Kamala Harris will mark a series of firsts when he is sworn in on January 20.
Washington:
With Kamala Harris on the cusp of becoming the first female vice president of the United States, and with a record number of women elected to Congress – including more Republicans than ever – considerable history will be made when they take full office in January.
Harris, 56, senator, former prosecutor and vice-president to President-elect Joe Biden, will mark a series of firsts when she is sworn in on January 20: as the U.S. first vice president and first black in that position, as well as the first person of South Asian descent.
“Together, we showed little girls across the country what is possible,” she said on Twitter Friday.
It was the latest echo of a speech Hillary Clinton gave in 2016 in recognition of her loss to Donald Trump.
“I know we still haven’t shattered that tallest, toughest glass ceiling” – the White House’s – “but someday someone will, and hopefully sooner than we do. think so, “said the defeated Democratic candidate.
Clinton then addressed these words of encouragement to the “little girls” across the country:
“Never doubt that you are precious and powerful and that you deserve every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.”
Since Clinton said those words four years ago, women have transformed the face of American politics – both in Congress and, soon, in the White House.
“With Kamala Harris, many glass ceilings were shattered in one day,” said Amy Dacey, former executive director of the Democratic National Committee now at American University.
Ron Klain, whom Biden named as his chief of staff, said Harris would play an “important” role, Dacey noted. “And I think (Biden) will bring in a lot of women at all levels of administration.”
Analysts expect Biden to appoint either progressive Senator Elizabeth Warren or Federal Reserve official Lael Brainard, former undersecretary of the Treasury, as head of the Treasury – a position never held by a woman.
The United States could also see its first female secretary of defense. Michele Flournoy, former number three at the Pentagon, was frequently mentioned.
There are only two women in the Trump cabinet: Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Several women have served Trump as a senior advisor or spokesperson for the White House.
But the Republican billionaire has also frequently sparked controversy with insulting or sexist comments about women. In October, he called Harris a “monster”.
“ A substantial impact ”
Americans in 2018 had already elected a record number of women.
On November 3, they broke this record.
“This election shows continued progress for women in America,” said Kelly Dittmar, director of the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) at Rutgers University.
“This will have a big impact on American politics,” she told AFP, “because in addition to literally running for government, they bring their lived experiences and distinct perspectives that are still under-represented.” .
While some November 3 election results are not yet final, at least 140 women will take seats in Congress when it returns on January 3, according to the CAWP.
There are currently 127 women in Congress, or 23.7 percent of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 100 in the Senate.
While that percentage will rise to 26% in January, women still have a long way to go – they make up half of America’s population.
Women Democrats will claim 105 seats in Congress (89 in the House and 16 in the Senate).
Republican women, for their part, will occupy 35 seats (27 in the House and eight in the Senate) – considerably fewer than their Democratic counterparts, but still a big increase from the current 22.
The Republican candidates “performed better than expected,” Dittmar said.
“They would still be significantly under-represented, but this should send a message both about their eligibility and hopefully increasing their influence within the party to ensure that more women are elected in the future,” said Dittmar.
Asked Friday about the record number of elected Republican women, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – the first woman to hold the post – said she “would congratulate and welcome each of them.”
But then the Democratic president, rounding the House total up, quickly pointed out that her party always does better through women, casually adding:
“Of course we have 90.”
(This story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
