Vice President Kamala Harris has garnered overwhelming support from House Democrats for her presidential bid, with party leaders dismissing any potential primary challenges as unlikely to succeed and potentially damaging to the party's momentum.
With President Biden surprising the nation by announcing his decision not to seek re-election, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the clear front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. House Democrats have swiftly rallied behind her, endorsing her candidacy and dismissing the possibility of any serious challenges.
"The convention delegates can vote for whomever they choose once they're released. ... So far, the only other person who speculated that he might do it is former Democratic, now independent, Senator Manchin, and then he took it back, so it’s open," said Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich.
House Democrats Endorse Harris, Dismiss Challenges as "Futile
Despite the open primary process, Kildee expressed confidence that Harris would secure the nomination on the first ballot. Ex-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., echoed this sentiment, declaring, "I thought Kamala Harris was on the ballot to be the president if the president couldn't serve."
Indeed, more than 150 House Democrats have already endorsed Harris, including prominent figures such as former President Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. This surge of support has led to accusations by Republicans that Democrats are staging a coup to replace Biden, who has been trailing former President Trump in recent polls.
House Democrats Endorse Harris, Dismiss Challenges as "Futile
However, House Democrats have denied these allegations, asserting that anyone is free to enter the race. "You’re seeing Democrats coalesce around Vice President Harris. I have endorsed her. ... No one is challenging her," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.
Moskowitz went so far as to discourage potential challengers, stating that they are "not saying they're gonna throw their hat in the ring, they're endorsing Vice President Harris because they also think she's the best person for the job."
House Democrats Endorse Harris, Dismiss Challenges as "Futile
Top Democrats on influential committees, such as Reps. Bobby Scott, D-Va., and Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., concurred that Harris is the likely nominee. Scott emphasized the widespread support she has received from Biden-Harris delegates, making it highly unlikely that a challenger could emerge successfully.
Thompson, noting the limited time remaining before the Democratic National Convention in August, stated, "If you had an open primary, I'm not sure who's…left to compete with her."
House Democrats Endorse Harris, Dismiss Challenges as "Futile
Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., echoed these assessments, pointing to the "significant number" of endorsements Harris has garnered within a day of taking up Biden's mantle.
Harris has garnered support from various Democratic factions, including the Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus. However, some Democrats who have been critical of the Biden administration have remained silent on Harris's candidacy.
Biden's decision to drop out of the race stemmed from mounting pressure from fellow Democrats who questioned his mental and physical fitness for the arduous campaign. They believed that such concerns would distract from the party's efforts to defeat Trump.
