No one saw it coming when U.S President Joe Biden announced his decision to walk away from re-election. Immediately after announcing his decision to step down, though, Biden followed up with a public endorsement of Vice President Kamalah Harris as the democratic nominee for President. Many aren’t surprised by his endorsement as she is the Vice President, but this sudden change-up is an enormous pivot for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). With less than two weeks before the DNC was set to announce their nominee for November’s presidential ballot, 104 days before election, and with no hesitation, Vice President Harris hit the ground running.
Presidents don’t choose their successors; if that were acceptable, presidency would be unfairly passed down with no voting input from the people. Instead, that job is for the DNC.The DNC is responsible for nominating, supporting, and promoting presidential candidates who align with their ideas. They have offices established in every state and major city working tactfully to promote their candidate on a nationwide campaign in hopes of being voted as the U.S President. This is usually a lengthy process as candidates are required to register with the Federal Election Commission and announce their intention to run in the Spring of the year before elections. Meaning, if this were planned, we would’ve known last year that Kamalah would be running for office. January through August is usually spent holding presidential primaries, caucuses, conventions, and ultimately the announcement of who the DNC has chosen as their presidential nominee. Since Biden is the current President serving his first term, he was automatically on the Democratic ticket as first choice, no need for the DNC to search or decipher plans for a new candidate. Now that he has pulled out less than 14 days prior to the DNC announcing his top ticket candidacy, they were flung into a bit of a frenzy to say the least. Harris, however, wasn’t outwardly intimidated by time seemingly being against her. In her first speech receiving Biden’s endorsement, she gave a thoughtful message to Biden about her respect for his work and gratitude for his consideration then got to work.
Support for Harris has been beyond evident. In the first five hours alone her campaign raised nearly $7 million. History was made, again, as she racked in over $80 million within the first 24 hours, the highest record of fundraising in political history. Biden announced his intention of not being reelected Sunday, by Tuesday night, $100 million had been raised in support of Harris’s campaign. 880 thousand grassroot supporters had donated over $46 million to Harris’s campaign. $1.5 million was raised in 3 hours from the organization Win With Black Women that hosted 44 thousand supporters on their zoom call. The support has been undeniable. Kamala has stepped into this opportunity head first, tackling issues and addressing swing states as her campaign takes off at bullet speed during the wake of this transition.
In her first campaign rally in Wisconsin Tuesday, Harris announced that she’d won enough delegates to place as a Presidential candidate this fall. She shared her sentiments towards Joe’s service. Delegates from 27 states have issued statements in support of Harris. According to the Associate Press, she needed 1,976 delegates to win the democratic nomination and received 2579. She was sure to mention her respect for teachers, her time as a prosecutor, and explained her intention to make impactful changes to the middle class.
“We are a people-powered campaign, that is how you know we will be a people-fist Presidency. And Wisconsin, this campaign is also about two different visions for our nation. One where we are focused on the future, the other focused on the past. We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but get ahead. A future where no child has to grow up in poverty. Where every worker has the freedom to join a union. Where every person has affordable healthcare, affordable childcare, and paid family leave. We believe in a future where every senior can retire with dignity. So all of this to say, building up the middle class will be a defining goal of my Presidency.”
Kamala Harris has accelerated past expectations faster than predictions could be made of how this would turn out. Many notable names gave endorsements to Harris nearly immediately upon the announcement of her being a possible candidate on the next ballot.
Former President Barack Obama, California Governor Gavin Newsrom, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, 40 democratic senators, over 100 house members and so many more have made it clear they support Harris’s progression into the Oval Office. These next few weeks are a crucial time for the Harris team. Republicans are concerned of her gender, race, and ethnicity playing an advantageous role in her winning votes against other opponents. No official announcements for Harris’s Vice President candidates will be. Potential running mates heavily mentioned have been Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. With so little time, Harris has openly stated her intention to focus on swing states. Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia are this year’s six swing states whose unpredictable red or blue vote have the power to change the trajectory of upcoming election. Each state has its own major concerns that Harris claims she is suited to address while standing firm on core values concerning sensitive issues like abortion bans, and access to firearms.
In the first 3 days of getting ground work done, there is a clear generational shift in political involvement. “In the next 105 days, we have work to do. We have doors to knock on, we have phone calls to make, we have voters to register, and we have an election to win. And when we fight, we win.” The Democratic National Convention begins August 19th .
