Vice President Kamala Harris has garnered the backing of a majority of Democratic delegates, securing her position as the party’s presidential nominee.
According to a survey by the Associated Press on Monday evening, she has surpassed the required 1,976 delegate endorsements necessary to clinch the nomination in the first round of voting.
This development positions Ms. Harris to lead the party and challenge Republican Donald Trump in the upcoming November presidential election.
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The nomination will be officially confirmed during a roll call vote by party delegates at next month’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago. These delegates, chosen to represent their electoral areas, have non-binding pledges of support that are unlikely to change before the vote.
Ms. Harris’s path to the nomination became clearer after President Joe Biden exited the race on Sunday, under pressure from senior party members following a lackluster debate performance against Trump. No other candidates have publicly announced intentions to challenge her.
If the delegate support remains steady until the voting period from August 1-7, Ms. Harris will formally secure the party’s nomination. The AP survey reflects the surge of support for Ms. Harris following Biden’s departure, which has also resulted in millions of dollars in donations to her campaign and endorsements from prominent Democrats.
At her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Ms. Harris addressed her staff, targeting Trump and drawing on her experience as a California prosecutor who confronted criminals.
She emphasized the contrasting visions for America’s future between her campaign and Trump’s, criticizing his desire to revert to the past while advocating for an inclusive and brighter future.
Ms. Harris also acknowledged President Biden’s achievements and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as his vice president.
Before she spoke, Biden, isolating due to a Covid-19 diagnosis, made his first comments since exiting the race via a phone call, encouraging his aides to support Harris and praising her capabilities.
On the Republican side, Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance, launched attacks on both Harris and Biden during a campaign stop in Virginia, harshly criticizing Biden’s presidency and Harris’s alignment with his policies.
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