California Senator Kamala Harris is now officially Joe Biden’s running mate.
The 55-year-old vice-presidential candidate accepted the party's nomination Wednesday night at the virtual Democratic National Convention without dissension.
Harris makes history as the first Black woman and the first woman of Indian descent picked as a running mate in the race for the White House. The Oakland native is also the first Californian ever on the Democratic ticket, just another of the firsts she represents in coming from a major political party.
"We can do better and deserve so much more," Harris said in her Wednesday night speech. "We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us together - Black, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenous - to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden."
"None of us are free until all of us are free," Harris said in addressing the ongoing national conversation about racism.
Harris also spoke fondly of her close-knit family in her acceptance speech, speaking of her late mother's drive to "keep our family at the center of our world."
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia joined KCBS Radio’s "The State Of California" Wednesday to reflect on Harris’ biggest night yet.
"Kamala Harris is incredible. We love her here in this state," Garcia said. "She’s done a phenomenal job as (California Attorney General), in the U.S. Senate and now she’ll do a good job as vice president."
Garcia, who was chosen as one of the party’s 17 keynote speakers at this Democratic National Convention, said the moment of Harris’ nomination was not lost on him.
"It’s amazing to have a woman, a woman of color," Garcia added. "She’s been a mentor and a friend to a lot of us up and down the state. So, we’re really fired up."
Garcia recently made headlines himself, losing both his mother and stepfather to COVID-19 just two weeks apart.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram