AP and Reuters

The newspaper La Jornada
Tuesday, August 6, 2024, p. 22

Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants who rose through the ranks of California politics and law enforcement to become the first woman to hold the U.S. vice presidency, secured the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination on Tuesday, becoming the first non-white woman to be nominated for president by either of the two major parties.

Her nomination became official at the conclusion of a five-day round of online voting by delegates to the Democratic National Convention, to be held from August 19 to 22 in Chicago.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Harris has narrowed her search for a vice presidential running mate to two finalists, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz; her decision is expected today.

Shapiro, 51, is a rising star in the party with a strong approval rating in his state, whose 19 electoral votes make it a key player. The former state attorney general would add historic significance to the ticket: He would be the country’s first Jewish vice president, but his staunch support for Israel could alienate progressive voters.

Walz, 60, is a National Guard veteran and former teacher who served as a lawmaker in a Republican-leaning district and has demonstrated appeal among white rural voters, though he has also championed progressive policies as governor, including free school lunches and expanded paid leave.