New Jersey Dem convention delegates back Kamala Harris for president

Vice President Kamala Harris has quickly sewn up critical support for her presidential campaign since President Biden withdrew from the race Sunday. (Danielle J. Brown)

The New Jersey presidential delegates who previously supported President Biden’s reelection switched their allegiance to Vice President Kamala Harris during a meeting Monday night, one day after Biden announced he will no longer seek a second term in the Oval Office.

There were 145 delegates in total and 143 went for Harris. Two who were elected to vote “uncommitted” — part of an effort to sway Biden on his Gaza policy — are remaining uncommittted.

New Jersey Democratic State Chairman Leroy Jones Jr. said the night was “electric.” No one spoke out against Harris, he added.

“People are fired up. It is a new day for Democrats in New Jersey, and I believe that’s going to be the case across the nation,” he said.

The move follows weeks of increasingly public Democratic handwringing over Biden’s ability to defeat former President Donald Trump in November after a June debate that enlivened questions about the incumbent’s age and capacity to serve out a second term.

Biden endorsed Harris for the nomination when he announced his withdrawal Sunday, and some of New Jersey’s most prominent Democrats quickly joined suit.

Gov. Phil Murphy and every Democratic member of the state’s House delegation endorsed Harris’ campaign for the country’s highest office in advance of Monday’s delegate meeting. Sen. Cory Booker has also backed Harris for president.

The delegates’ Monday endorsement does not formally award Harris the convention votes Biden won during the state’s primary, though it signals she has the delegates’ support.

The Democrats’ national convention begins Aug. 19.

The post New Jersey Dem convention delegates back Kamala Harris for president appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.