Vice President Kamala Harris has garnered enough delegate votes to become the official Democratic nominee for the upcoming presidential election, as announced on Friday.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is still awaiting the formal deadline for delegate ballots, which is set for Monday. However, Harris had already secured most of the delegate support required for the nomination by Friday afternoon.
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison confirmed the news, stating: “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 following the close of voting on Monday.” Harrison praised the swift and unprecedented support for Harris, noting that the delegate ballots had been returned faster than anticipated.
Harris, who will be the first woman of color to head a major party’s presidential ticket, celebrated the milestone from the DNC headquarters in Delaware.
She expressed her gratitude and confirmed her intention to officially accept the nomination after the voting period ends. “Of course, I will officially accept your nomination next week once the virtual voting period is closed, but I’m happy to know that we already have enough delegates to secure the nomination,” Harris said. “Later this month, we will gather in Chicago, united as one party, where we’re going to have an opportunity to celebrate this historic moment together.”
The DNC opted for a virtual roll call to circumvent potential legal challenges related to state ballot deadlines, particularly given Ohio’s August 7 deadline for including a presidential nominee on the ballot. The DNC convention, where candidates are traditionally confirmed in person, will start on August 19.
Harris is set to embark on a multi-state campaign tour beginning Tuesday with her yet-to-be-announced running mate, focusing on key battleground states. She will formally accept the nomination in person at the DNC convention later this month.
Harris’ ascension to the top of the ticket is notable for its historical context, as she has achieved the nomination without securing a win in any Democratic primary. Harris previously ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020 but withdrew before the Iowa caucuses.
