U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has garnered sufficient support from Democratic delegates to become the party’s presidential nominee against former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump, as revealed by an Associated Press survey. This development follows President Joe Biden’s decision to step down from his re-election bid, prompting a swift consolidation of support for Harris among top Democrats.
Prominent Democratic figures, including Governors Wes Moore, Gretchen Whitmer, J.B. Pritzker, and Andy Beshear, have endorsed Harris, with House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi also expressing her enthusiastic support. California state Democratic Chairman Rusty Hicks noted overwhelming support for Harris, with no other candidates mentioned during state delegations’ meetings.
Despite securing 2,471 delegates, more than the required 1,976 for a first-ballot win, the AP has not yet declared Harris the presumptive nominee, as delegates remain free to vote for their preferred candidate at the convention in August. Harris’s campaign set a new 24-hour fundraising record, emphasizing the party’s unity in the wake of Biden’s withdrawal.
Harris is set to campaign in Wisconsin as she transitions from Biden’s re-election efforts to her presidential bid. If elected, she would be the first woman and the first person of South Asian descent to serve as president. The Democratic National Convention will finalize the nomination process with a virtual vote by August 7, marking a pivotal moment in the 2024 presidential race.