Photo: Harry E. Walker/Getty Images
On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, California Senator Kamala Harris has officially announced her bid for President of the United States, making her the first African American to formally enter the 2020 race. To coincide with her presidential announcement on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America,’ Harris released a campaign video on her social platforms.
In it, she said, “The future of our country depends on you and millions of others lifting our voices to fight for our American values. That’s why I’m running for President of the United States. I’m running to lift those voices. To bring our voices together.”
Since graduating from Howard University in 1986, Harris, whose father is Jamaican and mother is Indian, has blazed a trail as California’s first woman, first African American and first South Asian American Attorney General. She is also the first South Asian American and second Black woman to be elected to the United States Senate. According to her Senate website, Harris identifies as both African American and South Asian American.
By entering the presidential race, Harris could become the first Black woman and South Asian American to lead the country. Harris’ campaign will be based in Baltimore and a second office in Oakland, where she plans to launch her campaign on January 27.
Photo via: Kamala Harris
“The thing about Dr. King that always inspires me is that he was aspirational. He was aspirational like our country is aspirational,” said Harris on ‘Good Morning America.’ “We know that we’ve not yet reached those ideals. But our strength is that we fight to reach those ideals. So today, the day we celebrate Dr. King, is a very special day for all of us as Americans and I’m honored to be able to make my announcement on the day we commemorate him.”