Omar Bennett
On August 23, 2024, Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, becoming the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to head a major party's presidential ticket. Harris, the first female vice president in US history, and daughter of immigrants, rose through the California political and law enforcement ranks. She secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, including endorsements from top Democrats like President Joe Biden, who dropped his bid for reelection. Harris's nomination sets the stage for a presidential race against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Harris the official nominee? | Not initially, but she became the official Democratic nominee on 23 August 2024 |
| Is Harris the presumptive nominee? | No, because she was not elected through a primary election |
| Who endorsed Harris? | President Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and other leading Democrats |
| Who will Harris face in the election? | Donald Trump |
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What You'll Learn
- Kamala Harris is the first female vice president in US history
- Harris has secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates
- She is the Democrats' candidate for the 2024 election
- Harris is the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to head a major party's ticket
- She will face off against Donald Trump
Kamala Harris is the first female vice president in US history
Kamala Harris is a history-maker. In 2020, she became the first female, first Black person, and first South Asian American vice president in US history. Harris, a former prosecutor, was elected to the Senate in 2016 and rose to prominence for her tough questioning of Trump administration officials during Senate hearings. She also gained recognition for her work on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she played a key role in the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Harris's career in politics began in California, where she served as the state's attorney general and initiated several controversial policies, including a system of heavy fines and potential incarceration for parents whose children were skipping too many classes, which disproportionately affected families of colour. Despite this, she was chosen by Joe Biden to be his running mate in the 2020 presidential election.
Harris became the Democratic nominee for vice president in August 2020, and she and Biden went on to defeat incumbent President Donald Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence. Harris's nomination and election as vice president were historic not only because she was the first woman but also because she was the first Black person and the first South Asian American to hold the office. This made her a role model for many Americans, especially women and girls, and a symbol of the diversity and inclusiveness of the United States.
Harris's tenure as vice president has been marked by a strong commitment to promoting and defending democratic values and institutions, both at home and abroad. She has been a vocal supporter of women's rights, civil rights, and social justice issues and has worked to address issues such as gender-based violence, racial discrimination, and economic inequality. In addition, she has been an advocate for scientific innovation and technological advancement, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education.
Harris's historic vice presidency has inspired and empowered people, especially women and girls, across the United States and around the world. Her election to the nation's second-highest office broke through long-standing barriers and ceilings, paving the way for greater gender equality and representation in politics and other spheres. Harris's legacy as the first female vice president in US history will forever be remembered as a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for women's empowerment and gender parity.
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Harris has secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates
Kamala Harris has secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates to become the party's nominee for the 2024 presidential election. This was confirmed by an Associated Press survey, which found that Harris had the support of more than half of the delegates needed to take President Joe Biden's place at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Harris's quick ascension within the party came as an attempt to unify the Democrats behind the task of defeating then-president Donald Trump in the upcoming election. This was reflected in the wave of endorsements she received from prominent Democratic elected officials, party leaders, and political organizations, as well as the millions of dollars in donations that poured into her campaign.
Harris's success in securing the Democratic nomination was particularly notable given the speed with which she garnered support. Just 48 hours after Biden dropped out of the race, Harris had already received endorsements from a majority of Democratic delegates, as well as from fellow Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. This swift show of support indicated that Harris was the preferred choice among many within the party, despite the fact that another candidate could still have entered the race.
While Harris had secured the necessary support to become the Democratic nominee, it was important to note that the Democratic Party rules granted delegates the freedom to vote for the candidate of their choice. This meant that, technically, delegates could have voted for someone other than Harris, even if they had informally pledged their support. However, with the strong backing of a majority of delegates and the party's endorsement, Harris was well-positioned to lead the Democrats into the 2024 presidential election.
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She is the Democrats' candidate for the 2024 election
Kamala Harris is the official Democratic nominee for the 2024 election. Harris accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
Harris' nomination is historic, as she is the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to head a major party's presidential ticket. She is also the first female vice president in US history, having served as President Joe Biden's deputy.
Harris secured the Democratic nomination after receiving the support of a majority of the party's delegates. An Associated Press survey found that she had the support of more than half of the delegates needed to become the Democratic nominee. Leading Democrats, including President Biden, have lined up to support her bid.
Harris' nomination comes after Biden dropped out of the race in July 2024, ending his reelection campaign. Biden has endorsed Harris, and his campaign funds have been transferred to her campaign. Harris now faces a tough sprint to the election, as she aims to defeat Republican nominee Donald Trump and keep the presidency in Democratic hands.
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Harris is the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to head a major party's ticket
Kamala Harris has made history as the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to head a major party's ticket. Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian descent, is the daughter of immigrants who rose through the California political and law enforcement ranks to become the first female vice president in US history.
Harris has secured the support of enough Democratic delegates to become her party's nominee for president, according to an Associated Press survey. This quick coalescing behind Harris marked an attempt by the party to unify behind the task of defeating Donald Trump in the upcoming election. Prominent Democratic elected officials, party leaders, and political organizations quickly lined up behind Harris in the day after Joe Biden's exit from the race. Harris also set a new 24-hour record for presidential campaign donations.
While Harris has the support of more than half of the delegates she needs, she is not yet the official nominee. The delegates who say they will back Harris were not elected to do so through a primary election, so they are free to vote for whomever they choose. However, given the widespread support Harris has already garnered among pledged delegates and from fellow Democrats, she and her campaign are feeling confident.
If Harris does become the official nominee, she will be up against a tough sprint to a nail-biting election, which may be decided by a handful of votes in key states. Senior figures, including Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton, have warned that Harris has a brutal fight on her hands to beat Trump.
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She will face off against Donald Trump
Kamala Harris is now the official Democratic presidential nominee for the 2024 election. She will face off against Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. Harris has already made history as the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to head a major party's presidential ticket.
Harris's campaign has set records for presidential donations, and she has the support of prominent Democratic elected officials, party leaders, and political organizations. She has also been endorsed by President Joe Biden, who has transferred his campaign funds to her campaign. However, she faces a tough sprint to a nail-biting election, which may be decided by a handful of votes in key states.
Harris has telegraphed that she plans to stick to the themes and policies that framed Biden's candidacy, such as democracy, gun violence prevention, and abortion rights. But her delivery is often fierier, especially when invoking her prosecutorial background to lambast Trump and his 34 felony convictions for falsifying business records.
Harris has established herself as a reliable liberal opponent of Trump's personnel and policies, and she has used her spot on the Judiciary Committee to interrogate prominent Trump nominees, such as now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. She has also contrasted her vision with Trump's, inviting Americans to chart a "new way forward."
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kamala Harris is the official Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. She was confirmed at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 22, 2024.
Harris was endorsed by President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race and transferred his campaign funds to her. She has also been endorsed by a majority of Democratic delegates and prominent Democratic figures.
Harris will face Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, in the 2024 presidential election.
