Axios Sneak Peek

1 big thing: Harris shock and awe

This is Kamala Harris — Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at the Harris for President (formerly Biden-Harris) campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del. Photo: Erin Schaff/Pool via Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at the Harris for President (formerly Biden-Harris) campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del. Photo: Erin Schaff/Pool via Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris has effectively sewn up the nomination, even if the coronation won't happen until the Democratic National Convention opens in Chicago on Aug. 19.

Harris traveled today to the former Biden-Harris campaign HQ in Wilmington, Delaware — now with signs simply saying, "Harris for President" and "Kamala."
In remarks at campaign HQ, Harris said Biden campaign heads Jen O'Malley Dillon and Julie Chávez Rodríguez have agreed to run the Harris presidential campaign.

Why it matters: In roughly 24 hours, Harris hauled in $81 million in new fundraising, was endorsed by her likeliest Democratic competitors and picked up the keys to a fully staffed presidential campaign office.

🚨President Biden called into HQ ahead of Harris' remarks.

"I know yesterday's news was surprising ... but it was the right thing to do," he said.

The ultimate signs it's over: Potential Democratic rivals are lining up to hint they'd love to be her running mate. Republicans are unveiling their strategies to attack a Harris-topped ticket.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he'll "do everything I can to support her" and he's "flattered" to be floated as a potential VP pick.
Senate Republicans are urging their candidates to hit Harris for being too liberal, at fault for the border crisis and "weird," according to a memo scooped by Axios' Stef Kight.

✍️ Harris is waiting on endorsements by the top two Democrats in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

The backbenchers are clearly on board. And former speaker Nancy Pelosi came out strongly for Harris.

Three pie charts showing the support among elected Democrats in the Senate, House and governorships for Harris as the party's nominee. A majority of all three groups has come out in support of Harris. — Data: Axios research; Chart: Axios Visuals

P.S. Sound familiar? Harris' team has embraced the potential of memes to break through with a younger, perpetually online demographic, Axios' Ivana Saric reports.

2. Secret Service hit by D.C. dogpile

This is James Comer and Jim Jordan — House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) at today's hearing. Photo: Mostafa Bassim via Getty Images

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) at today's hearing. Photo: Mostafa Bassim via Getty Images

The House Oversight Committee produced a rare moment of bipartisanship today after Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said she wouldn't step down despite the "most significant operational failure" in decades.

Why it matters: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) bemoaned the agency no longer had the confidence of people across the political spectrum.

"The one thing we have to have in this country are agencies that transcend politics and have the confidence of independents, Democrats, Republicans, progressives and conservatives," he said.

Immediately after the hearing, Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called for Cheatle's resignation.

"It has been 10 days since an assassination attempt on a former president of the United States, regardless of party. There need to be answers," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) called Cheatle a "complete failure."

"Director Cheatle, because Donald Trump is alive, and thank God he is, you look incompetent," said Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio). "If Donald Trump had been killed, you would have looked culpable."