Vice President Kamala Harris gave an assignment to the Senate’s two Black Democrats as she presided over the vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court: write a letter to a young Black woman in your life.
Why it matters: The encounter underscores the personal significance of the moment for Harris, Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), as well as members of the Congressional Black Caucus — many of whom also were present for Thursday's historic vote.
- By a tally of 53-47, Jackson was confirmed be the first Black female justice in the court’s history, as well as its first former public defender.
Driving the news: As members waited for Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to vote, Harris could be seen huddling with Booker and Warnock.
- She took out two pieces of stationery stamped with the vice presidential seal and handed them to Booker and Warnock. They both carefully tucked them away.
- “I thought it was a beautiful gesture,” Booker later told reporters when asked about the exchange.
- His spokesperson told Axios the senator has written the letter but is going to sit on it for a while before deciding to whom it should be delivered.
Between the lines: Though Harris presided over the confirmation, no Black woman had the opportunity to vote for the nominee.
- Of the 100 senators, only 11 lawmakers identify as either Hispanic American, Asian American or Black.
- None of the Black members is female, and there was no need for Harris — who serves as president of the Senate — to cast a tie-breaking vote.
What's next: The vice president is expected to join Jackson and President Biden on Friday for an event at the White House celebrating the confirmation.