Biden’s Running Mate Should be a Woman of Color
At the Democratic Debate hosted by CNN on March 15, Joe Biden committed to having a woman as his running mate, stating that his “administration will look like the country.” Since then, the U.S. has been rapidly confronted with a state of major division and uncertainty, making the decision for the right running mate far more important. Amidst a recent economic and health crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new movement confronting systemic racism and police brutality has emerged, sparked by the murder of George Floyd on May 25.
With a climate in need of immediate action and leadership, we have been given a president who refuses to simply wear a mask or even acknowledge racism within the country. The undeniable incompetence and ignorance of Trump in the past few months have introduced a new urgency to one of the main goals of the Biden campaign: defeating the current administration. Biden’s running mate would ideally be able to combat and appeal to voters in all three main aspects of the country’s needs: COVID-19 relief, both economic and health-wise, confronting systemic oppression and racism, and defeating Trump.
Arguably, the largest question lies in terms of the intersectionality of Biden’s potential running mate. We know with certainty that under a Biden presidency there would be a female vice president, but many people are asking, should she be a woman of color?
While the list of women who are allegedly being considered for vice president is short, the contenders have been targets of criticism from voters. Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Stacey Abrams, former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, were vocal about their interest in the position of vice president. While they are widely seen as well-liked and strong leaders, many voters have said they lack experience. A contender with a lot of experience, Senator Kamala Harris, appears to be a front runner in Biden’s search, at the top of a list with other candidates like Florida representative Val Demings and former national security advisor Susan Rice. Senator Elizabeth Warren is still in the running while Senator Amy Klobuchar dropped out in June, stating that she thinks “this is a moment to put a woman of color on that ticket.”
Various polls have shown contrasting data as to how important of a factor voters believe race is in picking a running mate for Biden. A Times poll says that 4 out of 5 registered voters said race should not come into play when choosing a vice president. However, a Data for Progress Poll by Civiqs showed that 50% of Democrats would like a woman of color to be vice president. While these polls present data that is slightly contradictory, it is undeniable that the race of Biden’s potential running mate seems to be on voters’ minds at the moment.
According to the Center for American Progress, women of color represent approximately 18 percent of the entire U.S. population while only representing 4% of the Senate and approximately 12% of the House of Representatives. The underrepresentation of women of color in Congress is evident, and in light of the new urgency for police reform and confrontation of systemic racism, many see a woman of color in this position as essential. If Biden becomes president, he will have to confront racism through legislation as promised; however, to put it frankly, older, white men cannot be the ones making decisions for BIPOC in the United States. This makes a woman of color as vice president a vital decision Biden should make, as she would be a contributor to decisions that directly impact other people of color.
A woman of color as Biden’s vice president is not only essential because of issues surrounding police brutality, but also essential for COVID-19 relief and defeating Donald Trump. Due to wealth and health disparities, communities of color are far more at risk to contract COVID-19, with Indigenous and black citizens 5 times more likely to contract the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Without representation and advocacy, these communities are suffering due to the lack of attention they need and deserve. Donald Trump has defended and encouraged the improper treatment and discrimination, including health disparities linked to COVID-19, of communities and people of color in this country. With a woman of color as Biden’s running mate, those who have been cruelly and disproportionately affected by systemic racism, COVID-19, and Trump’s presidency, would gain a representative who understands their concerns. While more representation is absolutely necessary on all levels of government, a woman of color as vice president puts this representation in a large position of power. Thus, allowing for more potential opportunities for representation in the future.
