Vice President Kamala Harris is officially the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee — making U.S. history as the first Black woman and first Asian American from a major party to win that designation.
Harris secured the Democratic nomination on Friday afternoon, receiving the majority of votes — at least 2,350 — from her party’s delegates, just one day after voting opened. The Democratic National Committee held a livestream video hosted by Biden campaign aides and DNC chairman Jaime Harrison to mark the occasion.
“I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States,” Harris said moments after she passed the delegate threshold during a Democratic party-sponsored livestream phone call.
“Your dedication cannot be overstated. Your dedication to our country. I know we all feel this way so strongly. We love our country, we believe in the promise of America, and that’s what this campaign is about.”
Harris said she will officially accept the nomination next week, once the virtual voting period concludes on Monday. She added that she’s looking forward to the Democratic National Convention that begins Aug. 19 in Chicago to “have an opportunity to celebrate this historic moment together.”
Harris, 59, catapulted to the top of the ticket after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential election on July 21. Harris will go on to face Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the 45th president, in November.
Vice President Harris quickly gained the backing of top leaders in her party, including Biden, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She’s also been raking in record-breaking donations less than two weeks into her candidacy.
The DNC began a virtual roll call on Thursday at 9 a.m. for delegates to vote for Harris as the party’s candidate. Delegates still have until the deadline on Monday, Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. ET to return their ballots.
“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,” Harrison said during the livestream.
He added: “Today, my friends, is special because we can proudly say that we will have the first woman of color at the top of a major party ticket.” Agency reports
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks to members of the media at her alma mater, Howard University, Monday, Jan. 21, 2019 in Washington, following her announcement earlier in the morning that she will run for president. Harris, a first-term senator and former California attorney general known for her rigorous questioning of President Donald Trump's nominees, entered the Democratic presidential race on Monday. Vowing to "bring our voices together," Harris would be the first woman to hold the presidency and the second African-American if she succeeds. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)