VP Harris Nears Lock on Democratic Nomination for President
By Nolan McKendry and Dan McCaleb | The Center Square
(Worthy News) – Vice President Kamala Harris has received support from a majority of delegates across the country, enough to secure the Democratic nomination for president at next month’s convention as long as the support remains when an official vote takes place.
No other candidate’s name has surfaced since President Joe Biden announced Sunday he was stepping out of the race. Harris, a presidential primary candidate in 2020, has collected more than $100 million in campaign donations since Sunday in her bid against former President Donald Trump.
Delegates will choose the party’s nominee at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago beginning Aug. 19. There are an estimated 4,696 delegates, of which 747 are automatic – often called superdelegates – and 3,949 are pledged. On first ballot, a candidate needs 1,975 to win the nomination, according to Ballotpedia.
Biden had secured more than 3,800 of the 3,934. Through a combination of statements and official acts of state parties, Harris is beyond 2,000 already.
The nomination doesn’t become official until party delegates either vote at the DNC or hold a roll call vote ahead of the convention in Chicago. Democratic Party rules officials are scheduled to meet Wednesday to plan a path forward.
By Sunday night, delegates from Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana all committed to Harris.
Several more committed to Harris on Monday. Those include delegates from Arkansas, California, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, New York, Ohio and South Dakota; and 89 of Wisconsin’s 95 delegates.
In a meeting Monday night, California’s delegates, the largest group at the Democratic Convention with 496, unanimously backed Harris. The decision was pushed by former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“The California delegation quickly coalesced behind Vice President Harris for president because she’s smart, she’s tough and no one is better prepared to prosecute the case against convicted felon, Donald Trump,” said state Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks in a statement.
Hicks’ statement was similar to other state chairs.
“No one is better prepared than Vice President Harris to prosecute the case against Donald Trump and articulate how Democrats are working for a Better Arkansas,” Democratic Party of Arkansas Delegation Chairman Grant Tennille said. “At this critical time in our nation’s history, the vice president is prepared, poised, and right out of the gate demonstrating how strong she will be as our nominee.”
All of South Dakota’s 20 delegates backed Harris in a Monday night vote.
“Harris has proven that she is more than equipped to take on the presidency and we as a delegation are looking forward to casting the official vote for her,” said Delegate Chairwoman Jessica Meyers.
Michigan delegates to the Democratic National Convention may meet in the next few days to decide to pledge their votes to Harris.
Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party has also expressed its support, with Party Chairman Sharif Street in a Sunday press briefing saying that, “I’ve talked to state chairs across America and I’ve seen nothing but overwhelming support for the vice president and I fully expect in a very resounding way she will be our nominee.” Pennsylvania has 153 delegates.
• The Center Square editors Kim Jarrett, J.D. Davidson, David Mastio and Alan Wooten contributed to this story.