Joe Biden Will Select a Female Running Mate

During Sunday’s 11th Democratic primary debate, presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden pledged to select a woman as his vice presidential running mate. He announced this when asked how he plans to support women’s rights.

“If I’m elected president, my cabinet, my administration will look like the country and I commit that I will, in fact, appoint a woman to be vice president,” Biden said.

Potential running mate names have already started to swirl around. According to a reporter from The Daily Beast, women on his rumored shortlist include Sen. Kamala Harris, former Georgia state Rep. Stacey Abrams, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Rep. Marica Fudge, Rep. Val Demings and former national security advisor Susan Rice. Others online have recommend former presidential candidates Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Amy Klobuchar for the role.

His opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders, also said he will likely select a female running mate, but said he will ultimately choose the best running mate to upload progressive values regardless of gender.

“In all likelihood I will,” Sanders said. “To me, it’s not just nominating a woman. It is making sure that we have a progressive woman, and there are progressive women out there.”

Following Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s exit from the race, both Biden and Sanders have been under a microscope regarding their commitment to women’s rights. Biden, particularly, has been under scrutiny due to past actions that contradict the fight for women’s rights—including his past support of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding toward abortion.

According to Business Insider, Biden has also been accused of acting inappropriately toward eight different women.

People online have split reactions to Biden’s VP news. Some applauded the decision:

Commiting now to select a woman as his VP running mate — excellent @JoeBiden decision!

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) March 16, 2020

Tonight @JoeBiden became the only candidate for President, who committed to picking a woman as his VP, and to putting an African American woman on the Supreme Court. #PresidentBiden #JoeMentum

— Chaz Bono (@ChazBono) March 16, 2020

Would be kind of remarkable for Joe Biden to both serve as VP for the first black president and then, twelve years later, to serve as president with the first woman as VP. https://t.co/apYPWGzDl2

— Carlos Lozada (@CarlosLozadaWP) March 16, 2020

Others saw the move as pandering:

Ann Coulter is a woman.

Sarah Palin is a woman.

Tomi Lahren is a woman.

Kellyanne Conway is a woman.

Margaret Thatcher was a woman.

It’s not just about being a woman.

Pandering identity politics to pretend you care when your voting history says otherwise is sexist.

— Esperanza (@afesperanza) March 16, 2020

Sarah Palin was a woman too. We need someone with strong, progressive policies. https://t.co/0DtmeGzSOI

— Garfield Holland (@GPHollandII) March 16, 2020

.@JoeBiden announced he will pick “a woman” as his VP.

This is horrendously objectifying.

Biden is willing to use “a woman” (any woman) to win?

This is SO insulting to the American women who have worked hard to earn our place at the table and value genuine workplace equality.

— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) March 16, 2020

Regardless of opinion, many debated over who they think he will choose for the position. Several people recommended Warren for the job, while others said that Biden should instead choose a woman of color.

Dear White Folks

There cannot be an all white ticket

Please stop pushing Elizabeth Warren as the VP

That. Shit. Aint. Happening.

Signed
Black folks who saved Joe Biden

P.S. Take several fucking seats #DemDebate

— ABlackWomanWhoDontGiveAF*ck (@battletested5) March 16, 2020

Joe Biden just said that his running mate will definitely be a woman. We can all argue over who that should be. I think it should be @ewarren because of the truly unique and dangerous times we are in and her UNIQUE skills that match them. Give her a ton of power as vp. #DemDebate

— Jason Overstreet (@JasonOverstreet) March 16, 2020

What do you think of the move, and who do you think he will/should choose as his running mate? Let us know by tagging us on social media and using the hashtag #HersChat.