Vice President Kamala Harris on July 22 secured the backing of the majority of delegates to the Democratic National Convention, less than two days after announcing her run for the presidency in the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race.
By 11 p.m. ET on July 22, 2,574 pledged delegates had endorsed the vice president, according to a tally by The Epoch Times—more than 1,976 delegate majority needed to win the nomination.
Almost 4,000 delegates and 700 superdelegates will gather at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Aug. 19–22 to select the party’s presidential nominee. However, as delegates won’t cast their official nomination until the convention or if the party chooses to hold a virtual roll call ahead of the event, there is still a chance for new candidates to campaign and challenge Ms. Harris.
According to Democratic National Committee rules, candidates must receive pledged support from at least 300 delegates to appear on the ballot at the convention.
Tennessee became the first state to pledge all its eligible delegates to Ms. Harris, followed by South Carolina, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
Later on Monday, endorsements from a host of states came in thick and fast, including states with the largest delegate contingents, New York, Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, and Ms. Harris’s home state California. The Golden State has the largest number of Democrat delegates, with more than 400.
“With her extensive experience, dedication to public service, and proven leadership, we believe Kamalas Harris is uniquely qualified to defeat Donald Trump and lead our nation forward—championing the values and ideals that unite us as a country,” Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement announcing the state delegation’s backing of the vice president.
Other state delegations that endorsed the vice president included Nebraska, Massachusetts, Kansas, Maine, Indiana, Iowa, Arkansas, Utah, Connecticut, South Dakota, Nevada, and Vermont.
Also on July 22, Ms. Harris won endorsements from overwhelming majority of elected Democrats. This included all Democratic governors, including those who had been seen as potential rivals, and prominent Democrats like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) are notable holdouts. They issued a joint statement on July 22 praising the vice president, but stopping short of an endorsement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
From The Epoch Times