Democratic delegates face big decisions on a presidential nominee

DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison is joined by business and political leaders during a lakeside event held to announce that Chicago was chosen to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention on April 12, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago last hosted the convention in 1996. (Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — Democratic National Convention delegates from across the country praised President Joe Biden’s decision Sunday to end his reelection bid, and a few state party leaders followed Biden’s endorsement and immediately threw their support to Vice President Kamala Harris.

Delegates are scheduled to hold a virtual roll call vote early next month to officially select the party’s pick to face Republican Donald Trump in November, with the nominee to accept the nod at the party’s convention on August 22.

Until recently, that candidate was presumed to be Biden, but a poor debate performance on June 27 presaged a weeks-long pressure campaign from Democratic leaders to drop out of the race. Biden heeded those calls Sunday.

Biden endorsed Harris shortly after saying midafternoon Sunday he would not seek reelection. A handful of state delegations were ready Sunday afternoon to shift their support to Harris, though Democratic officials in many more states had not made any statements about whom they’d support at next month’s Democratic National Convention.

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said in a statement Sunday that 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.”

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

Harrison did not include details about how the party would formally nominate a presidential candidate.

Harris gains support

Reaction among state Democratic party officials on Sunday was near universal in praising Biden for his accomplishments as president and decision to leave the race.

Delegates in several states have already thrown their support behind Harris.

“We will be supporting Kamala Harris,” Alabama Democratic Party Chair Randy Kelley said, according to the Alabama Reflector.

In Colorado, several delegates and elected officials, some of whom would have a vote after the first round of balloting at the Democratic National Convention, said they would back Harris.

One delegate in Colorado, state Rep. Leslie Herod of Denver, was a co-chair for Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign in Colorado.

Herod told Colorado Newsline that she would be supporting Harris’ campaign and that the vice president “is committed to not only our country, but the people in it … She’s not an isolated leader. She is one that leads with the people and alongside of them.”

Randal Gaines, chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, told the Louisiana Illuminator that the state delegation will support Harris’ nomination and that she will “energize our core voters to an unprecedented level.”

Tennessee delegates reached Sunday by the Tennessee Lookout indicated they were inclined to support Harris.

“I’m extremely pleased he has endorsed Kamala Harris and it would be awfully difficult to not strongly support her,” said Chip Forrester, an at-large delegate from Tennessee.

All the congressional Democrats from Wisconsin, a key battleground state in November’s election, quickly endorsed Harris, the Wisconsin Examiner reported. The state’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and party Chair Ben Wikler both stopped short of endorsing the vice president.

One national delegate reached by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, Medford City Councilor Kevin Stine, said he would vote for Harris.

Indiana state Sen. Karen Tallian said she would support Harris, even as others among the Hoosier State’s 88 DNC delegates declined to comment Sunday.

Holding out on endorsements

But far from all Democratic delegates have lined up behind Harris.

South Dakota delegates have not taken a position on endorsing Harris. Instead, they are waiting for guidance from the national party, the executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, Dan Ahlers, said to South Dakota Searchlight. 

Delegates in North Dakota praised Biden’s decision, according to the North Dakota Monitor. Jamie Selzler, a DNC national committee member from North Dakota, said the process to choose a replacement should be transparent.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said Sunday that Democrats would “unite behind a candidate who will defeat Donald Trump this November.”

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