Image source, KAMALA HARRIS

Kamala Harris, 59, is the first woman, and first black and Asian-American, to serve as vice-president.

She was born in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents from India and Jamaica, and studied at one of the nation's preeminent historically black colleges and universities, Howard University in Washington DC.

Harris previously worked as a prosecutor, including as district attorney of San Francisco and she was the first woman and first black person to serve as California's attorney general.

In 2016, she became only the second African-American woman to serve in the US senate. She also unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for presidency in 2020.

She married lawyer Doug Emhoff in 2014, and is stepmother to his children Cole and Ella.

• To find out more about the vice-president, read on here

Sean Seddon
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Much was expected of Kamala Harris when she launched her first White House bid in front of 20,000 supporters in her native California back in January 2019.

The hype around her candidacy saw her surge in early polls and Harris gained further traction after attacking frontrunner Joe Biden in a televised debate.

However, she struggled to maintain momentum in a race packed with other big names like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, while other debate moments were deemed lacklustre by commentators.

Harris’s attempts to appeal to both the centrist and progressive wings of her party meant she struggled to make inroads with either, while some questioned her record as an attorney general in California.

That scrutiny included her decision to prosecute people for cannabis offences - an issue which animates many younger left-leaning Democrats who favour legalisation - despite having admitted to trying the drug herself.

When Harris dropped out 11 months later, she told supporters it came down to the one commodity no US politician can do without: money.

“I’m not a billionaire,” Harris said, weeks after being forced to lay off campaign staff due to a lack of donations.

If Harris is installed quickly as her party’s nominee this time around, money should be less of an issue - but there will still be lessons to be learned from her failed 2019 bid.

Ione Wells
Reporting from Delaware

I just spoke to three generations of voters here - Susan Raskin, 75, Hannah Raskin, 11, and Emily Raskin, 47. Grandmother, mum, and daughter.

We are just down the beach from where Joe Biden’s holiday home is.

They told me they felt some sadness at Biden stepping down, but also “relief.” They’ve made some signs they plan to leave near his home to thank him for his work as president.

All three seemed confident about Kamala Harris replacing him and, in particular, said she would be good at bringing out more young people and women to vote and “energise” the campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar has told the BBC Kamala Harris will run as “someone who prosecuted cases against a man who has racked up over a hundred felony indictments”.

“I think there’s a lot of excitement over this," Klobuchar tells BBC World Service's Newshour programme.

"The Biden campaign has in place major offices and infrastructure in swing states that she, of course, can inherit.

"She raised nearly $50m (£36.7m) in just the first day…there’ll be a lot of excitement over the choice of the vice-presidential candidate, it’s going to be kind of a speed dating sort of situation given the amount of time left."

Klobuchar also dismisses allegations of a “cover up” about what senior Democrats – including Harris – knew about Joe Biden’s health.

Image source, Reuters

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, tells MSNBC's Morning Joe programme that Kamala Harris will be able to bring the Democratic Party together.

"She can go toe-to-toe with Donald Trump and she can win in November," she says.

"I think it's a very exciting moment for Democrats and exciting to see this race change so dramatically," she adds.

Warren calls Biden a "transformative" president and says he gave the country "a lesson in patriotism" when he decided to step down as the Democratic nominee.

"Joe Biden thinks about our nation and what is best for America and he showed us that yesterday with his actions," she says.

Nadia Ragozhina
Live page editor

It's been a busy few hours here in the newsroom, with Democratic endorsements for Kamala Harris coming in thick and fast.

As we continue to bring those to you, we are also gearing up for several events in the next couple of hours, including Vice-President Harris's first appearance since President Biden exited the race.

Harris is set to appear at 11:30 EDT (16:30 BST) at a pre-scheduled event celebrating the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship teams.

Meanwhile, Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance will hold his first solo rally in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio at 13:30 EDT (18:30 BST), followed by a second one in Redford, Virginia at 18:00 EDT (23:00 BST).

We'll bring you key lines and analysis from all of those.

While we wait, follow along as BBC correspondents answer your questions on the race for the White House - just tap watch live above.

Nomia Iqbal
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Reuters

Outside the White House some have applauded President Joe Biden for standing down, calling it an act of patriotism.

Many Democratic Party members say his legacy will be profound. The question of his future has been in huge discussion ever since the presidential debate in June, which is now one of the most consequential debates that has changed the course of history.

But a few Democratic Party supporters have also told me that the decision should have come sooner.

They believe that ultimately his legacy will rest on the results of the 2024 election.

If Democrats win, Biden will have beaten Trump twice - once without being his direct opponent. If they lose, or there is once again a contested election that turns violent, Biden could be blamed for delaying such a crucial decision to stand down.

Even worse for him, a returned Donald Trump to the White House would see some of his important policies undone, regarding climate change, investing in future industries, foreign positions, and deepening alliances.

Image source, Reuters

The governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, is the latest to endorse Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Pritzker was among those who had been tipped to either challenge Harris for the nomination, or be chosen as her running mate for the vice-presidency.

His state of Illinois will host the Democratic National Convention next month.

Posting on social media, he says he was genuinely surprised at President Biden's decision to step aside, and it's his belief that Harris is the party's "best chance to defeat Donald Trump".

Image source, Reuters

Endorsements continue to flow in for Kamala Harris - let's bring you details of another one coming to us.

Gretchen Whitmer, who is among the names being touted as a potential vice-president pick, has given her backing to Kamala Harris to secure the Democratic nomination.

In a post on social media the Michigan governor says she is "fired up to endorse Kamala Harris for President of the United States".

Whitmer lists the reasons why she is backing Harris and also goes on to attack Donald Trump, describing him as a "convicted felon who stokes violence".

Ione Wells
Reporting from Delaware

This scenic state park is popular with cyclists and walkers. There’s even the odd deer I’ve seen grazing in the morning sunlight.

So you can imagine people’s curiosity to see not just cameras and journalists set up here, but also the secret service blocking off one of the roads.

A few of the cyclists have called out to me: “Any news yet?”

Everyone here is wondering - like we are - when the president will leave his holiday house and when we will see him again in public.

Image source, X/@@HillaryClinton

Hillary Clinton has repeated her endorsement of Kamala Harris and called on people to donate to her campaign to be the Democratic Party nominee.

In a new post on social media, the former Democrat senator and presidential candidate, who lost to Donald Trump in 2016, says:

As a reminder, Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records in May - although his sentencing has been postponed until September while the judge considers a new court ruling over US presidential immunity.

And you can read more about Project 2025 here.

Nomia Iqbal
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Getty Images

Momentum is behind Vice-President Kamala Harris to lock up the bid for White House.

She is due to appear here on the South Lawn later today with college athletes for a pre-scheduled event. But she arrives out of the shadow of the president, with the most scrutinising of spotlights firmly now on her as a potential presidential candidate.

Of course vice-presidents aren’t handed the nomination on a plate. One historical example is Hubert Humphrey in 1968. He won the contentious Democratic Party presidential nomination at the party’s convention, after Lyndon B. Johnson said he wouldn’t seek a second term. He ultimately lost to Richard Nixon and a united Republican Party.

Harris has said she will earn the nomination and it is increasingly looking like no one significant will challenge her for it.

If she seals it, November’s election will be historic in more ways than one.

America will definitely get a new president - either the astonishing return of the criminally convicted Donald Trump or it its first ever female president.

Ione Wells
Reporting from Delaware

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has posted a video, external of himself speaking before boarding a plane to the US.

He is due to address both houses of Congress and also to speak with President Joe Biden.

He says he will use the opportunity to thank Biden for “the things he did for Israel in the war” and discuss goals ahead including the release of hostages.

It’s still unclear when Biden is leaving his holiday home here in Delaware where he’s recovering from Covid - and whether they will meet in person or have to do it virtually.

Sean Seddon
Live reporter

We've been looking at the most searched questions about Kamala Harris over the last 24 hours. Here are some of the answers to what you've been asking.

Who could be Kamala Harris’s VP?

Potential vice-president picks for Kamala Harris touted today include state governors like Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Gavin Newsom of California. Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg has also been mentioned by pundits.

How much money does Kamala Harris have and has she attracted donations?

Biden’s campaign has formally pivoted to backing Harris, meaning she will be able to use the $96m (£74.2m) he had raised as she was already on the ticket as his VP.

A campaign spokesperson said earlier that Harris had raised nearly $50m (£38.6m) in 24 hours via public donations - much of which comes via the online platform ActBlue, which raises money on behalf of the Democratic Party.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat who is on the shortlist to serve as Kamala Harris's running mate, has given his endorsement to the vice-president on MSNBC's Morning Joe.

He describes Harris as "smart and strong" as well as "kind and empathetic", adding that she has his full endorsement.

On Biden stepping down as the party nominee, Beshear says the president's decision will secure his legacy.

When asked if he is open to serving as Harris' running mate, Beshear dodges the question, but says if someone calls him he would at least listen.

"It's flattering to be a part of it," he says.

Image source, Reuters

Katty Kay
US special correspondent

About a week ago, a fairly big Democratic donor who's quite well plugged-in to what's happening in the White House texted me to say she had heard Kamala Harris was already vetting potential vice-presidential candidates.

Among those are Andy Beshear, the governor of Kentucky, who's proved himself by being elected as a Democratic governor in a conservative state.

Josh Shapiro from Pennsylvania, who I spent a day in with while he was running to be governor in 2022, is very impressive and could help with winning his home state.

The third name I heard was Roy Cooper, the governor of North Carolina, another Democrat who has done well in a conservative state.

It's my understanding that both Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama want an open convention with more of a contest.

That doesn't necessarily mean they don't think Harris is the best candidate, but they might feel a process with some sort of competition could make her a better candidate and unify the party.

Because they could then say, "look, it was an open process and she won".

Nomia Iqbal
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Reuters

With just four months to go until the presidential election it’s still unclear who will be the person who takes on Donald Trump.

After President Joe Biden announced he wouldn’t be running again, the Democratic Party has started to coalesce around Kamala Harris - reports suggest public donations for her have hit nearly $50m (£38.7m) overnight.

However she isn’t guaranteed the nomination.

Significantly, former President Barack Obama said he had "extraordinary confidence" that party leaders "will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges". This would potentially take place at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August.

But, it would create more weeks of scramble and uncertainty for the Democrats who are keen to project unity after the chaotic last two months.

Harris is due to appear at a pre-scheduled White House event later today while President Biden remains at home in Delaware recovering from Covid.

Image source, Getty Images

One factor behind President Biden’s decision to quit his re-election campaign was reportedly his polling data against Donald Trump.

But how does VP Kamala Harris fare against the Republican nominee?

Harris is not the official Democratic candidate but she announced her candidacy for the Democratic Party nomination right after Biden announced he would step aside, and many heavyweight Democrats have thrown their support behind her.

A sample of four of the latest polls, which were taken before Harris was announced as a candidate, broadly suggest that while Harris would do slightly better than Biden when faced with Trump, but there is no significant difference.

It is important to note that these polls were conducted when Harris was only a theoretical candidate and that opinions may change as the voters become more familiar with her.

Sean Seddon
Live reporter

We've been looking at the most searched questions about Kamala Harris over the last 24 hours. Here are some of the answers - we'll bring you more shortly.

Is Kamala Harris running for president and who has endorsed her?

Yes, Kamala Harris is running and currently the clear favourite to be the Democratic Party nominee, though there could still be an open contest if others decide to stand.

She has been endorsed by big figures like Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton - but not Barack Obama. However, it’s worth noting he didn’t explicitly endorse anyone in 2020 either.

Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump and what is her approval rating?

Kamala Harris’s approval rating has largely mirrored Biden’s, according to FiveThirtyEight’s, external poll tracker, by steadily declining since early 2021 and currently sitting at about 40%.

Recent polls in the US pitting Harris against Trump produced largely similar results to polls featuring Biden against Trump - with all the indications being the 2024 election is going to be very close.

Later today, Kamala Harris will make her first public appearance since President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed her as Democratic nominee.

The US vice-president is scheduled to deliver a speech to the women and men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association championship teams at the White House.

We'll bring you any key lines from that speech this afternoon.