KAMALA Harris officially secured the Democratic presidential nomination just weeks after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
The chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee announced Friday that Harris won enough delegate votes to make the nomination — meaning she will officially face Republican nominee Donald Trump in November.
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Although the online voting process is ongoing until Monday, DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison broke the news as soon as Harris received enough votes during a virtual call with supporters.
Votes surpassed the threshold after delegates began voting virtually for the nomination on Thursday.
“I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States,” Harris said on the call.
“I will officially accept your nomination next week, as soon as the virtual voting period closes.
Read more about Kamala Harris
“Later this month, we will gather in Chicago, united as one party, where we will have the opportunity to celebrate this historic moment together,” the vice president added about the DNC on August 19.
Harrison also said the party will “unite” around Harris during the convention.
The news comes as Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, criticizes Harris for not holding a press conference in nearly two weeks.
“It’s amazing that journalists can look in the mirror while letting this person get to a major party nomination for president,” Vance criticized X.
“Is anyone going to ask this person a question?”
His attack came in response to Harris’ comments in Thursday’s historic prisoner exchange, which saw Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich released from his unjust detention in Russia after 491 days.
A video of the vice president speaking about the launch sparked backlash as people criticized Harris for “word salad” — meaning she spoke without saying anything meaningful.
“This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that lies in understanding the meaning of diplomacy and strengthening alliances,” Harris said in the confusing statement.
It’s amazing that journalists can look in the mirror while letting this person get to a major party nomination for president.”
JD Vance
Harris’ nomination makes her the first black woman to top a major party’s ticket.
She has not yet decided who her running mate will be and is expected to interview candidates over the weekend of August 3.
Kamala Harris’ potential running mates
Kamala Harris accepted Joe Biden’s endorsement for the Democratic presidential nomination after the president ended his re-election bid on July 21.
Harris said he plans to win and win the Democratic nomination while uniting the party.
Who are Kamala Harris’ potential running mates?
- Pete Buttigieg: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg ran for president during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, competing against Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.
- He was widely considered a breakout star, becoming the first openly gay candidate to win a presidential primary or caucus when he narrowly won the Iowa caucus during the 2020 primaries.
- Buttigieg was one of the first Democrats to formally endorse Kamala Harris after President Biden.
- In his statement, Buttigieg said Harris was “the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump and succeed Joe Biden as president.”
- Andy Beshear: Governor Beshear has carved out a successful career in the heavily Republican state of Kentucky.
- The 46-year-old two-term governor fully supported Harris for president and said he would consider being her running mate.
- Gretchen Whitmer: Michigan Governor Whitmer is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party.
- In 2020, the two-term governor caught Joe Biden’s eye as a possible running mate before ultimately choosing Harris.
- Whitmer joined the growing list of Democrats who have supported Harris for president.
- A Harris-Whitmer campaign would be the first female candidate for a U.S. political party.
- Gavin Newsom: Prominent California Governor Newsom’s name has long been associated with a potential presidential candidate in the upcoming election.
- Newsom has already endorsed Harris for president, saying, “No one is better at prosecuting the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision.”
- But there could be a problem if Harris and Newsom are in the same position.
- Both Newsom and Harris come from Californiaand according to the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, both members of a presidential ticket “shall not be inhabitants of the same state.”
- If Harris chose Newsom as her running mate, they would lose all 54 of California’s Electoral College votes.
- Josh Shapiro: Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, is a rising star in the Democratic Party establishment.
- His shares soared after achieving victory in the state’s 2022 gubernatorial election, defeating Republican rival Doug Mastriano.
- Shapiro’s margin of victory was greater than Joe Biden’s when he defeated Donald Trump in 2020.
- Pennsylvania is one of the swing states that Trump is trying to win.
- Trump allies said NBC News that they think Shapiro would be a super strong running mate for Harris.
- Marco Kelly: Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, 60, is also named as a front-runner.
- He has significant military experience, having been a Navy combat pilot and a former astronaut.
- Harris’ allies believe he could help win over working-class voters and also keep Arizona.
- Arizona is one of the Sun Belt states the Trump campaign is targeting.
The formal nomination is expected to be finalized by August 7, although the party convention is not scheduled to begin until August 19.
According to Democratic officials, the accelerated timeline was necessary because of the Aug. 7 deadline to ensure candidates get a spot on the Ohio ballot, according to the Associated Press.
SAYING GOODBYE TO BIDEN
Biden endorsed Harris as his replacement shortly after dropping out of the race in July.
Harris accepted the endorsement — and then drastically changed her platform to abandon her former running mate.
She is now focusing her campaign on “freedom” and “the future,” which contrasts sharply with Biden’s strategy of “preserving democracy.”
No other major candidate challenged the vice president for the nomination.
She was the only choice for delegates under party rules that required pledges of support from at least 300 delegates, with no more than 50 signatures from any one delegation, according to the news outlet.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
