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WATCH: Harris’ background as a child of immigrants makes her a better leader, Sen. Padilla says

Politics Updated on Aug 22, 2024 11:05 PM EDT — Published on Aug 22, 2024 10:06 PM EDT

On the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris will become the first woman of color in American history to accept a party’s presidential nomination. For Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Harris’ professional and life experiences are what make her a strong leader.

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“When you had to work your way through college, it’s just a little bit different,” Padilla told PBS News. “When you have been discriminated against, or at least doubted, when you were in the room trying to hold your own at a decision-making table, it’s just a little bit different. To have that perspective reflected in every negotiation, every deliberation, every important decision that’s being made on policy … is only going to make decision-making and leadership better and stronger, and that’s what Kamala Harris represents.”

Padilla also said he thinks Harris, a first-generation child of immigrants, will improve upon the immigration policies of the Biden-Harris administration.

“As vice president, she has talked about the border, but she’s also engaged leaders in Mexico, in Central America and beyond, and we see the results,” he said, noting a significant drop in the number of migrants at the southern border.