Vice-President Kamala Harris is officially set to become the first Black woman and first person of South Asian heritage to be the presidential nominee for a major political party after securing enough delegates’ votes on Friday.
Jaimie Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, announced on a call that Harris had obtained 2,350 delegates and counting, crossing the threshold needed to become the party’s nominee. “With the support of more than 50 percent of all delegates just one day into voting, Vice-President Harris has the overwhelming backing of the Democratic Party and will lead us united in our mission to defeat Donald Trump in November,” he said in a statement.
The party conducted an unusual pre-convention virtual roll call that began Thursday, with delegates casting their ballots via secure email. The accelerated timeline — one of the many moving parts that have arisen following President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out — was pushed to ensure that the party would meet states’s ballot deadlines and avoid legal headaches. Online voting will conclude on Monday and Harris’s formal nomination will likely be finalized by August 7.
She’s also expected to make a final decision on her running mate soon. Harris and her yet-to-be-announced VP pick will campaign in Pennsylvania next week before going on a four-day battleground-states tour, with stops in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Then, on August 19, the Democratic National Convention will kick off in Chicago.
“I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States,” Harris told supporters during a call after securing enough votes. “And I will tell you the tireless work of our delegates, our state leaders, and staff has been pivotal in making this moment possible.” The KHive will be thrilled.
