Amy Klobuchar Steps Aside, Believes Biden Should Pick a ‘Woman of Color’ to be Running Mate

Senator Amy Klobuchar announced tonight on MSNBC that she is taking herself out of consideration to be the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s running mate.

Klobuchar said, “After what I’ve seen in my state, what I’ve seen across the country, this is a historic moment and America must seize on this moment. And I truly believe, as I actually told the [former] Vice President last night when I called him, that I think this is a moment to put a woman of color on that ticket.” 

“And there are so many incredibly qualified women. But if you want to heal this nation, right now — my party, yes, but our nation — this is sure a hell of a way to do it,” she added.

She claimed to have made the decision on Wednesday after conferring with aides and family, and made the choice entirely on her own with absolutely no pressure from Biden, his campaign aides, or those leading the search, multiple people familiar with her decision said.

She had previously been asked by Biden to undergo a formal vetting to be considered for the position.

Earlier today, she spoke on the Senate floor calling for immediate action on justice reform. She later tweeted out that “systemic racism exists at every level of our justice system” and that those “wrongs” must be righted.

She claimed that it “isn’t a time for half measures” and that there must be “real change and action to hold police accountable and make our justice system more transparent.” She stumped for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in asking for the Justice in Policing Act to be passed.

Systemic racism exists at every level of our justice system—we must right these wrongs. This isn’t a time for half measures. It’s a time for real change & action to hold police accountable and make our justice system more transparent. Let’s pass the Justice in Policing Act now.

Systemic racism exists at every level of our justice system—we must right these wrongs.

This isn’t a time for half measures. It's a time for real change & action to hold police accountable and make our justice system more transparent.

Let's pass the Justice in Policing Act now.

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) June 19, 2020