politics

Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the necessary support from Democratic delegates to become her party’s nominee for the upcoming presidential election, according to an Associated Press (AP) survey. This development comes as top Democrats rally behind Harris following President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the race.

The swift consolidation of support for Harris reflects the party's effort to move past the internal strife over Biden’s political future and unify against Republican Donald Trump with just over 100 days remaining until Election Day. Prominent Democratic officials, party leaders, and political organizations quickly endorsed Harris in the wake of Biden’s exit, and her campaign set a new 24-hour record for presidential donations on Monday.

Late Monday, several state delegations, including those from Texas and Harris's home state of California, met to confirm their support. By Monday night, Harris had garnered well over the 1,976 delegates needed for a first-ballot victory, according to the AP tally. No other candidate had been named by any delegate.

California State Democratic Chairman Rusty Hicks reported that 75% to 80% of the state’s delegation participated in a call on Tuesday and unanimously supported Harris. “I’ve not heard anyone mentioning or calling for any other candidate,” Hicks said. “Tonight’s vote was a momentous one.”

Despite this significant support, Harris has not yet been labeled as the presumptive nominee. Delegates still retain the freedom to vote for their preferred candidate at the convention in August or during a potential virtual roll call prior to the Chicago gathering.

In response to the AP tally, Harris expressed her gratitude in a statement, acknowledging the support from President Biden and the Democratic Party. “I am grateful to President Biden and everyone in the Democratic Party who has already put their faith in me, and I look forward to taking our case directly to the American people,” she said.

The transition from Biden's campaign to Harris's has brought renewed focus and unity, replacing earlier concerns about Biden’s fitness for office with a fresh sense of purpose. Harris addressed her campaign staff in Wilmington, Delaware, acknowledging the recent turbulence but expressing confidence in her newly assembled team. “It is my intention to go out and earn this nomination and to win,” Harris stated. She promised to “unite our Democratic Party, to unite our nation, and to win this election.”

As she prepares for the campaign ahead, Harris has begun emphasizing themes that will be central to her challenge against Trump. She has highlighted her prosecutorial experience in contrast to Trump’s felony convictions and cast 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, currently recovering from COVID-19 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, called into a meeting to show his support for Harris. He plans to address the nation later this week regarding his decision to step aside. Biden reassured that while the name at the top of the ticket has changed, the mission remains the same. “I’m not going anywhere,” he promised, adding, “I’m watching you kid. I love you.”

Harris is now gearing up for her first major campaign event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking the beginning of her full-fledged campaign. The AP tally, based on interviews with delegates, state party statements, and public endorsements, shows a clear path of support for Harris.

Following Biden’s exit, Harris must navigate a series of critical tasks, including selecting a running mate and reorienting a massive political operation originally designed for Biden’s reelection. Biden’s campaign has been officially rebranded as “Harris for President,” reflecting the transition of his political apparatus and a war chest that stood at nearly $96 million at the end of June. Harris's campaign reported adding $81 million to that total in the first 24 hours after Biden’s endorsement, setting a new fundraising record with contributions from over 888,000 donors.

Interest in Harris's campaign has surged, with more than 28,000 new volunteers signing up since the announcement—a rate more than 100 times the average daily sign-ups from the previous Biden campaign. High-profile endorsements from Democratic governors, including Wes Moore of Maryland, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky, have further solidified her position, leaving few potential rivals.

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, a notable holdout who had previously encouraged a primary contest to strengthen the eventual nominee, has now given her “enthusiastic support” to Harris.

If elected, Harris would become the first woman and the first person of South Asian descent to serve as president. The Democratic National Convention is set to take place from August 19-22 in Chicago. The party had already planned a virtual roll call to formally nominate Biden before the in-person proceedings begin. The convention’s rules committee is scheduled to meet this week to finalize the nomination process, with a virtual vote potentially taking place as soon as August 1 and concluding by August 7.

“We can and will be both fast and fair as we execute this nomination,” said Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a call with reporters. The virtual roll call will involve multiple rounds of voting if more than one candidate meets the qualification threshold, requiring electronic signatures from 300 convention delegates.