OnPolitics: All eyes are on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

Tuesday, August 11

In this June 27, 2019, file photo, then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., listens to questions after the Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Art in Miami.

All eyes are on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

The Democratic presidential ticket is here: Joe Biden chooses Kamala Harris as his running mate.

It finally happened.

After weeks of speculation, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden chose California Sen. Kamala Harris as his vice presidential running mate for the 2020 election. This makes Harris the first Black woman and first Asian American person on a major party's presidential ticket.

Harris, who was one of Biden's Democratic primary opponents, brings the political prowess of having won statewide election in the country's largest state. She also personifies the diversity that key Democratic activists have said is crucial to building grassroots enthusiasm for the ticket.

"I have the great honor to announce that I've picked @KamalaHarris - a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country's finest public servants - as my running mate," Biden tweeted.

Some fast facts about Harris:

•	She was California's first female attorney general, a post she held for 5 years.
•	Before that, she served as district attorney in San Francisco.
•	When she was elected to the Senate, she was the first South Asian senator and only the second Black woman senator.

And speaking of elections ...

Connecticut voters will cast the last of the 2020 presidential primary votes Tuesday. While President Donald Trump and Biden's nominations are already secure, there is still some primary drama in store in other races.

The two biggest races to watch Tuesday night? Rep. Ilhan Omar's battle for reelection in Minnesota and QAnon conspiracy believer Marjorie Taylor Greene's quest to join Congress despite a slew of controversial comments she made on social media.

A special reminder from us: There's still time to get registered to vote before the presidential election. Just go to vote.usatoday.com. It takes less than two minutes.

OK, here's what else is going on in the political world:

•	The extra $400 in weekly unemployment benefits President Trump promised last week will likely be just $300 for many jobless Americans.
•	A 51-year-old Maryland man who was shot by a Secret Service officer near the White House on Monday is being charged with assaulting a police officer.
•	Since the eruption of public protests after the death of George Floyd, thousands of complaints have been logged against law enforcement authorities thrust into the midst of unrest across the country.