����ý

It's ten weeks to go until a big election in the United States. Last night Kamala Harris officially confirmed that she'll go up against Donald Trump in the race to become president.

Harris is the nominee for her political party, who are called the Democrats. She has replaced current US president Joe Biden as the party's nominee, after he dropped out of the race last month.

The announcement took place at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, during an event held every four years to confirm which person will represent the party as their candidate for president.

Donald Trump was confirmed as the Republican party's candidate at their convention in July. Both will try and win enough votes to become president in the run up to November's election.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Harris promised to lead "for all Americans" if she won the November election and “chart a new path forward”.

Kamala Harris is the current US vice-president, meaning she's the second most powerful person in the country behind President Joe Biden.

Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race back in July, it followed questions over his suitability, due to his age and health.

Kamala Harris quickly gathered enough support from members of the Democratic Party to be nominated as the new candidate.

Her acceptance at the DNC on Thursday was a mostly formal process, as she didn't face any competition for the nomination.

She has made history as the first black and Asian-American woman to be put forward as a presidential candidate by a major US political party.

The event also saw performances from musicians like Pink and Stevie Wonder, and colourful balloons dropping to the stage.

Who is Kamala Harris?

At the DNC, Ms Harris spoke about her background, career, and what she would do if she was elected as president.

Talking about the moment when President Biden dropped out of the race, Ms Harris said: "The path that led me here in recent weeks was no doubt unexpected, but I'm no stranger to unlikely journeys."

She described how her mum came to the US from India, and that "she expected us to make the most of the opportunities that were available to us" during her upbringing in Oakland, California.

Before coming into politics, she worked as lawyer, eventually becoming the US attorney general - the top law maker in the country.

“My entire career, I have only had one client,” Ms Harris said. “The people.”

She said that if she became president she would focus on “everyday needs”, wanting to make sure that "Americans are fully able to make their own decisions about their own lives, especially about matters of heart and home".

Supporters of Kamala Harris say that she is a serious candidate with a successful career behind her.

But opponents have criticised her record in government, with some saying that she didn't get to grips with the issue of immigration, and others saying that her plans for the country aren't clear.

When is the US presidential election?

The 2024 election for US president will take place on Tuesday 5 November.

Even though the winner is likely to be announced in the days following the election, they won't officially become president until January 2025.

That's when they are sworn into office by taking an oath during a ceremony that is known as the inauguration.