How Joe Biden’s Potential Female Running Mates Have Responded to Protests

Former President Barack Obama made history in 2008 as America’s first black president, and nearly two months ago, his former vice president and the current Democratic nominee for president, Joe Biden, stands to make history after announcing that he wanted to pick a woman as his potential running mate.

In 1984, the late Geraldine Ferraro was the first female vice-presidential nominee in the U.S. She was chosen on the Democratic ticket with then-presidential candidate Walter Mondale, who lost to Ronald Reagan. Since then, only one other woman has been chosen as VP on a major party ticket, which was Sarah Palin who ran alongside Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain in 2008.

Once Biden made the announcement, news outlets like CNN began compiling weekly lists of vice-presidential rankings. While all of these women have considerably impressive political backgrounds, voters— especially African Americans — appear to be equally concerned about how candidates feel about the recent protests that the nation has witnessed as a result of George Floyd‘s murder.

Here’s what some of the potential vice presidents-to-be have said about the major events that took place over the past few weeks.

Kamala Harris

With experience as California’s former attorney general and current U.S. senator, Kamala Harris has plenty of the credentials that Biden values. The 55-year-old has ranked #1 on the list of women that Biden might pick to be his vice president for two consecutive weeks.

Despite the recent backlash that she has faced for what some people believe to be her defense of cops, Senator Harris took to Twitter on June 7 to make it clear that she believes:

Photo: twitter.com

She tweeted: “The time for change is now. Change in the name of George Floyd. Change in the name of Ahmaud Arbery. Change in the name of Breonna Taylor. And change in the name of the countless other Black Americans who have died at the hands of hatred and racism.”

Keisha Lance Bottoms

Photo: georgiatrend.com

Though she previously ranked on CNN Politics’ list at No. 6, Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has managed to work her way up to No. 2. Mayor Bottoms recently received a ton of praise for her powerfully empathetic responses to the range of protests that have taken place throughout the city of Atlanta, Ga.

While she took time to ask residents that have been a part of mass gatherings to “please take a COVID-19 test” afterward, she, herself, took one as well. She also made time to ensure that Atlanta residents and residents in cities across the nation knew that recent events made her “sick” to her stomach.

She said: “It is THAT feeling again. The one that makes me sick to my stomach and nudges me to hold my children close….And “YES” I’ve felt it EACH time, at home and watching it from afar. ‘I, too, am America.’”

Susan Rice

October 14, 2016 in Washington, DC.

Previously holding the No.7 spot on CNN Politics’ list, Susan Rice’s experience in foreign policy and national security have helped her move up to No. 6.

Having served as a national security adviser and US ambassador to the United Nations during the Obama administration, it is fair to say that Rice has the necessary experience of public office.

On June 6, Rice took to Twitter to express that “the military must never be used to violate constitutional rights.”

Stacey Abrams

Serving in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017, Stacey Abrams, 46, rose to fame during the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election when she ran for governor.

Despite her loss to Brian Kemp, Abrams is fighting to combat voter suppression in Georgia. She quoted her sister Dr. Andrea Abrams, professor at Centre College in Danville, Ken., in response to the nation’s recent unrest:

Photo: politico.com

She tweeted on June 1: “The issue at hand is not for the marginalized & oppressed to see themselves but for those with power to see the full humanity of all others and to leverage their privilege in the service of equity and justice for all.”

Tammy Duckworth

As a helicopter pilot in Iraq, Tammy Duckworth lost both legs and the use of one of her arms to a crash, but she didn’t allow these barriers to deter her.

The 52-year-old politician went on to serve as the junior United States Senator for Illinois (2017), and she also represented Illinois’s 8^th district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013-2017.

In a CNN op-ed she wrote, Duckworth said:

“George Floyd’s death was unnecessary and heartbreaking. It was a tragedy – but horrifyingly, it was not an anomaly.”

Amy Klobuchar

Amy Klobuchar may have been Biden’s rival in the past, but the 59-year-old’s political background could make for an effective ally as vice president.

Photo: keyc.com

As the U.S. senator of Minnesota, the state in which George Floyd was killed, Klobuchar took to Twitter to show citizens that black lives matter to her enough to introduce a new policy.

She tweeted: “Black Lives Matter. That is why we are introducing The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 in congress today led by my colleagues @CoryBooker @KamalaHarris @RepKarenBass @JerryNadler. This was a team effort and Mitch McConnell should bring it to the Senate floor for consideration.”

Catherine Cortez Masto

Photo: nevadacurrent.com

In 2017, Masto, U.S. senator of Nevada, made history when she became the first Latina senator in history. Now she could possibly make history again as the first female vice president of the U.S.

In a Twitter post she created on June 4, the former attorney general and civil litigator said:

“George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor were robbed of their lives due to police brutality, racism, and hate. I stood in Emancipation Hall for a moment of silence to honor their lives and to show support for all who are protesting racism and demanding a more just nation.”

Elizabeth Warren

U.S. Senator, former presidential candidate and public enemy to President Donald Trump—some of the best credentials a future vice president could have.

At 70 years old, the Massachusetts senator has probably seen her fair share of domestic injustices, and she took to social media to express that it is constitutional for elected officials to take a stand against them.

Photo: bostonglobe.com

“Police brutality threatens Black lives and our democracy. Every time activists and journalists are met with violence from the state, our fundamental rights are at stake. And any elected official who doesn’t take a stand is turning their back on our Constitution.”

Val Demings

As a black, retired law enforcement officer, 63-year-old Val Demings has full potential to strive as vice president of the United States.

Demings, who is now a Florida House representative, made it clear that the nation should be one that is safe and one that treats its residents equally.

She tweeted on June 5th:

“Black Americans are ten times more likely than white Americans to be killed by someone with a gun.

It’s long past time people stop brushing off these deaths as victims ‘in the wrong neighborhood.’

It’s their neighborhood. It’s an American neighborhood, and it should be safe.”

Tammy Baldwin

As the openly gay junior senator of Wisconsin, Tammy Baldwin could help Biden appeal to the nation’s LGBTQ+ voters. The 58-year-old could also serve as a good running mate given her stern stance on reform and “justice for all.”

Photo: reuters.com

“We can say liberty and justice for all, but we need to make sure everyone can live this value. This reform is long overdue and we must meet this critical moment now to address systematic racism and fix policing policies in our country.”