Vice President Kamala Harris has officially secured the Democratic nomination for the 2024 US presidential election, marking a historic moment as the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) confirmed that Harris has obtained the necessary majority of delegate votes through a virtual voting process, which began on August 1 and will conclude on August 5.Harris expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States”. DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison announced, “It’s an honor for me to confirm that Vice President Harris has secured a majority of the votes from the convention delegates and will be the Democratic nominee after the vote closes on Monday”.The nomination comes after President Joe Biden’s unexpected withdrawal from the race on July 21, where he endorsed Harris as his successor. Harris’ campaign has demonstrated remarkable fundraising capabilities, raising an unprecedented $310 million in July alone, more than doubling the $138.7 million raised by former President Donald Trump’s campaign.As Harris prepares to face Republican candidate Donald Trump in the November 5 election, she is expected to interview potential running mates over the weekend. The formal nomination is set to be finalized on August 7, with the Democratic National Convention in Chicago scheduled for August 19-22 serving as a celebration of Harris’ candidacy.The 59-year-old Harris, who is of both Black and Indian-American descent, has already garnered significant support, with 3,923 delegates (representing 99% of participants) signing their support for her presidential candidacy. Her campaign focuses on “bringing people together, driven by love for their country, to fight for the best we are”.As the race towards November intensifies, all eyes will be on Harris as she navigates this historic candidacy and faces off against Trump in what promises to be a closely watched and fiercely contested election.
Key points
- Kamala Harris has secured the Democratic nomination for the 2024 US presidential election, becoming the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket.
- Harris’ campaign raised $310 million in July, more than doubling Trump’s fundraising efforts.
- The formal nomination will be finalized on August 7, with the Democratic National Convention in Chicago scheduled for August 19-22.
- Harris is expected to interview potential running mates over the weekend.
