State Democratic party chairs endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s next presidential contender against Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump.
Following President Joe Biden’s announcement he was standing out as the party’s candidate, the chairs convened a conference call.
“Following President Biden’s announcement, our members immediately assembled to unite behind the candidate who has a track record of winning tough elections and who is a proven leader on the issues that matter to Americans: reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention, climate protection, justice reform, and rebuilding the economy,” said Ken Martin, president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, in a statement.
“That person is our seated Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Reuters revealed that the group supported the vice president; one source claimed she had “full support” for being at the top of the ticket.
Further, according to an Associated Press poll of delegates, Harris received the backing of 2,538, much above the 1,976 required to win the delegates’ vote in the next weeks. On Monday, Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison declared the party would choose a presidential contender by August 7.
Before August 7, delegates might still change their minds; nobody else got any votes on the AP survey; 57 delegates claimed they were unsure.
Two decades younger than Trump, Harris, 59, leads the party on abortion rights, a topic that appeals to younger people and Democrats’ progressive base. Advocates contend she would energise such voters, unite Black support, and provide keen debating abilities to forward the political argument against the outgoing president.
However, while many Democrats swiftly supported Harris as the party’s presidential contender against Trump in the November contest, several influential party members, including former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, remain silent.
