WASHINGTON – Vice-President Kamala Harris has officially secured the Democratic nomination for president, marking a historic milestone as the first woman of color to win a major party’s nomination. She will now face off against former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
Ms. Harris, 59, received the support of 99% of the 4,567 delegates who cast ballots, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced in a statement on August 5. The roll call was conducted virtually over five days to avoid potential legal complications, rather than in person at the Democratic National Convention scheduled to begin on August 19 in Chicago.
The convention’s secretary, Mr. Jason Rae, will certify the results of the roll call before Ms. Harris and her soon-to-be-announced running mate formally accept the nomination.
“Vice President Harris has historic momentum at her back as we embark on the final steps in officially certifying her as our party’s nominee,” DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and Convention Chair Minyon Moore said in a joint statement.
Ms. Harris, whose mother immigrated from India and whose father is from Jamaica, will be the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian heritage to hold the office if elected.
Her nomination follows President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race on July 21 under pressure from his party, clearing the way for Ms. Harris. Since then, the Democratic Party has rapidly rallied around her, restructured its campaign strategy, raised funds, and aimed to harness the growing enthusiasm for their candidate. Ms. Harris has also been swiftly searching for a running mate and has brought on a new team of advisors.
Typically, the nomination is secured through an in-person roll call vote at the convention with significant fanfare. However, this year, the party opted for an online vote to meet state deadlines for printing ballots.
The virtual roll call began on the morning of August 1. By the afternoon of August 2, Ms. Harris had already secured the majority of delegates needed for the nomination. Voting concluded on August 5 at 6 PM local time (6 AM Singapore time on August 6), and the party announced the results just before midnight.
Ms. Harris first ran for president in 2019 while serving as a senator from California but dropped out before voting began due to campaign struggles. Now, she aims to demonstrate her leadership and unite the party to prevent Trump’s return to office.
On August 6, Ms. Harris is expected to announce her running mate before holding a joint campaign rally in Philadelphia and then embarking on a tour of battleground states.