On Sunday, President Biden shocked the country by announcing that he wouldn’t be seeking re-election in November. He also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and stated: “Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.” In November 2020, Harris made history by becoming the first woman vice president. She is also the first Black and first person of Asian descent to be voted into the position. Here are the ways Harris would make history if she becomes president this November.
1. If elected in November, Harris would be the first woman—and Black woman—president.
Harris is poised to earn the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in August. This would make her the first Black woman to lead a major party’s White House ticket, and the first person with South Asian heritage. If elected, Harris would be the first woman—and first Black woman president—in the history of the United States.
2. Harris would also be the first Divine 9 president.
Vice President Kamala Harris is a graduate of Howard University. Throughout her political career, she has embraced being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha—one of several historically Black sororities and fraternities called the Divine Nine. In 2020, Black Greek organizations showed immense support for Harris and she may be the first Divine 9 president this country has ever seen come November.
3. She’d be the second person from California to be president.
If Harris is victorious in November, she would become the second person born in the state of California to be president. The first and only president from California was Richard Nixon—he was born in Yorba Linda.
4. Harris would be the first Asian-American to hold the position.
If Harris wins the presidential race, she would also be the first Asian-American president. Harris is the daughter of an Indian-American mother and a Jamaican father. Her parents divorced when she was young, and Harris—as well as her sister Maya—was raised by their mother who was a cancer researcher.
5. Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, would become the “first gentleman” of the United States.
In 2014, Harris married entertainment lawyer Douglas Emhoff in 2014 and became stepmother Ella and Cole—Emhoff’s two children. When she was elected vice president in 2020, Emhoff made history by becoming “first gentleman.” The same thing rings true if Harris wins in November, but on a much bigger scale.