News

Who Is Sen. Tammy Duckworth & Why Biden Is Considering Her To Be Running Mate

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) has become a frontrunner in former Vice President Joe Biden‘s search for a running mate.

Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has been in direct contact with the Biden campaign regarding its search, told the Washington Post that there was a “lot of attention” on Duckworth, a Purple Heart recipient and Iraq War veteran.

“You had all the other names there, and it was as if she didn’t exist,” Reid said. “And suddenly people began to look at her – this highly decorated woman, member of Congress, senator.”

Duckworth served the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot and suffered severe combat wounds, causing her to lose both of her legs and some mobility in her right arm.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

She was the first female double amputee from the way and the first woman with a disability to be elected to Congress, as well as the first to give birth while in office.

Although Duckworth is of Thai and Chinese descent, there has been recent push to select a black female running mate in the wake of the nationwide protests and calls to reform systems that have been historically racist.

While Sen. Kamala Harris (D-California) has remained a general favorite, Biden has declined to commit to choosing a woman of color.

In an interview with CNN’s State of the Union, Duckworth would not say if Biden should pick a black woman.

“I’m sure Vice President Biden will pick the right person to be next to him as he digs this country out of the mess that Donald Trump has put us in,” she said, calling black women the “key to the victory for Democrats.”

When pressed further on the issue, Duckworth said “I don’t think it’s on any of us to dictate to him.”

“He knows best who he needs as a vice president, who can help him connect with the American people, who can help him overcome the crises that we’re operating under right now,” she continued. “There’s a lot of problems that Donald Trump is leaving, and Joe Biden’s going to have to clean up, and he’ll pick the right person to help him to do that.”

Biden initially said he would name his running mate by Aug. 1, but has suggested that deadline may be pushed back. He may instead choose his pick shortly before the Democratic National Convention on Aug.17, which could protect the running mate from right wing attacks in the weeks leading up to the convention.

Katherine Huggins

Share
Published by
Katherine Huggins

Recent Posts

Trump Say He Would Have Taken A Different Approach Than Elon Musk To DOGE Cuts

President Donald Trump praised the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) but suggested…

2 hours ago

Judge Rules Trump’s Efforts To Cancel Hundreds Of DEI-Base Research Grants Are Illegal: ‘Have We No Shame?’

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump's attempts to cancel several hundred National Institutes…

23 hours ago

Paramount Settles With Trump For $16M Over Accusations Of ‘Distortion’ Favoring Kamala Harris, Critics Call It ‘Extortion’

Paramount and President Donald Trump agreed to a $16 million settlement regarding how an interview…

24 hours ago

Trump Threatens To Add New Tariffs To Countries That Haven’t Reached Trade Deals With U.S.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that tariffs will return to the "Independence Day" levels if,…

1 day ago

Netanyahu Surprises Trump With Nobel Peace Prize Nomination During White House Meeting

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised President Donald Trump with a nomination for…

1 day ago

After Musk-Trump Feud, Air Force Cancels Tests With Advanced SpaceX Rockets

The United States Air Force has announced that it will cease collaboration with SpaceX on…

1 day ago