Foreign

Kamala Harris Makes History, Wins Democratic Presidential Nomination

...In Virtual Roll Call Vote

Shola Oshunkeye August 3, 2024

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Harris is now the first Black woman and first Asian American to be nominated for president by a major party. Delegates began casting their votes remotely on Aug. 1 in preparation of the DNC later this month.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris — Kamala Harris. Photo:Getty Images

United States Vice President, Kamala Harris, has secured the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, less than two weeks after President Joe Biden’s historic decision to suspend his re-election campaign.

A virtual nominating process began on Thursday, Aug. 1, and party delegates were given four days to complete the roll call. Though other Democrats could have challenged Harris for the party’s nomination, nobody else chose to join the race, leaving delegates with the option to either vote for Harris or vote “present.”

On Friday, Aug. 2, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison revealed in a livestream that a majority of Democratic delegates had cast their votes for Harris, confirming her place as their history-making nominee.

Harris will now be the first Black woman and first Asian America to lead a major party’s presidential ticket. She plans to formally accept the nomination after the virtual voting period ends on Monday evening.

The Democratic National Convention — where the delegate roll call would typically take place — is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. However, the Democratic National Committee earlier decided on a process to set the party’s nominee by Aug. 7, CNN reported.

Vice President Kamala Harris introduces U.S. President Joe Biden during a campaign rally at Girard College on May 29, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Biden and Harris are using today's rally to launch a nationwide campaign to court black voters, a group that has traditionally come out in favor of Biden, but their support is projected lower than it was in 2020. — President Joe Biden watches Vice President Kamala Harris deliver remarks at a May 29 campaign rally in Philadelphia.Andrew Harnik/Getty

Biden announced his decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, July 21, and quickly endorsed his vice president. The decision came after concerns about his age bubbled up in the wake of his feeble performance during the first 2024 presidential debate against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

One day after his announcement, Harris said in a statement she was “grateful” to Biden, 81, and other members of the Democratic Party who have “already put their faith in me.”

“When I announced my campaign for President, I said I intended to go out and earn this nomination,” Harris said in the statement. “Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee, and as a daughter of California, I am proud that my home state’s delegation helped put our campaign over the top. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.”