The rush to label Kamala Harris a DEI candidate, dating back to her selection as Biden’s vice presidential running mate, got me thinking about previous vice presidential candidates. With diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in mind, I’ve come to the conclusion that many vice presidential candidates since the Reagan-Bush campaign of 1980 could rightly be called DEI candidates because they were selected to have a broader appeal to voters.
As I thought about DEI, I remembered a time when I managed teams of varying sizes, typically six to 50 members, that worked intensively together for periods ranging from a few weeks to 18 months—comparable to the length of some political campaigns. In assembling these teams, my management and I emphasized a diverse skill set to complement my strengths and address my weaknesses. It was critical to include individuals with experience in negotiation, technology, and finance, especially those familiar with industry-specific requirements. We needed a legal component that could work constructively with internal and external legal departments. We advocated for equal treatment of employees who came from other companies. We viewed this as a good business practice that increased our chances of a successful outcome.
Today, the term “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) is often used pejoratively. Some criticize hiring or promotions that do not fit the traditional image of a 1950s American as “wokeness” or DEI-driven decisions.
So what about the choice of Kamala Harris in 2020? Kamala Harris’ choice as Biden’s running mate was called a DEI choice, which it was. Let’s look at other vice presidential candidates to identify those who were chosen with DEI in mind.
Mike Pence was a diverse choice because of his ties to conservative and evangelical Christian communities. In 2016, Republicans sought to make their slate more diverse, balancing Trump’s controversial background and liberal past by appealing to conservative Christians and far-right Republicans.
Joe Biden was also chosen for his diversity and inclusion. Barack Obama, a young and inspiring senator, needed a vice presidential candidate with extensive experience in foreign policy and legislation, as well as an appeal to older, white voters. Joe Biden met these criteria and provided a corresponding diversification of the candidate list.
Paul Ryan brought conservative credentials to the 2012 Romney-Ryan candidacy. Mitt Romney needed that diversity because, as a former governor of Massachusetts, he was not considered conservative enough. Ryan, a Catholic, also helped to mitigate skepticism about Romney’s Mormon faith.
In 1996, John McCain was a famous military hero and a maverick legislator with no government experience. Although there are many reports that he preferred Senator Lieberman, he ultimately chose Sarah Palin, who provided more diversity on the ticket. Her experience as a governor and her relatively young age rounded out McCain’s profile.
George HW Bush was a DEI choice. Ronald Reagan valued Bush’s oratorical skills and conservative credentials, but needed his extensive domestic and international experience for diversity.
JD Vance is the latest Republican vice presidential candidate to champion DEI. He is a devout Catholic, similar to Pence in 2016, appealing to those religious voters who may find Trump’s past off-putting. Vance also diversifies Trump’s donor base through his strong ties to venture capitalists and billionaires from Silicon Valley and technology companies.
Kamala Harris was also a DEI candidate in 2020, bringing youth and gender diversity to the Biden-Harris platform. She also brought decades of experience as a prosecutor and California’s top law officer. In these roles, she saw the law from both sides and demonstrated her ability to win cases against some of the largest companies in the United States.
Harris also brings a diverse education to the table, unlike almost all major party presidential candidates since Reagan’s election of George HW Bush in 1980. She does not have a degree from an Ivy League university, and is therefore more closely related to the college and vocational school experience of the broader American population.
A look at the selection of vice presidential candidates over the decades suggests that DEI considerations have played a role in many American political campaigns.
John Wolfe moved to Colorado in 1985 and to Longmont in 2012.
