The likely Democratic presidential nominee has announced his choice for a running mate.
Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has chosen California Senator Kamala Harris, 55, as his Vice Presidential candidate.
https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1293280411150217219
Harris, whose father was from Jamaica and mother was from India, is the first woman of colour to appear as a Vice Presidential candidate for a major party. She was previously a candidate for the Democratic nomination and had even questioned Biden's civil rights record in the early stages of the primary campaign. Harris withdrew from the race in March and endorsed Biden, and has since been a tireless fundraiser for his campaign.
The announcement ended months of speculation that Biden would select a woman to run on the Democratic ticket. Others who were reportedly considered included Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, California Congresswoman Susan Bass, and former National Security Adviser Susan Rice.
Harris grew up in California, but lived for several years in Canada as a child, graduating in 1981 from a Montreal high school. She attended Howard University in Washington, DC, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.
Harris worked in district attorney's offices and at San Francisco City Hall, before being elected in 2003 as District Attorney of San Francisco. She was elected California's Attorney General in 2010 and served in that office until she was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016.
She is married with two stepchildren from her husband's previous marriage.
Biden and Harris are scheduled to make their first campaign appearance Wednesday in Biden's home state of Delaware. The Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Milwaukee, with most business taking place remotely.
The pair, once officially nominated, will face off against the Republican candidates President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in November's general election.