Kamala Harris Named Democratic Presidential Nominee, Set for High-Stakes Battle with Donald Trump This Fall

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris has officially secured the Democratic presidential nomination, making history as the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket. Harris faced little opposition as the party united behind her following President Joe Biden’s abrupt withdrawal from the race.

Biden’s exit came after a disastrous debate performance that had Democrats questioning his reelection prospects. Following his announcement, Harris and her team quickly garnered the necessary 1,976 party delegates to clinch the nomination. Within 32 hours, an Associated Press survey confirmed her support.

The nomination became official after five days of online voting by Democratic National Convention delegates, with 99% endorsing Harris. The party plans to formally certify the vote and hold a celebratory roll call at its convention later this month in Chicago.

A poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center revealed that 46% of Americans view Harris favorably, with an equal share viewing her unfavorably. However, more Democrats express satisfaction with her candidacy compared to Biden, infusing new energy into the party.

Though Harris isn’t expected to drastically change the themes and policies from Biden’s campaign, her delivery is notably sharper. Harris often references her prosecutorial background to criticize Trump, who faces multiple felony convictions.

Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California commented, “It’s almost as if the stars have aligned for her at this moment in history.” Padilla succeeded Harris in the Senate after she became vice president.

Harris was born on Oct. 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, to immigrant parents. She spent years as a prosecutor in the Bay Area before becoming California’s attorney general and then a U.S. senator in 2016.

In Washington, Harris quickly established herself as a vocal opponent of Trump’s policies and often grilled his nominees in Senate hearings. In 2020, she launched a promising presidential campaign but withdrew before the primaries due to internal dissent and lack of funds.

Harris was on Biden’s shortlist for vice president, benefiting from her strong ties with the Biden family. Though her early tenure as vice president was challenging, Harris’s role became more prominent after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Since Biden’s exit, Harris has received an outpouring of support, allowing her campaign to set sights on key battleground states like Arizona and North Carolina. Bakari Sellers, a former Harris campaign co-chair, said, “What people are seeing now is that she’s real, she’s talented.”

Harris faces expected scrutiny for Biden administration policies, the economy, and foreign affairs. Trump’s campaign has already criticized her, dubbing her “Failed. Weak. Dangerously liberal.”

The campaign anticipates a continuation of racist and sexist attacks from Trump, who has questioned Harris’s racial identity. Harris rebuffed these comments, stating, “The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth.”