Vice President Kamala Harris has secured enough votes from Democratic delegates to become the party’s presidential nominee, as announced by Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison. Although the online voting process will continue until Monday, Harris has already crossed the necessary threshold to gain the majority of delegates’ votes.
This milestone marks her as the first woman of color to lead a major party’s ticket. Expressing her gratitude, Harris stated, “I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee,” during a call with her supporters.
The Democrats are moving forward with a virtual vote to officially nominate Harris, following a tumultuous period influenced by President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek reelection. The voting, which began on Thursday, is conducted via secure email and will remain open until Monday evening.
Harris, who has not yet chosen her running mate, is expected to interview potential candidates over the weekend. The official nomination is anticipated to be finalized by August 7, ahead of the Democratic National Convention scheduled for later this month in Chicago.
Kamala Harris
This accelerated timeline for the nomination process is driven by a crucial August 7 deadline to ensure Harris’s name appears on the Ohio ballot. Despite the convention not beginning until August 19, Democratic officials argue the necessity of having the nominee confirmed by this date.
Ohio Republicans have contested this urgency, noting that state lawmakers have amended the ballot access deadline, but the change will not take effect until September 1. Democratic attorneys warn that delaying the nomination beyond the initial deadline could lead to legal challenges.
Harris’s campaign received a significant boost after President Biden endorsed her shortly after exiting the race. This endorsement propelled Harris to the forefront, and no other major candidates challenged her for the nomination.
Under party rules, Harris was the only option for delegates, who had to pledge support from at least 300 delegates with no more than 50 from any single delegation. Votes for any delegate other than Harris will be recorded as “present.”
During the upcoming convention, Democrats plan to conduct a state-by-state roll call, a traditional method of choosing a nominee. However, this will be a ceremonial act since the online voting will have already determined the nominee.
The necessity to have a confirmed nominee by August 7 remains a point of contention, with Democratic officials emphasizing its importance to avoid potential legal disputes and ensure compliance with ballot access deadlines.
