Vice President Kamala Harris has officially become the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential nominee, securing the historic milestone as the first woman of color to lead a major political party's national ticket.
Vice President Kamala Harris has made history as the first woman of color to secure the presidential nomination of a major political party. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) formally announced Harris's nomination on Monday following the conclusion of a five-day virtual roll call of delegates.
Kamala Harris Makes History as First Woman of Color to Secure Major Party Nomination
The nomination comes as Harris prepares to announce her choice for running mate. The vice president and her yet-to-be-revealed running mate will embark on a seven-battleground state swing Tuesday evening, beginning with a rally in Philadelphia.
Harris secured the nomination after securing the votes of a majority of pledged delegates, a feat achieved three days before the formal announcement. In a statement on Friday, DNC chair Jaime Harrison hailed Harris's historic milestone: "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."
Kamala Harris Makes History as First Woman of Color to Secure Major Party Nomination
Harris, in a call with supporters on Friday, expressed her honor at becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. The vice president's nomination was widely expected, as she was the only candidate to qualify for the presidential nomination roll call.
While the official nomination vote was held remotely, the DNC stated that a ceremonial roll call will take place at the Democratic National Convention, scheduled to commence on August 19 in Chicago.
Kamala Harris Makes History as First Woman of Color to Secure Major Party Nomination
Harris's formal nomination triumph occurs just over two weeks after President Biden's unexpected announcement that he would not be seeking re-election in 2024. Biden's decision followed mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party, stemming from his disappointing performance in the first presidential debate with former President Trump.
Biden's immediate endorsement of Harris sparked a surge of support for the vice president. Within 36 hours, Harris secured the nomination by obtaining verbal backing from a majority of the nearly 4,000 convention delegates.
With the presidential nomination roll call now complete, DNC rules allow Harris to nominate her running mate for the party's consideration. According to the DNC, the convention chair will then declare that candidate to be the party's vice presidential nominee.
The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be a historic contest, with Harris poised to become the first female and first woman of color to serve as President of the United States. The Democratic Party's nomination of Harris represents a significant step forward in promoting diversity and inclusion in American politics.
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