Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become her party's nominee for the 2024 presidential election. According to an Associated Press survey, top Democrats quickly rallied around Harris following President Joe Biden's announcement that he would not seek re-election. This rapid coalescence marks an effort to unify the party and focus on defeating former President Donald Trump with just over 100 days until Election Day.
The decision by prominent Democratic officials, party leaders, and political organizations to back Harris underscores the urgency of consolidating support and moving past the recent uncertainties surrounding Biden's political future. In a remarkable show of solidarity, several state delegations, including those from Texas and Harris's home state of California, confirmed their unanimous support for her. By Monday night, Harris had garnered the backing of at least 2,579 delegates, well above the 1,976 needed to secure the nomination on the first ballot.
California state Democratic Chairman Rusty Hicks highlighted the overwhelming support for Harris within the state's delegation, stating, "I've not heard anyone mentioning or calling for any other candidate. Tonight's vote was a momentous one." Despite this, the Associated Press has not officially declared Harris the presumptive nominee, as convention delegates are still technically free to vote for any candidate of their choice at the convention in August.
The abrupt shift in the presidential race has upended the carefully laid plans of both major political parties. However, it has also replaced concerns over Biden's fitness for office with new signs of unity within the Democratic Party. Speaking to campaign staff in Wilmington, Delaware, Harris acknowledged the "rollercoaster" of recent weeks but expressed confidence in her campaign team. "It is my intention to go out and earn this nomination and to win," she said, pledging to "unite our Democratic Party, to unite our nation, and to win this election."
Harris quickly outlined the themes that will dominate her campaign against Trump, contrasting her experience as a prosecutor with Trump's legal troubles and positioning herself as a defender of economic opportunity and abortion access. "Our fight for the future is also a fight for freedoms," she declared. "The baton is in our hands."
President Biden, recovering from COVID-19 at his home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, called into the meeting to lend his support to Harris. He reassured his campaign team that he would continue to be actively involved, stating, "The name has changed at the top of the ticket, but the mission hasn't changed at all. I'm not going anywhere." Biden emphasized that his decision to step aside was "the right thing to do," and expressed his confidence in Harris's leadership. "I'm watching you kid. I love you," he added.
Harris wasted no time in hitting the campaign trail, heading to the battleground state of Wisconsin for her first major campaign event since announcing her candidacy. The rally in Milwaukee marks the beginning of an intense campaign period as she seeks to solidify her position and build momentum ahead of the election.
The Associated Press tally of delegates supporting Harris is based on interviews with individual delegates, public statements from state parties, and endorsements from key political figures. The rapid consolidation of support highlights the party's determination to present a united front against Trump.
Locking up the nomination is just the first step for Harris, who now faces the daunting task of selecting a running mate and reorienting the extensive political operation built for Biden's re-election campaign. On Sunday afternoon, Biden's campaign formally rebranded to "Harris for President," reflecting the transition of leadership. Harris's campaign reported a record-breaking $81 million in donations within the first 24 hours after Biden's endorsement, with contributions from more than 888,000 donors.
The campaign also saw a surge in volunteer registrations, with over 28,000 new volunteers signing up since the announcement, indicating strong grassroots enthusiasm for Harris's candidacy. High-profile endorsements from figures such as Governors Wes Moore of Maryland, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky further solidified her position as the party's standard-bearer.
House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, initially advocating for a primary to strengthen the eventual nominee, announced her "enthusiastic support" for Harris, marking another significant endorsement. If elected, Harris would make history as the first woman and the first person of South Asian descent to serve as President of the United States.
The Democratic National Convention, scheduled for August 19-22 in Chicago, will formally nominate Harris. The party plans to hold a virtual roll call to finalize the nomination process, with voting potentially beginning as early as August 1 and concluding by August 7. "We can and will be both fast and fair as we execute this nomination," said Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison.
