Kamala Harris secures the 2024 Democratic nomination
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Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Atlanta, Ga, on July 30. Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris has won a majority of delegates during a virtual Democratic National Committee roll call vote, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison announced Friday.
Why it matters: Harris had already effectively locked up the nomination as her party quickly coalesced around her. But the roll call vote cements her status as the first Black and South Asian American woman to become the presidential nominee of a major party.
- The roll call vote, which will continue until 6 pm ET on Monday, culminates a whirlwind summer rush to replace President Biden on the top of the party's ticket after his abrupt exit from the race only months before Election Day.
- Harris' nomination is weeks before the party's convention in Chicago later this month, as she wages one of the shortest campaigns in recent U.S. history, against former President Donald Trump.
- Harris has yet to announce her running mate. They will both appear at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which starts Aug. 19.
Driving the news: "I am honored to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. I will officially accept the nomination next week," Harris wrote on X.
- "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," Harrison said.
The big picture: Harris' entry into the race has injected a level of enthusiasm Democrats had not seen for over a year since Biden announced his re-election bid — and their new challenge is to sustain it through Nov. 5.
Between the lines: The roll call vote was largely symbolic as the DNC had already deemed Harris as the party's presumptive nominee after she faced no serious challengers.
- But it formalizes the Democratic ticket after historic tumult gripped the party for weeks following Biden's shaky debate performance in late June.
How it happened: The roughly 4,000 delegates began submitting ballots for the virtual roll call vote starting Aug. 1. Delegates still have until until Aug. 5 at 6pm ET to vote.
- The DNC moved its nominating process to before the DNC to ensure they had a candidate named ahead of the Aug. 7 Ohio deadline to file for the general election ballot.
- When Biden was still in the race, the DNC pushed ahead with plans to hold the nominating vote before the convention to try to quash the efforts to remove Biden as the nominee.
What to watch: Officials are still set to hold a symbolic roll call vote during the convention, with state delegations announcing their votes from the floor, even though Harris has already clinched the nomination.
Go deeper: Harris ditches Biden's strategy with "freedom" focus
Editor's note: This story was updated with additional details, a statement from the DNC and a comment from Harris posted on X.
