Joe Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as running mate created the first Black and South Asian American woman on a major party presidential ticket, energizing the Democratic base for the 2020 election.

VP Selection

On August 11, 2020, Joe Biden announced Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate after a months-long vetting process. Harris—a former prosecutor, California Attorney General, and presidential candidate herself—made history as the first Black woman and first South Asian American on a major party ticket.

The selection came after sustained pressure for Biden to choose a woman of color following the George Floyd protests and Black Lives Matter movement’s summer prominence.

Historic Significance

Harris’s nomination was seen as symbolically powerful during a summer of racial justice protests. Her Indian and Jamaican heritage represented America’s increasing diversity. Sororities, South Asian Americans, and Black communities celebrated representation at the highest levels.

Campaign Dynamics

Harris brought prosecutorial skills to the campaign, aggressively attacking Trump’s pandemic response and economic record. The campaign largely operated virtually due to COVID-19, with Harris delivering speeches to small gatherings and via video.

Her debate against Vice President Mike Pence featured the viral “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking” moment that became a meme about women being interrupted and talked over.

November Victory

The Biden-Harris ticket won 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232, flipping Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Arizona. They won the popular vote by 7 million—though Trump refused to concede, falsely claiming fraud.

On January 20, 2021, Harris was sworn in as Vice President—the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian American to hold the office.

Coalition Building

The ticket represented a coalition strategy: Biden’s appeal to working-class white voters and older Democrats, combined with Harris energizing younger voters, women, and people of color. The strategy proved effective in swing states.

”We Did It, Joe”

Harris’s phone call to Biden when networks projected their victory—“We did it, Joe!”—became an iconic moment, with video going viral as Americans celebrated Trump’s defeat.

References: Campaign announcements, FEC records, election results, debate transcripts, inauguration records, Pew Research, CNN exit polls, Washington Post