Kamala Harris Set to Be Confirmed as Democratic US Presidential Nominee
In a move that has largely been expected, Kamala Harris is poised to become the first Black and South Asian woman to secure a major party’s nomination for US President. The confirmation comes after less than two weeks since Joe Biden ended his reelection bid, leaving Harris as the sole Democrat vying to challenge Republican Donald Trump in November.
An electronic vote starting Thursday will formalize Harris’s nomination, replacing the traditional in-person balloting that typically kicks off the party’s national convention. Just under 4,000 delegates, who are grassroots activists and politicians, have signed off on Harris’s nomination, with no other Democrats stepping forward to challenge her elevation to the top of the ticket.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced that Harris has won the support of 99 percent of the delegates who signed petitions, with no other candidate meeting the qualifying threshold of 300 signatures. The confirmation process will involve an online platform run by the DNC, with delegates having until Monday to return their votes.
The announcement is expected to come late Monday, followed by a swing across seven crucial battleground states with Harris’s newly minted running mate, whose identity has yet to be revealed. US media reports suggest she will kick off the tour in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, although the DNC has yet to confirm.
The 2024 nominating system is largely similar to the 2020 process, which was modified due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The DNC has swapped to a virtual process due to Ohio’s deadline for major parties to submit the names of their certified candidates for the November election.
While the confirmation of Harris’s nomination is all but certain, details surrounding the announcement of results remain unclear. The DNC has not revealed whether the vote will be livestreamed or if a rolling tally will be available to the public, nor has it disclosed whether it will make the results public before the end of the voting period.
The virtual roll-call marks the official beginning of the 2024 convention, although in practice, the festivities will get underway when thousands of party activists descend on Chicago on August 19. Ceremonial votes for Harris and her running mate will take place in Illinois, celebrating her rise from state politics to the top of the ticket.
In a rallying cry, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock described Harris as a symbol of the "American story," noting her diverse heritage and her ability to bring people together. "She sees us because in a real sense she is all of us," he said.
With Harris poised to make history, the Democratic party is poised to rally behind a nominee with a proven record, setting the stage for a competitive presidential campaign.
