Kamala Harris will make history today when she becomes the first black woman and Asian-American to accept a spot on a major presidential ticket at the Democratic National Convention.
Harris will be formally nominated for the vice-presidential role by her sister Maya Harris, her niece Meena Harris and stepdaughter Elle Emhoff. She will address the convention and is expected to speak about her the significance of her historic candidacy and her affinity for Joe Biden and his late son Beau.
A former prosecutor, Harris is also expected to highlight President Donald Trump’s record and demonstrate that she is highly qualified for the role of vice-president.
The last time I spoke at the Democratic National Convention was in 2012.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 19, 2020
Tonight at 9 p.m. ET I’ll be back, this time accepting the nomination for Vice President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/nTl4uXDe5n
Numerous other high-profile Democrats will speak today, including former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton, who lost the presidency to Donald Trump in 2016 despite winning the popular vote by approximately 3 million votes.
Clinton’s presence at the Democratic National Convention marks four years since she made history as the first woman nominated for the presidency by a major party. Her return to the convention stage comes one day after the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in the U.S.
“I wish Donald Trump had been a better president. But, sadly, he is who he is,” Clinton is expected to say.
She will also speak directly to Americans who did not vote in the 2016 election, saying, “Well, this can’t be another woulda coulda shoulda election.”
“Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are.”
Congratulations to @JoeBiden on officially becoming the next Democratic nominee.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 19, 2020
We have 75 days left to elect him the next president.
Let’s make them count. https://t.co/mxkpLIOEux pic.twitter.com/uQOvqXRbMf
In the wake of Clinton’s run for president in 2016, women across America have been a powerful force in taking on Trump. This year, a record number of women, including Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, put themselves forward for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Since Trump’s election, record numbers of women have also run for the House of Representatives and the Senate, many of them playing a key role in regaining a Democrat majority in the House in 2018.
Elizabeth Warren and former U.S President Barack Obama are also set to speak.
More to come.