‘My intention is to earn and win’

WASHINGTON – On Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris declared her intent to seek the 2024 Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden decided to step aside and endorsed her bid, swiftly uniting potential contenders and party stalwarts nationwide behind her.

Her announcement was disseminated via the Biden campaign’s email list, approximately two hours after the president indicated she was running.

“I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Harris stated. “Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, engaging with Americans about the critical choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. 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.”

Kamala Harris endorsements

On Sunday afternoon, Biden announced his withdrawal from the race to “focus solely on my duties as President for the rest of my term.” He then endorsed Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee − before she publicly confirmed her candidacy.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” he said in a social media post. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

Amid growing pressure over the past several weeks for Biden to step aside following a lackluster debate performance against Trump, many Democrats had already begun rallying behind the vice president. She immediately received endorsements from abortion rights groups.

“She is the only candidate positioned to win against Trump in November, and the best voice to define the stakes in this election!” EMILYs List, a liberal organization that works to elect Democratic women supporting abortion rights, proclaimed on Sunday.

Several prominent Democrats also expressed their support for Harris.

Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee, pledged to do “whatever we can” to support Harris. Former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said it’s time to “unite behind the only veteran of a national campaign,” Kamala Harris. South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, a close Biden ally, announced he would follow Biden’s lead and back her candidacy for the party’s nomination.

Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri, Adam Schiff of California, and Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware also swiftly endorsed her.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a one-time Democratic presidential contender in 2020, stated Sunday evening he would do everything to help Harris get elected, asserting she is “now the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as President.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had been considered a potential alternative for the Democratic nomination before Biden stepped aside, endorsed Harris on Sunday.

“With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, @KamalaHarris,” Newsom wrote on X.

Ultimately, it is the party’s convention delegates who will decide. Harris will need to secure the majority of the more than 4,000 delegates to the Democratic National Convention over the next month.

It may not be a fiercely contested race. Among her potential competitors for the nomination, including Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Wes Moore of Maryland, none immediately declared their intent to challenge her.

Shapiro was among the Democratic Party officials Harris contacted on Sunday evening as she sought to quickly unify lawmakers and potential competitors around her candidacy. She also spoke with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford, according to a knowledgeable source.

Buttigieg, who competed against Biden and Harris for the nomination four years ago, and Newsom, another potential contender, issued statements supporting her candidacy within hours.

The Tennessee and South Carolina convention delegations also endorsed her.

It was not immediately clear when Harris planned to hold her first official campaign event, though she already had plans to be in Milwaukee on Tuesday and Indianapolis on Wednesday.

More: How will delegates and superdelegates at the DNC handle Biden dropping out?

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison acknowledged the situation is “unprecedented” in a Sunday statement and said the Democratic Party would soon clarify the nominating procedure.

“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,” he stated. “This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the Party. Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people.”

Shortly after Harris’ announcement of her intent to pursue the nomination, Biden’s campaign committee transitioned to a committee for Harris, making her bid official.

The campaign, formerly known as Biden for President, filed with the Federal Election Commission to change its name to the Harris for President campaign. Harris also appointed a campaign treasurer.

With these moves, Harris’ campaign assumes control of Biden’s campaign funds, providing her with a significant strategic advantage over other potential Democratic nominees. The Biden campaign reported having $240 million on hand at the end of June.

By filing with the FEC, Harris was also able to begin raising money for her presidential bid. She sent her first fundraising text on Sunday evening.

She is also garnering support from key PACs crucial for a presidential run.

The Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee, the fundraising arm of the CBC, announced Sunday it fully backs Harris following Biden’s decision to step aside.

“She has been instrumental in delivering the accomplishments of the last 3.5 years and has led on lowering maternal mortality rates, protecting reproductive freedoms, and ensuring economic opportunities for all,” Rep. Gregory Meeks, the PAC’s chairman, and Rep. Steven Horsford, chair of the CBC, said in a joint statement. “She will do an excellent job as President of the United States.”