fight against sexist and racist attacks , celebrate with the Black women who are rejoicing in pride , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level and strategize ways to help ensure my community gets more than just a false sense of hope from this ticket .
All of this can happen at the same time .
• None Shanita Hubbard is an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Northampton Community College in Pennsylvania

The historic announcement of Kamala Harris as Joe Biden’s VP pick is another reminder that multiple things can be true at the same time. Harris is undeniably brilliant, has recently introduced bills that would specifically improve the quality of live for Black Americans, and by all accounts she is superior in every way imaginable to the current president. In fact, adding her to the ticket has made me far more enthusiastic about this race than I was even days before the announcement.
Throughout this campaign, Biden has said things that made me question his understanding of the Black community, let alone his commitment to fight against social inequality. And yet, here we are, squarely seated in that space where many truths exist at once. Does Biden give me pause? Oh, absolutely. Do I believe he will be a better leader than Trump? Without a shadow of a doubt. But is that the bar? Are millions of Americans expected to capitulate to such a defeating standard from our future leaders?
While I wholeheartedly still believe in the power of voting, I’m now more committed to what I call zoning in
That question lingered in the air of every political conversation I had with my peers over the past few months. Yet with the announcement that caught very few of us by surprise, a jolt of excitement was inserted back into this election. Rightfully so. While lots of articles will focus on the historical weight of this moment, we cannot ignore that Harris isn’t just representation. She is a viable force who has the skills to be the vice-president of the United States. This will undoubtedly bring out more support for the ticket. However, here we are again, still parked at that intersection and carefully holding space for multiple facts to exist at the same time.
What does this selection mean for those of us who had fair criticism of Harris when she was running for president? How do we even express this concern knowing that our policy-based questions could be conflated with the sea of misogynoir she will surely face? If Hillary Clinton faced an insane amount of hatred and sexism, what does this mean for Harris in a country where we are still fighting to declare that Black lives actually matter?
04:50 Why Joe Biden picked Kamala Harris as his running mate – video explainer
I was one of the people who publicly expressed concern about Harris during her presidential campaign. A few key things have changed since then. She impressed me with her actions, and I’m hoping that this apparent pivot is what voters can expect of her. Yet more importantly than her recent actions, my politics have changed.
While I wholeheartedly still believe in the power of voting, I’m now more committed to what I call zoning in. I’m narrowing the focus of my political efforts and treating voting as simply one tool for change. This change in my political view has caused me to emotionally divest more from a failing two-party system that often places its most vulnerable citizens in the position of choosing between how slowly we want to be metaphorically killed. This is my truth.
Yet it is also true that I intend to vote for the Biden and Harris ticket because I believe they present a better chance at improving the lives of marginalized communities than this current administration. I will do this while increasing my efforts to organize on a local level and use every weapon at my disposal to fight for a path for justice that isn’t predicated on me choosing between the “lesser of two evils”. Simultaneously, while Harris starts to fight like hell to re-energize the Democratic base, I’ll use my position as a writer to push back on unfair attacks on her that are simply misogynoir masked as criticism. This nomination almost guarantees that valid criticism and utter hatred of Black women will be on full display, and we will have to quickly learn the difference and respond accordingly.
For those currently expressing concern, I challenge you to sit with it a minute and consider if this concern was ever present for any of the other highly questionable candidates. I invite those with criticism to still express it and demand the best from Harris, but I will challenge them to interrogate the root of their angst. I intend to do the same. I’m going to stand with Harris and fight against sexist and racist attacks, celebrate with the Black women who are rejoicing in pride, while I simultaneously organize on a local level and strategize ways to help ensure my community gets more than just a false sense of hope from this ticket. All of this can happen at the same time.


theguardian--2020-08-13--Represent: inside a timely film about the tough road women in politics face

The decision to run for office arrived for Myya Jones in the winter of 2016 .
She was 22 , a campus leader for the Black Student Union at Michigan State University , and determined to change her home town of Detroit for the better .
For months , she researched the process of gentrification , which pushed black people out of the neighborhoods where she grew up and went to high school ; for months , she waited for a name to support .
Eventually , she thought , “ You know what ?
I ’ m going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is scared , ” she told the Guardian .
For Julie Cho , a 47-year-old married mother of two living in suburban Evanston , Illinois , a majority Democratic district , the decision was fueled by frustration with her state house speaker and the Republican party ’ s lackluster efforts to campaign in her district .
“ If no one ’ s going to do it , then I ’ m going to do it , ” she told the Guardian of her decision to run for state representative .
In rural Granville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long wondered : “ If you weren ’ t afraid , what ’ s the one thing you would do ?
” The answer was run for county trustee , but it never seemed like the right time until 2017 , when her mother ’ s cancer turned terminal .
“ I wanted her to see me run for office , ” she told the Guardian .
“ I wasn ’ t afraid of anything any more.
” Represent , a documentary on the tedium of running for local office as a woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women as they launch their nascent political careers in the midwest .
The film begins with a clear invocation to opportunities won and lost : in 1974 , second-wave feminist activism and the movement to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment launched the so-called Year of the Woman , in which an unprecedented number of women were elected for national office .
Forty-four years later , enough had not changed – women still comprised only one in five congressional seats – for another round of “ year of the woman ” sloganeering .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a banner year for women on the national level : 476 House candidates and 53 Senate candidates , more than double the number of women who ran in 2016 , largely Democrats spurred to action by the election of a president who once bragged that men should “ grab ’ em by the pussy ” .
But while much attention and several stellar documentaries – Netflix ’ s Knock Down the House on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive rookies in Congress , Hulu ’ s Hillary on the presidential candidate herself – beamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to explore the same phenomenon in less storied , pared-down quarters .
“ These are everyday women , ” director Hillary Bachelder told the Guardian , “ the yous and mes of the world who are like , ‘ I can do this small thing for my community at this level.
’ ” The local and state house races “ should be the most accessible for women ” , Bachelder said .
But the barriers for entry – the mental tax of microaggressions and snap judgments , especially for Jones as a black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the lack of funding for new candidates from the party organizations – demonstrate “ a lot of the same thing that ’ s at the national level ” .
Bachelder embedded with each candidate , following the distinctly unglamorous work of campaigning in their specific districts – the trips to knock on doors , shake hands at the town parade , to show up to sparsely attended municipal meetings , to flag people down in cars and explain your platform or , more often , who you are .
While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the touch-and-go , bespoke work of each campaign confront frustratingly similar doubts and dismissals .
For Bird , running as the “ new by , like , decades ” trustee , as she says in the film , it was confronting an old boy ’ s club that did not take her seriously , the “ continual cycle of not being told about certain things , or being reminded that I can ’ t go to certain events , or not invited to the men ’ s drinking nights because I need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bachelder ’ s camera captures the compounding toll of unnecessary discomfort – another candidate , for example , saying he ’ d make a joke but it wouldn ’ t be “ politically correct ” enough for Bird ’ s presence .
At a Democratic meet-and-greet , one white woman touches Jones ’ s hair without permission .
For Cho , whose family escaped North Korea during the war in the 1950s , her allegiance to the Republican party is more complicated than the label would seem .
She distrusts all governments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her part to help .
She ’ s attached to the Republican name under the Trump administration , which has worked to systematically curb voting rights , but her main platform is ending gerrymandered district lines in her corner of Illinois .
Her campaign manager is a black man who has never worked for a Republican before .
Occasionally , people in Evanston hear her out ; more often , she ’ s dismissed outright .
She ’ s frequently had people – all white liberals , she told the Guardian , demanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a Republican as an Asian immigrant .
“ It ’ s white people telling me how I should think , ” she said .
“ What they should be asking is what is it about the Republican platform and policies that you support ?
” Jones , in particular , faces the most interlocking and insidious friction as a young black female candidate .
In news interviews , she ’ s asked why she thinks she has enough experience ; canvassing the street , one constituent demands : “ what are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” In one scene , Jones attends a conference for aspiring candidates , but is only given 15 seconds to introduce herself publicly .
Black women “ do a lot of the groundwork , a lot of the legwork , we have a lot of ideas , but it ’ s not until we ’ re like 30+ that we are actually recognized as leaders , ” said Jones .
“ People don ’ t perceive us as being just as knowledgable or as capable as them.
” “ You ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to have the thick skin and enter a space that you know wasn ’ t built for you , ” said Bachelder of the challenges faced by all three women .
“ The added level of being reminded that you ’ re an other in some kind of way is just going chip away.
” By film ’ s end , after defeats in both the mayoral bid and a Democratic primary for state House , Jones , now 25 and studying for her MBA , was “ tired of having to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and conflicted over the potential of running for office , especially without financial backing from the party .
“ Just as much as you want black folks to vote for you , specifically black women , ” she said , “ you have to be able to financially back our campaigns , too.
” Cho , who lost her race for state house , also remains on the fence about seeking elected office ; she ’ s spending time at home with her young children .
In one of the film ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother that she ’ s won the race , initiating a separate round of challenges : working 20 hours or more a week as a trustee for $ 10,000 a year with three little kids , a husband working full-time , and a family farm business whose customers she can ’ t afford to alienate .
The structural and cultural challenges remain , Bachelder said , but there ’ s hope to be found in number and tenacity , especially on politics ’ bluntest and most specific level .
After two years on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ shines the light on the need for all of us to get engaged and involved ” , she said – a call to action for involvement in “ the unglamorous bits of democracy that are still really necessary to bring the pieces together ” .
• None Represent is available to rent digitally in the US on 14 August and in the UK at a later date

The decision to run for office arrived for Myya Jones in the winter of 2016. She was 22, a campus leader for the Black Student Union at Michigan State University, and determined to change her home town of Detroit for the better. For months, she researched the process of gentrification, which pushed black people out of the neighborhoods where she grew up and went to high school; for months, she waited for a name to support. Eventually, she thought, “You know what? I’m going to run for office myself because everybody else is scared,” she told the Guardian.
For Julie Cho, a 47-year-old married mother of two living in suburban Evanston, Illinois, a majority Democratic district, the decision was fueled by frustration with her state house speaker and the Republican party’s lackluster efforts to campaign in her district. “If no one’s going to do it, then I’m going to do it,” she told the Guardian of her decision to run for state representative. In rural Granville, Ohio, 33-year-old Bryn Bird had long wondered: “If you weren’t afraid, what’s the one thing you would do?” The answer was run for county trustee, but it never seemed like the right time until 2017, when her mother’s cancer turned terminal. “I wanted her to see me run for office,” she told the Guardian. “I wasn’t afraid of anything any more.”
Represent, a documentary on the tedium of running for local office as a woman in Trump-era America, follows the three women as they launch their nascent political careers in the midwest. The film begins with a clear invocation to opportunities won and lost: in 1974, second-wave feminist activism and the movement to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment launched the so-called Year of the Woman, in which an unprecedented number of women were elected for national office. Forty-four years later, enough had not changed – women still comprised only one in five congressional seats – for another round of “year of the woman” sloganeering. The midterms of 2018 were, indeed, a banner year for women on the national level: 476 House candidates and 53 Senate candidates, more than double the number of women who ran in 2016, largely Democrats spurred to action by the election of a president who once bragged that men should “grab ’em by the pussy”.
But while much attention and several stellar documentaries – Netflix’s Knock Down the House on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive rookies in Congress, Hulu’s Hillary on the presidential candidate herself – beamed on the national races, Represent seeks to explore the same phenomenon in less storied, pared-down quarters. “These are everyday women,” director Hillary Bachelder told the Guardian, “the yous and mes of the world who are like, ‘I can do this small thing for my community at this level.’”
The local and state house races “should be the most accessible for women”, Bachelder said. But the barriers for entry – the mental tax of microaggressions and snap judgments, especially for Jones as a black women and Cho as a Korean immigrant, and the lack of funding for new candidates from the party organizations – demonstrate “a lot of the same thing that’s at the national level”.
Bachelder embedded with each candidate, following the distinctly unglamorous work of campaigning in their specific districts – the trips to knock on doors, shake hands at the town parade, to show up to sparsely attended municipal meetings, to flag people down in cars and explain your platform or, more often, who you are.
While the three races present starkly different contexts, the touch-and-go, bespoke work of each campaign confront frustratingly similar doubts and dismissals. For Bird, running as the “new by, like, decades” trustee, as she says in the film, it was confronting an old boy’s club that did not take her seriously, the “continual cycle of not being told about certain things, or being reminded that I can’t go to certain events, or not invited to the men’s drinking nights because I need to get home to my kids”.
Julie Cho, one of the candidates followed in the film. Photograph: Music Box Films
Bachelder’s camera captures the compounding toll of unnecessary discomfort – another candidate, for example, saying he’d make a joke but it wouldn’t be “politically correct” enough for Bird’s presence. At a Democratic meet-and-greet, one white woman touches Jones’s hair without permission.
For Cho, whose family escaped North Korea during the war in the 1950s, her allegiance to the Republican party is more complicated than the label would seem. She distrusts all governments, she says, but wants to do her part to help. She’s attached to the Republican name under the Trump administration, which has worked to systematically curb voting rights, but her main platform is ending gerrymandered district lines in her corner of Illinois. Her campaign manager is a black man who has never worked for a Republican before. Occasionally, people in Evanston hear her out; more often, she’s dismissed outright.
She’s frequently had people – all white liberals, she told the Guardian, demanding to know why she’d run as a Republican as an Asian immigrant. “It’s white people telling me how I should think,” she said. “What they should be asking is what is it about the Republican platform and policies that you support?”
Jones, in particular, faces the most interlocking and insidious friction as a young black female candidate. In news interviews, she’s asked why she thinks she has enough experience; canvassing the street, one constituent demands: “what are you going to do about the blight?!” In one scene, Jones attends a conference for aspiring candidates, but is only given 15 seconds to introduce herself publicly. Black women “do a lot of the groundwork, a lot of the legwork, we have a lot of ideas, but it’s not until we’re like 30+ that we are actually recognized as leaders,” said Jones. “People don’t perceive us as being just as knowledgable or as capable as them.”
Bryn Bird: ‘I wasn’t afraid of anything any more.’ Photograph: Music Box Films
“You’re asking people to have to suit up, to have the thick skin and enter a space that you know wasn’t built for you,” said Bachelder of the challenges faced by all three women. “The added level of being reminded that you’re an other in some kind of way is just going chip away.” By film’s end, after defeats in both the mayoral bid and a Democratic primary for state House, Jones, now 25 and studying for her MBA, was “tired of having to prove myself over and over again” and conflicted over the potential of running for office, especially without financial backing from the party.
“Just as much as you want black folks to vote for you, specifically black women,” she said, “you have to be able to financially back our campaigns, too.”
Cho, who lost her race for state house, also remains on the fence about seeking elected office; she’s spending time at home with her young children. In one of the film’s most poignant scenes, Bird informs her mother that she’s won the race, initiating a separate round of challenges: working 20 hours or more a week as a trustee for $10,000 a year with three little kids, a husband working full-time, and a family farm business whose customers she can’t afford to alienate.
The structural and cultural challenges remain, Bachelder said, but there’s hope to be found in number and tenacity, especially on politics’ bluntest and most specific level. After two years on the local campaign trail, the film “shines the light on the need for all of us to get engaged and involved”, she said – a call to action for involvement in “the unglamorous bits of democracy that are still really necessary to bring the pieces together”.


theguardian--2020-08-13--If Kamala Harris wins, who might fill her California Senate seat?

Just hours after Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate , in her home state of California fierce speculation had already begun as to who might replace her in the Senate if she wins a spot in the White House .
“ It seems early , ” said Aimee Allison , who heads She the People , a national network seeking to elevate women of color to political leadership .
“ But behind the scenes , conversations are already happening .
And I don ’ t think it ’ s too soon to think about what the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a leader.
” If the Biden-Harris team wins on 3 November , California ’ s governor , Gavin Newsom , will appoint someone to replace Harris in the Senate for the duration of her term , which ends in 2022 .
Asked on Wednesday if people have already started pitching themselves for the position , Newsom joked with a reporter : “ You may be the only one who hasn ’ t – unless you just did.
” Later , he added that his comment was only a “ slight ” exaggeration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Allison believes Newsom should not replace a woman with a man .
“ It ’ s just a bad look , ” she said .
“ And after the protests inspired by George Floyd ’ s murder – to me it makes sense to have someone of color.
” Newsom might seek to appoint an ally in Washington , as whoever he chooses will have a huge advantage two years from now in the campaign to retain the seat , political analysts told the Guardian .
But the appointee could also make history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became the second Black woman and the first south Asian American to serve in the Senate .
California , a state where 39 % of residents are Latino , has never been represented by a Latino senator .
And with only 26 women currently in the Senate , local political consultants and activists say this could be an opportunity for Newsom to help elevate another woman .
“ Kamala Harris has a very important and significant voice and perspective in the Senate , just because of who she is , ” said Nathan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff and a long time California political strategist .
“ That ’ ll certainly weigh on the governor in evaluating his options.
” Here are a few of the top contenders .
The 43-year-old Democrat has emerged as a progressive , populist voice despite representing California ’ s ultra-wealthy 17th district , where tech giants including Apple , Yahoo and Intel are headquartered .
He served as national chair of Bernie Sanders ’ presidential campaign , and is co-leading California ’ s delegation to the Democratic national convention this month .
Describing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Khanna is viewed as someone who can unite Sanders ’ leftwing supporters and moderate Democrats .
A progressive icon and memorably the sole Congress member to vote against authorization of use of force following the 9/11 attacks , Lee has long advocated for police reform and criminal justice reform .
The 74-year-old Oakland representative has also introduced legislation to create a racial healing commission amid the nationwide reckoning on racism and police violence .
Serving in her 12th term in Congress , Lee is deeply established on Capitol Hill .
Schiff ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his leading role in the Trump impeachment hearings .
Schiff has lots of support in California , and he ’ s a top fundraiser .
But as the head of the House intelligence committee , Schiff may wield more power if he stays in Congress rather than shifting to the Senate .
That he is a 60-year-old white man also makes him an unlikely choice to replace Harris , who broke barriers as the only the second African American woman and the first south Asian American to serve in the Senate .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contender in the veepstakes .
In California , Bass has built a reputation as progressive and a pragmatist – a community organizer who fought police brutality and addiction in Los Angeles and a practical politician who helped dig the state out of a historic fiscal crisis in 2008 .
The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus is “ someone who can heal our country – not just from the pandemic , but also from the racial divisions , the economic divisions ” , the legendary labor organizer Dolores Huerta told the Guardian .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised concerns that she would alienate Cuban expats , 66-year-old Bass maintains strong support in her home state .
His efforts to increase voter turnout across the state , and his strong rebukes of Trump ’ s baseless attacks on mail-in voting , have earned Padilla national acclaim .
A longtime friend and political supporter of Newsom , if appointed , Padilla , 47 , would make history as the first Latino to represent the state in the Senate .
Unlike all the congressional members who might be considered for the role , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Becerra , who succeeded Harris as California attorney general , could also succeed her as senator .
He has served 25 years in Congress as a representative from LA , and his national profile has grown as attorney general due to the state ’ s numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration , including its efforts to roll back environmental regulations , revoke the state ’ s ability to set its own car pollution standards , and rescind protections for undocumented immigrants .
The son of immigrants from Mexico , Becerra , 62 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s first Latino senator .
But as the state reckons with its racist policing system , his reluctance to shift investigations of police shootings to statewide agencies has come under criticism .
She ’ s not well known outside California , but as the first Black legislator to chair the state ’ s budget and fiscal review committee , Mitchell gained popularity in her state and respect in Sacramento for negotiating two state budgets .
Having held state-level office , Mitchell is now running for a seat on the LA county board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also floated her as a contender for US senator .
Whoever Newsom appoints as senator , Mitchell told the Los Angeles Times she ’ d like to see a woman succeed Harris , because women tend to elevate issues such as childcare , affordable housing and workers ’ rights .
Favored by progressives , Durazo made a lasting impact on Los Angeles politics as a labor leader , long before she was elected state senator in 2018 .
The 67-year-old is not well known nationally , or even within California – but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and immigrants , and her stint as the first woman to head the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor have earned her a strong base in LA and support from liberal political leaders statewide .
This is far from a definitive list – political strategists have also floated California ’ s lieutenant governor , Eleni Kounalakis , US congresswoman Katie Porter and the California controller , Betty Yee , as qualified candidates for the Senate .
“ The biggest problem that the governor will have is the embarrassment of riches , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all these qualified candidates is going to be very difficult.
” • None This article was amended on Thursday 13 August to correct details about Barbara Lee ’ s vote against authorization of use of force following the 9/11 attacks .

Just hours after Joe Biden announced Kamala Harris as his running mate, in her home state of California fierce speculation had already begun as to who might replace her in the Senate if she wins a spot in the White House.
“It seems early,” said Aimee Allison, who heads She the People, a national network seeking to elevate women of color to political leadership. “But behind the scenes, conversations are already happening. And I don’t think it’s too soon to think about what the community wants, and what the state wants in a leader.”
If the Biden-Harris team wins on 3 November, California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, will appoint someone to replace Harris in the Senate for the duration of her term, which ends in 2022. Asked on Wednesday if people have already started pitching themselves for the position, Newsom joked with a reporter: “You may be the only one who hasn’t – unless you just did.” Later, he added that his comment was only a “slight” exaggeration.
Everyone has their favorites, but Allison believes Newsom should not replace a woman with a man. “It’s just a bad look,” she said. “And after the protests inspired by George Floyd’s murder – to me it makes sense to have someone of color.”
Newsom might seek to appoint an ally in Washington, as whoever he chooses will have a huge advantage two years from now in the campaign to retain the seat, political analysts told the Guardian. But the appointee could also make history, just as Harris did when she became the second Black woman and the first south Asian American to serve in the Senate. California, a state where 39% of residents are Latino, has never been represented by a Latino senator. And with only 26 women currently in the Senate, local political consultants and activists say this could be an opportunity for Newsom to help elevate another woman.
“Kamala Harris has a very important and significant voice and perspective in the Senate, just because of who she is,” said Nathan Barankin, Harris’s former chief of staff and a long time California political strategist. “That’ll certainly weigh on the governor in evaluating his options.”
Here are a few of the top contenders.
Representative Ro Khanna
The 43-year-old Democrat has emerged as a progressive, populist voice despite representing California’s ultra-wealthy 17th district, where tech giants including Apple, Yahoo and Intel are headquartered. He served as national chair of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, and is co-leading California’s delegation to the Democratic national convention this month. Describing himself as “a pro-growth progressive”, Khanna is viewed as someone who can unite Sanders’ leftwing supporters and moderate Democrats.
Representative Barbara Lee
A progressive icon and memorably the sole Congress member to vote against authorization of use of force following the 9/11 attacks, Lee has long advocated for police reform and criminal justice reform. The 74-year-old Oakland representative has also introduced legislation to create a racial healing commission amid the nationwide reckoning on racism and police violence. Serving in her 12th term in Congress, Lee is deeply established on Capitol Hill.
Representative Adam Schiff
Adam Schiff emerged as a thorn in Trump’s side during the impeachment hearings. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Schiff’s profile rose this year due to his leading role in the Trump impeachment hearings. Schiff has lots of support in California, and he’s a top fundraiser. But as the head of the House intelligence committee, Schiff may wield more power if he stays in Congress rather than shifting to the Senate. That he is a 60-year-old white man also makes him an unlikely choice to replace Harris, who broke barriers as the only the second African American woman and the first south Asian American to serve in the Senate.
Representative Karen Bass
The Los Angeles congresswoman emerged as a top contender in the veepstakes. In California, Bass has built a reputation as progressive and a pragmatist – a community organizer who fought police brutality and addiction in Los Angeles and a practical politician who helped dig the state out of a historic fiscal crisis in 2008. The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus is “someone who can heal our country – not just from the pandemic, but also from the racial divisions, the economic divisions”, the legendary labor organizer Dolores Huerta told the Guardian. Though her past comments on Fidel Castro raised concerns that she would alienate Cuban expats, 66-year-old Bass maintains strong support in her home state.
Secretary of state Alex Padilla
His efforts to increase voter turnout across the state, and his strong rebukes of Trump’s baseless attacks on mail-in voting, have earned Padilla national acclaim. A longtime friend and political supporter of Newsom, if appointed, Padilla, 47, would make history as the first Latino to represent the state in the Senate. Unlike all the congressional members who might be considered for the role, Padilla has already won a statewide election.
Attorney general Xavier Becerra
Becerra, who succeeded Harris as California attorney general, could also succeed her as senator. He has served 25 years in Congress as a representative from LA, and his national profile has grown as attorney general due to the state’s numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration, including its efforts to roll back environmental regulations, revoke the state’s ability to set its own car pollution standards, and rescind protections for undocumented immigrants. The son of immigrants from Mexico, Becerra, 62, would also make history as California’s first Latino senator. But as the state reckons with its racist policing system, his reluctance to shift investigations of police shootings to statewide agencies has come under criticism.
State senator Holly Mitchell
Progressive groups have floated Holly Mitchell as a possibility. Photograph: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
She’s not well known outside California, but as the first Black legislator to chair the state’s budget and fiscal review committee, Mitchell gained popularity in her state and respect in Sacramento for negotiating two state budgets. Having held state-level office, Mitchell is now running for a seat on the LA county board of supervisors – but progressive political groups have also floated her as a contender for US senator. Whoever Newsom appoints as senator, Mitchell told the Los Angeles Times she’d like to see a woman succeed Harris, because women tend to elevate issues such as childcare, affordable housing and workers’ rights.
State senator Maria Elena Durazo
Favored by progressives, Durazo made a lasting impact on Los Angeles politics as a labor leader, long before she was elected state senator in 2018. The 67-year-old is not well known nationally, or even within California – but her decades of activism on behalf of workers and immigrants, and her stint as the first woman to head the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor have earned her a strong base in LA and support from liberal political leaders statewide.
This is far from a definitive list – political strategists have also floated California’s lieutenant governor, Eleni Kounalakis, US congresswoman Katie Porter and the California controller, Betty Yee, as qualified candidates for the Senate. “The biggest problem that the governor will have is the embarrassment of riches,” Barankin said. “To choose between all these qualified candidates is going to be very difficult.”


theguardian--2020-08-12--Kamala Harris: trailblazer who went from Joe Biden’s rival to running mate

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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 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.
” 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they looked .
Growing up , whenever I got upset about something , my mother would look me in the eye and ask : ‘ so what are you gon na 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised by their mother , whom Harris has praised as a barrier-breaker with a huge influence on her life .
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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ given her the nickname of “ Momala , ” a rhyme with her name that recalls the Yiddish term “ mamaleh.
” 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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

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--2020-08-12--Maya Rudolph: the unambiguous winner of the Kamala Harris VP pick

Amid a flurry of predictions over how the selection of Kamala Harris as Democratic vice-presidential nominee will play out , it became clear that one person will emerge an unambiguous winner – Maya Rudolph .
The actor and comedian played the role of Harris in sketches aired on Saturday Night Live when Harris and other Democratic presidential hopefuls debated each other last year , before Joe Biden ’ s triumph .
The actor portrayed Harris as a “ America ’ s cool aunt ” and a “ smooth-talking lady lawyer , ” as well as a politician keen to land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely on the internet .
Her performances seemingly won the approval of the California senator who said in October : “ I fully intend to make sure she has a good eight years of work on SNL.
” Further SNL appearances for Rudolph , in the short term at least , now appear likely with the actor responding to Harris ’ s selection by exclaiming “ Oh shit ” during an Entertainment Weekly panel discussion on Emmy nominees .
“ I ’ m just as surprised as you are , guys , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spicy.
” Rudolph didn ’ t confirm that she would return as Harris but said that SNL , which will return later this year , was her “ favorite place to play ” .
The show itself tweeted a gif of her character .
Rudolph added : “ I just didn ’ t really anticipate traveling during a pandemic , but if there ’ s anyone that can work it out , I ’ m sure Lorne has some sort of invisible helicopter that can get me there , ” in reference to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ producer of SNL .
The prospect of a reprise excited users of Twitter , where Rudolph is a largely popular figure .

Amid a flurry of predictions over how the selection of Kamala Harris as Democratic vice-presidential nominee will play out, it became clear that one person will emerge an unambiguous winner – Maya Rudolph.
The actor and comedian played the role of Harris in sketches aired on Saturday Night Live when Harris and other Democratic presidential hopefuls debated each other last year, before Joe Biden’s triumph.
The actor portrayed Harris as a “America’s cool aunt” and a “smooth-talking lady lawyer,” as well as a politician keen to land a talked-about moment that could be shared widely on the internet. Her performances seemingly won the approval of the California senator who said in October: “I fully intend to make sure she has a good eight years of work on SNL.”
Further SNL appearances for Rudolph, in the short term at least, now appear likely with the actor responding to Harris’s selection by exclaiming “Oh shit” during an Entertainment Weekly panel discussion on Emmy nominees. “I’m just as surprised as you are, guys,” Rudolph said. “That’s spicy.”
YES SHE WAS SENATOR HARRIS!!! https://t.co/nW9tRdJu6D — Maya Rudolph (@MayaRudolph) September 29, 2019
Rudolph didn’t confirm that she would return as Harris but said that SNL, which will return later this year, was her “favorite place to play”. The show itself tweeted a gif of her character.
Rudolph added: “I just didn’t really anticipate traveling during a pandemic, but if there’s anyone that can work it out, I’m sure Lorne has some sort of invisible helicopter that can get me there,” in reference to Lorne Michaels, the creator and executive producer of SNL.
The prospect of a reprise excited users of Twitter, where Rudolph is a largely popular figure.
The real winner today is Maya Rudolph. — roxane gay (@rgay) August 11, 2020
Maya Rudolph arriving at NBC to renegotiate a contract with SNL pic.twitter.com/FosD5jBbTf — Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) August 11, 2020


theguardian--2020-08-14--'A big victory would be 5%': Green party's Howie Hawkins eyes progress

More than 6 million Americans voted for someone other than Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in 2016 ’ s presidential race , but from the media coverage of the election you would never know it .
In 2020 , however , the candidates who are neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump are hoping to change that , and win more of the vote than ever before – and get some hard-earned recognition for it .
Howie Hawkins , a former UPS worker and longtime political activist , is the Green party nominee for president , and is toiling to break @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic noise to persuade Americans there are other options than the dominant two parties .
He is not finding it easy .
An immediate difficulty has been coronavirus , which has prevented Hawkins , who lives in Syracuse , New York , from holding events and traveling the country .
Instead he has relied on virtual events , although that hasn ’ t worked out too badly : “ I ’ m actually probably talking to more people than I was before , ” Hawkins told the Guardian .
A larger problem , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even without the pandemic , has been attracting media attention to his campaign .
“ The difficulty is trying to get our message into the main narrative , ” Hawkins says .
“ We ’ re sending out news releases , we ’ re tweeting , we ’ re on social media and we pitch stories.
” When CNN held a “ climate crisis town hall ” in September 2019 , Hawkins and the party spied their chance .
The Green party originally conceived the Green New Deal – a sprawling climate package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez – in 2010 , and Hawkins said he pitched himself to show producers as “ the original Green New Dealer ” .
It didn ’ t work , and the Green party , which has the most far-reaching climate change policies of any party , was absent from the stage .
The Green party might be best known for its climate policies , but its focus goes beyond the environment and into progressive politics as a whole .
Hawkins would institute a $ 20 minimum wage – Democrats favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control , Medicare for All and free college tuition .
In the unlikely event they should win the election , the party has also outlined its sweeping proposals for police reform , which are laid out in an 8,000-word essay online .
It ’ s a platform which has similarities to the view of leftwing Democrats like the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders , but unlikely to ever be approved by the more centrist leadership of the party .
Hawkins said he had attracted a number of Democrats disillusioned with the party .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats , ” Hawkins said .
“ Progressive Democrats get frustrated and come to the Green party.
” For all Hawkins ’ detailed , and potentially Democrat-wooing platform , however , the party has little chance of winning in November , a fact that shouldn ’ t just be frustrating for Hawkins and his team .
In 2018 a Gallup poll found 57 % of Americans believe a third major political party is needed – a belief that has more or less held steady for the past 10 years .
Part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change that .
The party supports a ranked-choice national popular vote for president , where voters rank candidates by preference .
The system would allow people to vote for more progressive candidates – like Hawkins – without fear that their vote would hand victory to , in this case , Trump .
That fear among the left that a vote for anyone other than the Democratic party could hand victory to Trump is another problem Hawkins faces .
In 2016 , the Green party candidate Jill Stein face heavy criticism in the wake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nationwide 1,449,370 people voted for Stein , but crucially she received significant votes in Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – each of which Trump narrowly won .
If Hillary Clinton had won those three states , she would have been president .
It meant Stein became a scapegoat for some – although there is little evidence Stein not running would have tipped the election to Clinton .
In Pennsylvania Stein won 49,678 votes , meaning almost every one of her voters would have to have flipped to Clinton to close her 46,765 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unlikely .
Polling specialists at the politics website FiveThirtyEight unanimously felt Stein ’ s run was used as a scapegoat for Clinton ’ s loss , rather than a legitimate reason .
Some third-party presidential candidates insist they have a chance of winning the presidency , despite all odds .
Hawkins , however , is refreshingly honest when asked about his realistic aim .
“ What would really be a big victory would be if we got 5 % of the vote , ” Hawkins said .
“ That qualifies us for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election in 2024 for president .
If we got to 5 % there ’ d be about $ 20m at least waiting for our presidential ticket in 2024 , which would be a jump up .
So 5 % is benchmark.
” It might not sound like a lot , but given the Green party ’ s previous best performance was the 2.7 % won by Ralph Nader in 2000 , it ’ s an ambitious goal .
“ That would be quite a leap for us , ” Hawkins said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not being very progressive , maybe it is within our reach.
” • None This article was amended on 14 August 2020 to correct an image that was mislabeled as Howie Hawkins .

More than 6 million Americans voted for someone other than Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton in 2016’s presidential race, but from the media coverage of the election you would never know it.
In 2020, however, the candidates who are neither Joe Biden nor Donald Trump are hoping to change that, and win more of the vote than ever before – and get some hard-earned recognition for it.
Howie Hawkins, a former UPS worker and longtime political activist, is the Green party nominee for president, and is toiling to break through the media’s Republican and Democratic noise to persuade Americans there are other options than the dominant two parties.
He is not finding it easy.
An immediate difficulty has been coronavirus, which has prevented Hawkins, who lives in Syracuse, New York, from holding events and traveling the country. Instead he has relied on virtual events, although that hasn’t worked out too badly: “I’m actually probably talking to more people than I was before,” Hawkins told the Guardian.
A larger problem, and one that probably would have existed even without the pandemic, has been attracting media attention to his campaign.
“The difficulty is trying to get our message into the main narrative,” Hawkins says. “We’re sending out news releases, we’re tweeting, we’re on social media and we pitch stories.”
When CNN held a “climate crisis town hall” in September 2019, Hawkins and the party spied their chance.
The Green party originally conceived the Green New Deal – a sprawling climate package which has been adopted by progressive Democrats such as Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez – in 2010, and Hawkins said he pitched himself to show producers as “the original Green New Dealer”.
It didn’t work, and the Green party, which has the most far-reaching climate change policies of any party, was absent from the stage.
The Green party might be best known for its climate policies, but its focus goes beyond the environment and into progressive politics as a whole. Hawkins would institute a $20 minimum wage – Democrats favor a $15 minimum – universal rent control, Medicare for All and free college tuition.
In the unlikely event they should win the election, the party has also outlined its sweeping proposals for police reform, which are laid out in an 8,000-word essay online.
It’s a platform which has similarities to the view of leftwing Democrats like the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, but unlikely to ever be approved by the more centrist leadership of the party. Hawkins said he had attracted a number of Democrats disillusioned with the party.
“We keep getting replenished with really angry Democrats,” Hawkins said. “Progressive Democrats get frustrated and come to the Green party.”
For all Hawkins’ detailed, and potentially Democrat-wooing platform, however, the party has little chance of winning in November, a fact that shouldn’t just be frustrating for Hawkins and his team.
In 2018 a Gallup poll found 57% of Americans believe a third major political party is needed – a belief that has more or less held steady for the past 10 years.
Part of the Green party’s mission is to change that. The party supports a ranked-choice national popular vote for president, where voters rank candidates by preference. The system would allow people to vote for more progressive candidates – like Hawkins – without fear that their vote would hand victory to, in this case, Trump.
That fear among the left that a vote for anyone other than the Democratic party could hand victory to Trump is another problem Hawkins faces.
Jill Stein waits to speak at a news conference on Fifth Avenue across the street from Trump Tower, on 5 December 2016 in New York City. Photograph: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
In 2016, the Green party candidate Jill Stein face heavy criticism in the wake of Clinton’s loss to Trump. Nationwide 1,449,370 people voted for Stein, but crucially she received significant votes in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania – each of which Trump narrowly won. If Hillary Clinton had won those three states, she would have been president.
It meant Stein became a scapegoat for some – although there is little evidence Stein not running would have tipped the election to Clinton.
In Pennsylvania Stein won 49,678 votes, meaning almost every one of her voters would have to have flipped to Clinton to close her 46,765 gap to Trump – which is highly unlikely. Polling specialists at the politics website FiveThirtyEight unanimously felt Stein’s run was used as a scapegoat for Clinton’s loss, rather than a legitimate reason.
Some third-party presidential candidates insist they have a chance of winning the presidency, despite all odds. Hawkins, however, is refreshingly honest when asked about his realistic aim.
“What would really be a big victory would be if we got 5% of the vote,” Hawkins said.
“That qualifies us for a public campaign financing grant for the general election in 2024 for president. If we got to 5% there’d be about $20m at least waiting for our presidential ticket in 2024, which would be a jump up. So 5% is benchmark.”
It might not sound like a lot, but given the Green party’s previous best performance was the 2.7% won by Ralph Nader in 2000, it’s an ambitious goal.
“That would be quite a leap for us,” Hawkins said. “But with Trump collapsing, and Biden not being very progressive, maybe it is within our reach.”