Will Harris clinch the Democratic nomination? She's one step closer after pivotal deadline passes

WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris is closing in on officially having the Democratic nomination in the bag.

Harris so far remains the only prominent Democrat to toss their name in the running to be her party’s presidential nominee after her 81-year-old boss, President Joe Biden, ended his reelection campaign just one week ago.

Prospective Democrats who wanted to declare their candidacy for president must have done so by Saturday at 6 p.m. Those interested also need to collect 300 delegate signatures to qualify, with no more than 50 coming from one state, by Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. ET.

As of Sunday afternoon, the vice president remains the only Democrat with a national profile who has publicly declared their candidacy, according to multiple reports. Biden's 59-year-old vice president has also already secured more than half the support of Democratic delegates to be the nominee.

What does that all mean? Harris could become the official nominee when a virtual vote begins as soon as Thursday. USA TODAY has reached out to the DNC for additional information.

The hurdles come after the Democratic National Committee last week finalized the rules for it to consider a virtual nomination roll call ahead of the national convention that's set to begin Aug. 19 in Chicago.

If only one candidate – likely Harris – qualifies, Democrats will start the virtual voting on Thursday. The voting will begin on or around Aug. 3 if anyone besides Harris meets the delegate specifications.

Democrats have long planned a virtual roll call due to a prolonged dispute in Ohio and to avoid controversy over 2024 ballot deadlines in other states.

Harris catapulted to the top of the ticket after Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race following concerns that the president couldn’t beat his Republican rival, former President Donald Trump. Less than 30 minutes after he stepped aside, Biden endorsed Harris. Harris quickly garnered overwhelming support from leaders in her party and re-energized voters and is garnering support from a younger generation.

By last Monday evening, Harris had already accumulated more than enough delegate support to win the nomination.

However, some Democrats have been vocal about having an open nominating process. Those sentiments, though, were quickly drowned out by the overwhelming support of Harris from top leaders and Democratic delegates.

Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., at one point considered switching his party affiliation back to Democrat to possibly throw his name into the running for president, but later said that he is not going to be a candidate for president.

“I am a candidate for basically speaking to the middle of this country,” Manchin said on CBS Mornings earlier this week. “Neither side can win without the sensible, moderate middle.”

Throughout the week, Harris secured the backing of top leaders in the Democratic Party, from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

The surprise switch-up in the Democratic ticket followed a weeks-long pressure campaign from several Democrats, including vulnerable Congressional candidates, and high-dollar donors to have Biden step aside in the race after a shaky debate performance on June 27.

During an Oval Office address on Wednesday, Biden said he believed that his record, leadership, and vision for America’s future “all merited a second term." But the president was on a path to possibly lose in November to an opponent who would endanger democracy, and so he acknowledged it was time for a younger generation to take over.

“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation," Biden said, adding that it’s "a time for new voices, for fresh voices, yes, for younger voices."

Harris has vowed to win the nomination and then go on to win the election against Trump, 78. During her first remarks to campaign staff in Wilmington on Monday, Harris said in the days leading up to the election, there is a lot of work that needs to be done.

"We have doors to knock. We have people to talk to. We have phone calls to make,” she said. “And we have an election to win."

Contributing: Francesca Chambers

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Harris clinch the Dem nomination? She just took one step closer