US ELECTION: Kamala Harris has earned enough votes to win the Democratic presidential nomination, party chair announces

 

Vice President Kamala Harris 

V ice President Kamala Harris has secured enough votes from Democratic delegates to win the party’s nomination for president, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison announced Friday. Harris will make history as the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major-party ticket.

The announcement came during a virtual event with supporters on Friday. Delegates began casting virtual ballots for the nomination on Thursday, with the process continuing until Monday evening.

“I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States,” Harris said during the virtual event. “I will officially accept your nomination next week, once the virtual voting period is closed.”

Harris added, “Later this month, we will gather in Chicago, united as one party, where we’re going to have an opportunity to celebrate this historic moment together.”

Since President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign and endorsed Harris, she has been the only serious candidate for the nomination. The majority of the party, including potential challengers, quickly endorsed her, and she secured unofficial endorsements from enough delegates within 36 hours to be the party’s nominee.

Harris’ path to the nomination contrasts sharply with her 2020 presidential run, which ended ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Biden later chose her as his running mate, setting the stage for her to take on the party mantle after he stepped aside last month.

As the nomination process has unfolded, Harris has reoriented her campaign on a truncated timeline. Her campaign announced Friday that it had raised $310 million in July, buoyed by renewed energy within the party over her candidacy. This amount more than doubled what Republican nominee Donald Trump’s political operation reported raising last month.

Harris is also in the final stages of selecting her running mate. A source familiar with the vetting process indicated that she will meet with top finalists over the weekend, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Harris and her vice presidential nominee will begin campaigning across battleground states next week, starting with a Tuesday night rally in Philadelphia.

Though voting for the Democratic nomination began and may conclude before Harris announces her running mate, party rules do not require a separate vote to confirm the vice-presidential nominee. Delegates will conduct a ceremonial roll call at the Democratic convention in Chicago, beginning August 19.