The Democratic National Committee (DNC) said Friday that Vice President Kamala Harris has enough votes to become the official Democratic Presidential Nominee. The virtual roll call vote will be open until Monday, but the DNC released a statement as soon as Harris gained enough support to cross the delegate threshold to receive the party’s nomination.
Virtual Roll Call and Campaign Momentum
The DNC’s decision to hold the roll call virtually prior to the party convention later this month reveals the campaign’s desire to maintain the moment it is currently experiencing and benefiting from.
Speculation Ends with Official Announcement
The DNC statement also concludes the speculation of the past two weeks about whether Harris’s presumed nomination would stick. It is now official, and the work can continue as the election is fast approaching.
Historic Candidacy of Kamala Harris
Harris joined a call of supporters after the announcement, telling them she was “honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee.” Harris’s candidacy is historic as she is the first woman of color to be the Presidential Nominee of a major party.
Commitment to the Campaign
Harris told Democratic leaders, “It’s not going to be easy. But we’re going to get this done. As your future president, I know we are up to this fight.”
DNC Chair’s Support and Upcoming Convention
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said that the party “will rally around Vice President Kamala Harris and demonstrate the strength of our party” during the August DNC convention, which will be held in Chicago.
Lack of Delegate Count Details
The DNC announcement that Harris had received enough delegate votes to ascend to the position of Nominee did not include any breakdown or details regarding delegate count or state-by-state data.
Virtual Roll Call Process
The virtual roll call functions like a telethon, where delegates cast their votes while campaign officials keep score.
Confirmation of Harris’s Success
Harris’s success in the vote was not uncertain, but the swift response allowed the officials to confirm her success early on the first day of the voting process.
Internal Campaign Adjustments
While from the outside of the campaign, the Harris-led ticket is a well-oiled machine that has not missed a step since the clunky handoff from President Joe Biden, changes are going on inside the party and campaign best support the new candidate.
Reorganization of Senior Staff
The senior staff lineup within the campaign is being reorganized, and campaign veterans from past Obama campaigns are being tapped to help lead Harris to victory.
David Plouffe’s Role
One change is that David Plouffe has been installed as a senior campaign advisor to help the campaign secure the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.
Plouffe’s Previous Roles
Plouffe had, up until now, consulted for TikTok and cohosted a podcast with former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway.
Key Staff Remain Unchanged
Other key staff will remain unchanged, including Jen O’Malley Dillon, the campaign chairwoman and staff manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the campaign manager, and Michael Tyler, the communications director.
