Kamala Harris will be confirmed as the Democratic US presidential nominee in an electronic vote starting Thursday, replacing the traditional in-person balloting at the party’s national convention.
Less than two weeks after Joe Biden ended his reelection bid, his 52-year-old vice president has taken full control of the party, emerging as the sole Democrat challenging Republican Donald Trump in November.
Nearly 4,000 delegates, comprising grassroots activists and politicians, submitted signatures backing Harris for the five-day electronic vote. No other Democrats have stepped forward to challenge her, making her confirmation as the first Black and South Asian woman to secure a major party’s nomination a formality.
Harris won the support of 99 percent of the delegates who signed petitions, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced, while no one else met the qualifying threshold of 300 signatures.
“Our delegates have an important responsibility — and opportunity — in the days ahead to cast their history-making ballots for Vice President Harris, ensuring that she will be on the ballot in every state this November,” said DNC chair Jaime Harrison.
“Our party has met this unprecedented moment with a transparent, democratic, and orderly process to unite behind a nominee with a proven record who will lead us in the fight ahead.”
In addition to the “pledged” delegates, around 700 “superdelegates” will vote, including state governors, members of Congress, and party officials.
The roll call begins at 9:00 am (1300 GMT) Thursday, and delegates have until 6:00 pm (2000 GMT) on Monday to cast their votes via an online platform managed by the DNC.
