Here's How: Kamala Harris, First Female VP, Now Poised to Break Even More Historic Barriers

Kamala Harris earned President Joe Biden's "full support and endorsement" to become the Democratic presidential nominee shortly after he announced that he was dropping out of the 2024 race on Sunday, July 21.

While Harris' time as vice president has already broken barriers in American politics, becoming the Democratic nominee for commander-in-chief would certainly break a few more.

In November 2020, the 59-year-old politician made history following Biden's victory over Donald Trump in the presidential election. Not only did Harris become the first woman elected vice president, but she also earned the distinction of becoming the first Black person and first person of Asian descent to be voted into the office.

Through Harris' political triumphs, her husband Doug Emhoff also earned a new title at the time, becoming the nation's first-ever "second gentleman."

If Harris earns the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in August, it would add to her list of historic firsts. She would become the first Black woman to lead a major party's White House ticket, and the first person with South Asian roots.

She would also be the first female presidential nominee on a major-party ticket since Hillary Clinton in 2016, as well as the first Black person since Barack Obama in 2012.

And if elected to office in November, Harris would notably become the first-ever woman to hold office as the president of the United States — a barrier that Clinton tried to break in 2016, when Donald Trump was elected to office. (Emhoff, in turn, would become the first man to hold the title of "first gentleman.")

If elected president, Harris would also become only the second person born in the state of California to hold the office. Richard Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, Calif.

Speaking to PEOPLE in November, Harris said that "some people are limited in their ability to understand what’s possible" and "just can’t see what they’ve never seen."

"That’s why we have people who break ground, break glass, break barriers," she said at the time.

Biden's public endorsement of Harris following his decision to drop out of the race does not officially make her the nominee. The nominee must be chosen by delegates at the Democratic National Convention, which kicks off on Aug. 19, and in theory she could face challengers — though she will have a strong head start on earning delegates' support.

Biden released a lengthy statement on July 21 that explained his decision to step aside amid mounting pressure from members of his own party.

"Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation. Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans," Biden began in a state -

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ment. "We’ve provided critically needed care to a million veterans exposed to toxic substances. Passed the first gun safety law in 30 years. Appointed the first African American woman to the Supreme Court. And passed the most significant climate legislation in the history of the world."

Noting that "America has never been better positioned to lead than we are today," Biden added, "I know none of this could have been done without you, the American people. Together, we overcame a once in a century pandemic and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. We’ve and preserved our Democracy, And we've revitalized and strengthened our alliances around the world."

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term," he added.

Biden also wrote in his statement that he will "speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision," noting, "For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected."

"I want to thank Vice President Kamala Harris for being an extraordinary partner in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the American people for the faith and trust you have placed in me," he concluded. "I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing America can't do - when we do it together. We just have to remember we are the United States of America."

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In a later statement, Biden called his choice to select Harris as his 2020 running mate "the best decision I've made."

"Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee for our party this year. Democrats — it's time to come together and beat Trump," he wrote. "Let's do this."

In her own statement shared by the Biden-Harris campaign on Sunday afternoon, the vice president said that she intends to "earn and win" the 2024 Democratic nomination.

"Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election," she said. "And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda."

Harris concluded her statement with a rallying message: “We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”

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