Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the Democratic presidential nomination after surpassing the delegate threshold required for the nomination.
The news, announced on Friday by Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, makes her the first Black woman and first South Asian woman to become the presidential standard-bearer for a major U.S. political party.
Harris’s path to the nomination was solidified when she crossed the crucial benchmark of 2,350 delegate votes, surpassing the necessary threshold.
This achievement came as part of the ongoing virtual roll call, which began on Thursday and will conclude on Monday, ahead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) scheduled to take place in Chicago later this month.
Speaking by telephone shortly after crossing the delegate threshold, Harris expressed her gratitude and commitment to the campaign.
“I am honoured to be the presumptive nominee,” she said. “We believe in the promise of America and that’s what this campaign is about.
We are in this, we are on the road and it’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to get this done.”
Her remarks reflected both the historic nature of her candidacy and the challenges that lie ahead.
With 3,923 delegates, or 99% of the participants, signalling their support, Harris has solidified her position as the Democratic nominee.
The virtual roll call process, while unusual, was necessitated by the timing and complexities of state ballot access laws.
Traditionally, nominees are formally anointed at their party conventions, but the 2024 DNC’s later date raised concerns about potential ballot access issues, particularly in Ohio where candidates must be formally selected 90 days before the election.
Harris, who was born in Oakland, California, is not only the first Democratic nominee from a western state in the party’s nearly 200-year history but also stands on the brink of becoming the first female president of the United States if she defeats Republican nominee Donald Trump in the November election.
The virtual roll call saw Harris run unopposed after President Joe Biden stepped aside from his re-election bid last month and endorsed her.
Several other potential rivals quickly followed Biden’s lead.
On the day of the announcement, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison confirmed Harris’s achievement, stating, “I am so proud to confirm that Vice President Harris has earned more than a majority of votes from all convention delegates and will be the nominee of the Democratic Party following the close of voting on Monday.”
This endorsement from the party’s top official underscores the unity and support Harris has garnered from within the Democratic ranks.
Harris’s campaign has been marked by significant fundraising success. In July alone, the campaign raised $310 million, driven by a surge in small donations.
This figure includes more than $200 million raised in the week following Biden’s endorsement.
Harris’s rise in politics began with her role as San Francisco District Attorney, followed by her tenure as California Attorney General and U.S. Senator.
Her political career has been marked by significant achievements and a commitment to addressing critical issues facing the country.
As Harris prepares for the official acceptance of her nomination, the focus now shifts to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
The convention will be a crucial platform for Harris to formally accept her nomination and outline her vision for the country. The DNC is expected to rally around her candidacy, setting the stage for a historic election battle against Trump.
As Harris prepares to name her running mate by Monday, the Democratic Party is united in its support for her candidacy.
