In a significant development in the 2024 U.S. presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the necessary votes from party delegates to become the presumptive Democratic nominee, as the party heads towards its National Convention in Chicago later this month.
Expressing her gratitude, Harris stated via telephone, “I am honored to be the presumptive nominee,” highlighting the ongoing virtual roll call process.
Harris has made history as the first Black woman and first South Asian woman to represent a major U.S. political party in a presidential election.
Should she emerge victorious against Republican nominee Donald Trump in November, she would make history as America’s first female president.
Insights on the 2024 U.S. Election
Harris ran unopposed in the recent virtual roll call after President Joe Biden, who had been the favorite, endorsed her following his decision to step aside. Other potential challengers swiftly followed suit in supporting her candidacy.
On Friday, Harris officially became the nominee after amassing support from 2,350 delegates, a milestone required for nomination.
Reflecting on her campaign, she mentioned, “We believe in the promise of America, and that’s what this campaign is about,” emphasizing a commitment to greater challenges ahead.
With a staggering 99% of Democratic delegates, totaling 3,923, indicating their intention to support her, the party is rallying behind its nominee.
The virtual roll call, which began on Thursday, is set to conclude on Monday.
Typically, presidential and vice-presidential candidates are nominated during party conventions, but the timing of the 2024 Democratic National Convention raises concerns regarding compliance with state ballot access laws.
At 59, Harris, a political figure with deep roots in California, becomes the first Democratic nominee from the Western U.S. in nearly 200 years.
Her political journey escalated from San Francisco District Attorney to California Attorney General and then U.S. Senator.
Despite Biden’s previous success in the Democratic primaries, pressure mounted for him to withdraw after perceived setbacks in the campaign, particularly post a lackluster debate performance against Trump.
The decision for a virtual nomination process was made earlier when Biden was still the presumptive candidate, necessitated by Ohio’s rules for candidate selection, requiring formal identification 90 days prior to the election.
Although Republicans in Ohio hinted at enforcing these regulations, the legislative changes ultimately created a workaround, prompting Democrats to expedite their nomination process.
Delegates are not required to vote for the vice-presidential candidate, and Harris is anticipated to announce her running mate shortly.
The Trump campaign and some within the Republican Party have criticized Harris’s nomination process, labeling it as unprecedented due to the lack of a press conference or formal interview. Some have even characterized the situation as a “coup.”
Despite the criticisms, Harris has been actively campaigning since Biden’s endorsement, rallying against Trump at various events across key battleground states.
Recently, her campaign disclosed that it raised over $310 million in July, with a notable portion coming from first-time donors. This amount significantly surpasses Trump’s fundraising efforts for the same month, marking a record for the 2024 election cycle.
