WASHINGTON: The United States Vice President Kamala Harris has officially secured the Democratic nomination for President, marking a historic milestone as the first Black woman selected a major party’s presidential nominee and capping one of the most tumultuous months in recent American political history.
The nomination was confirmed through a virtual vote by nearly 4,000 Democratic delegates, which began Thursday morning and concluded with Harris securing enough votes by Friday afternoon. Despite being the sole candidate for the roll call vote, the formalization of her nomination is a significant moment in American political history.
The virtual voting process, a departure from traditional in-person conventions due to concerns about ballot qualification deadlines, allowed Harris to clinch the nomination with little suspense. “I will officially accept your nomination next week, once the virtual voting period is closed,” Harris stated during a live stream. “But already I’m happy to know we have enough delegates to secure the nomination.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Kamala Harris picked Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, as her running mate to complement her in a historic and bruising bid for the White House.
Harris, who is aiming to become the first woman president of the United States, had a shortlist of Democratic figures to enhance her appeal. Walz emerged as the top choice due to his background and political stance, which balances Harris’s perceived left-leaning positions. At 60, Walz brings a Midwestern sensibility and a folksy demeanor, contrasting with Harris’s California roots.
Walz’s political record includes advocating for popular Democratic policies such as cannabis legalization and increased worker protections, which are expected to resonate with progressive voters. His selection aligns with expectations that Harris would choose a white male running mate to broaden her appeal and counter Republican criticisms.
With the election on November 5 fast approaching, Harris and Walz are set to embark on a rigorous five-day campaign across key battleground states, starting in Pennsylvania. This move follows Harris securing the Democratic nomination, solidifying her control over the party as she prepares for the national convention in Chicago in two weeks.
According to the latest University of Massachusetts Amherst poll released on Monday, Harris leads Trump nationally by three points, 46% to 43%, a shift from January when Trump led Biden by four points. In critical swing states, Harris and Trump are currently neck and neck.
Harris’s ascension to the nomination follows President Joe Biden’s announcement on July 21 that he was ending his bid for reelection. This abrupt shift in the Democratic landscape allowed Harris, who was initially considered a struggling candidate during her 2020 presidential run, to emerge as the party’s choice. Her rapid consolidation of support and the new nomination process—allowing any candidate with 300 delegate signatures to qualify—demonstrate a dramatic turnaround from her previous political challenges.
Harris has hired several new senior campaign advisers, including David Plouffe and Stephanie Cutter, both veterans of Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns.
Harris’s campaign has reported record fundraising numbers, with $310 million raised in July alone, significantly surpassing Donald Trump’s campaign haul for the same period. Over $200 million of this sum was raised in the week following Biden’s withdrawal from the race. The campaign has amassed $1 billion in total contributions, marking the fastest accumulation of such a sum in presidential campaign history.
With $377 million in cash on hand, Harris’s campaign is positioned strongly as it gears up for the general election.
The Republican side, led by Donald Trump and his running mate Senator J.D. Vance, faces a challenging political landscape as Harris’s campaign intensifies. Trump, who has expressed skepticism about debating Harris, has drawn criticism from her campaign for being “too scared to debate.”
