Vice President Kamala Harris announced her intention to run for the Democratic nomination following President Joe Biden’s endorsement, potentially becoming the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major political party’s ticket.
“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” she said in a statement.
On Sunday, Biden made a historic endorsement and Harris pledged to unite the party after he announced he is dropping his reelection bid due to disarray within the Democratic Party. The president’s disastrous debate raised doubts about his ability to win a second term and govern for another four years.
“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee,” Biden said.
On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country.
I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 21, 2024
Despite receiving support from the president, it is uncertain whether Harris will be chosen as the nominee or what steps the Democratic Party will follow to select another candidate. The decision will ultimately lie with the delegates at the party’s national convention. While Harris’ supporters are working to ensure her nomination, some Democrats have refrained from endorsing her and have advocated for an open nomination process.
Logistically, Harris is the natural heir to the ticket as Biden’s running mate.
The Biden-Harris campaign on Sunday formally amended filings with the Federal Election Commission to rename its principal committee “Harris for President,” saying that the committee name is “different than previously reported.”
The committee also filed a letter with the commission stating that “Vice President Harris is now a candidate for United States President in the 2024 election and will henceforth be conducting campaign activities only in pursuit of that office.”
Control of the campaign war chest, however – totaling $95.9 million at the end of June – depends on whether Harris remains on Democrats’ 2024 ticket.
I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda. If you’re with me, add a donation right now.https://t.co/xpPDkCRhoZ
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 21, 2024
During her tenure as vice president, Harris has faced challenges in establishing her identity while managing a complex agenda that covers contentious issues like voting rights and immigration from Central America. Despite her attempts to strengthen the Voting Rights Act, the initiative did not succeed in Congress. In terms of immigration, Harris received backlash from both sides for not dedicating sufficient attention to the border and for advising migrants not to come in a public address.
Just last year, there were concerns among Democrats about the potential negative impact of Harris on the ticket, leading prominent party members to advise against undermining her.
However, following Biden’s June debate, Harris has found her stride and has become an important advocate for Biden’s reelection campaign, particularly on the topic of reproductive health and the perceived threat to democracy posed by Trump.
Supporters of Harris contend that a significant portion of the backlash she faces stems from racism and sexism directed towards the first woman of color to hold such a high position in the country. They now assert that the qualities her allies have long recognized in her are becoming more apparent to the nation.
“Oftentimes Black women are not seen until they’re needed,” said LaTosha Brown, a co-founder of Black Voters Matter, a progressive group that works to boost Black voter turnout. “We’ve seen her constantly berated, marginalized, questioned. I think that the shift is because there’s a need.”
According to Capitoneshirt