Harris Secures Enough Delegates to Be Democratic Nominee, Party Says

Democrats Use Virtual Roll Call to Officially Nominate Vice President Kamala Harris

Trump Under Fire for Comments About Kamala Harris

Fox News national correspondent Bryan Llenas covers former President Trump’s remarks at the National Association of Black Journalists’ conference in Chicago.

Vice President Kamala Harris has secured enough delegates to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. Although voting continues until Monday, the party’s chair confirmed this milestone on Friday.

A virtual roll call to formally nominate Harris began on Thursday. Harris expressed her gratitude in a call with supporters, stating, “I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee.”

This electronic voting by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) follows President Biden’s recent decision to withdraw from the re-election race and endorse Harris as his successor. The DNC’s virtual roll call is set to conclude on Monday, two weeks before the party’s convention at the United Center in Chicago.

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally on July 30, 2024, in Atlanta.

Unlike their Republican counterparts, who conducted an in-person roll call in Milwaukee, the DNC opted for a virtual format. Harris is the only candidate who met the qualification criteria by the designated deadline.

Biden’s performance in a late June debate in Atlanta fueled doubts about his ability to serve another term, leading to his decision to step aside and endorse Harris.

President Biden announces his decision to exit the re-election race from the Oval Office on July 24, 2024.

Following Biden’s endorsement, a surge of support for Harris quickly emerged from Democratic governors, senators, House members, and other party leaders. Within 36 hours, Harris secured the majority of the nearly 4,700 convention delegates needed for the nomination.

The DNC chose to conduct the virtual roll call before the August 7th deadline for ballot access in Ohio. DNC chair Jaime Harrison emphasized the importance of delegates’ votes, stating, “Our delegates have an important responsibility – and opportunity – to cast their history-making ballots for Vice President Harris.”

The DNC confirmed that no other candidate met the 300-delegate threshold required to qualify for the roll call ballot.

Former President Trump speaks on the final day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 18, 2024.

With Harris’s nomination now secured, attention has shifted to her choice of running mate. The campaign announced plans for a national tour of key battleground states with her soon-to-be-named vice-presidential candidate starting Tuesday in Pennsylvania.

The announcement of Harris’s running mate could come as early as Monday evening, following the conclusion of the virtual roll call. According to the DNC, the convention chair would then formally declare Harris’s chosen running mate.