Democrats rally behind Kamala Harris in bid to avert divisive party convention

In the moments after President Biden announced Sunday that he had decided it was “in the best interest” of his party and country to exit the 2024 campaign, Democratic support quickly coalesced behind Vice President Kamala Harris, a move that could potentially spare Democrats a divisive nominating convention next month.

Leading the movement for Harris was Biden himself. In a statement shortly after he announced he was dropping out of the race, he threw his “full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year.”

Last week, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democrats from her home state that she favored an open convention, Politico reported, so as to avoid accusations of a coronation for Harris.

But Democratic donors who had pressured Biden to drop out of the race wasted no time in throwing their support behind Harris, the New York Times reported, quickly raising millions of dollars.

“My phone is exploding,” Gretchen Sisson, a top Democratic bundler, told the paper. “Lots of folks are asking where to contribute, what they can do to support the campaign, and wanting to write more. People who were committed but worried are now excited and energized.”

Harris’ edge

In many ways, Harris is the candidate who makes sense to replace Biden on the top of the Democratic ticket. For starters, because the Biden–Harris campaign was registered with the Federal Election Commission under both of their names, Harris could legally use those tens of millions of dollars in the campaign ahead.

Harris will also inherit all of Biden’s campaign staff, Biden’s former campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez told the New York Times on Sunday.

Harris cannot simply be anointed as the party’s nominee, especially since the primaries have already concluded and Biden, not Harris, amassed the delegates required to be named the Democrats’ candidate for president. But Biden had yet to be named the 2024 nominee, a formality that is usually decided at a party’s convention.

Now, about 3,900 pledged Democratic National Convention delegates will be asked to pick the party’s nominee, and roughly 99% of them who are pledged to support Biden are no longer required to do so.

Another candidate could still step forward to challenge Harris, and if they do so, that could result in a number of scenarios as they compete for delegates' support ahead of the convention, which begins on Aug. 19, where a floor vote could determine the winner. But if the pledged delegates rally around Harris and vote in the first ballot at the convention for her to become the nominee, the nomination fight will quickly be over.

It’s unclear if Harris will face a serious challenger. News outlets quickly reported that some of the leading contenders like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would not contest the race. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona endorsed Harris’ campaign, as did California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“The work that we must do now, while unprecedented, is clear,” Democratic Party chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement on Sunday. “In the coming days, the Party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November.”

Harrison added that “the American people will hear from the Democratic Party on next steps and the path forward for the nomination process.

Many Democrats rush to support Harris

Sen. Chris Coons of Maryland, a former Biden campaign chair, made clear Sunday afternoon that Harris was his pick to replace the president at the top of the ticket.

“I support Vice President Harris. I am very hopeful that we will come out of our convention next month united and that everyone who has expressed concerns and hopes and thoughts and fears in the last months will continue to support the ticket that will win this fall,” Coons said in an interview with CNN.

As the minutes passed following Biden’s announcement, a flood of Democrats joined Coons in his support of Harris, including the political action committee representing the Congressional Black Caucus; Reps. Adam Schiff of California, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota; and Sens. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, Patty Murray of Washington, Mark Warner of Virginia, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Laphonza Butler of California.

Some Democrats did hesitate to commit to endorsing Harris, including Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Peter Welch of Vermont.

Welch told the Associated Press that he intended to “take a little pause” before making an endorsement.

Harris pledges to ‘earn and win this nomination’

As for Harris herself, Sunday’s announcement by Biden marked the start of a new chapter for her life in politics. But the vice president made clear that she, like Pelosi, did not want a rise to become the party’s nominee to be seen as a coronation.

“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris said in a statement Sunday, adding, “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.”

?Read more

• Read the full text of Biden’s letter announcing his decision. “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down.” [Yahoo News]

• Timeline: Biden exit caps tumultuous three weeks in U.S. politics. “Here’s a summary of the milestone events in a roller coaster period in U.S. politics.” [The Guardian]

• Biden's 2024 reelection bid meets its ultimate match: Time. “Yahoo News' analysis on the president's big decision, and how we got here.” [Yahoo News]

• Political reactions to Biden's decision. “America is a better place today because President Joe Biden has led us with intellect, grace and dignity. We are forever grateful," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said. [Reuters]

• Americans react to Biden's historic decision. “Finally a brave act from a politician." [USA Today]

• Obama calls Biden 'patriot of the highest order' after Biden drops out of 2024 race. “Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we’ve also been reminded — again — that he’s a patriot of the highest order.” [Yahoo News]

• House Republicans say Biden must resign after ending reelection campaign. “If Joe Biden can’t run for re-election, he is unable and unfit to serve as President of the United States. He must immediately resign,” House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik said. [The Hill]

• Now that Biden dropped out, what happens to his campaign funds? “If Vice President Kamala Harris is the new nominee, will she get access to those funds? If one of the other rumored Democratic options gets picked, can they use that money?” [Yahoo News]

• FAQ: How will Democrats pick a new presidential nominee? “What’s next for the Democratic Party as they hurtle toward a convention and the November election against Republican nominee Donald Trump?” [Yahoo News]

• Until 1968, presidential candidates were picked by party conventions — a process revived by Biden’s withdrawal from race. “The tradition of picking a nominee through primaries and caucuses – and not through what is called the ‘convention system’ – is relatively recent.” [The Conversation]

• Who will replace Biden as the new Democratic nominee? “Here are some of the hypothetical Biden replacements being discussed — along with how they ranked among voters in a Yahoo News/YouGov poll conducted after the debate.” [Yahoo News]

• Harris says she intends to ‘earn and win’ Democratic nomination. “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. We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.” [Yahoo News]

• Harris: What to know about her as she seeks to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee. “A brief guide to her background, historic firsts and record as VP.” [Yahoo News]

• Harris' 2020 campaign was a mess. If she ends up atop the ticket, this time could be a lot different. “Admirers say that Harris has grown in the job.” [NBC News]

• Would America be ready for President Kamala Harris? “But from the start, there has been a hesitancy to fully embrace the country’s second-in-command, with some Democrats openly overlooking her.” [USA Today]

• Harris fans are sharing their support all over the internet. “Members of 'KHive' — a play on Beyoncé's 'Beyhive' fan club — are making fancams and memes of the vice president as she now seeks the Democratic nomination.” [Yahoo News]

Cover thumbnail photo via Evan Vucci/AP