Utah Democratic delegates unanimously endorse Harris for presidential ticket

Left to right, first lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff take part in a ”Reproductive Freedom Campaign Rally” at George Mason University on Jan. 23, 2024 in Manassas, Virginia. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

This story has been updated following party delegates’ vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.

After President Joe Biden dropped his bid for reelection with less than four months to go before the November election, Utah Democratic Party delegates unanimously endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to substitute Biden in the ticket.

The 34 Utah delegates met on Monday to discuss their thoughts on candidates and released an endorsement later that night, according to a statement by Utah Democratic Party Chair Diane Lewis. 

“From prosecuting criminals and investigating predatory banks as Attorney General of California, to casting the tie-breaking vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, Kamala Harris is the most qualified candidate to lead our country for the next four years,” Lewis said in the statement. “Her background as a criminal prosecutor makes her the perfect candidate to defeat Donald Trump, a convicted felon and twice-impeached ex-President.”

Lewis had already endorsed Harris Sunday night in a post on X.

She reiterated that support after Monday’s meeting, asserting that this is the most important election of her lifetime, with “MAGA Republicans attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, Social Security, Medicaid, and our country’s democratic institutions,” Lewis wrote.

“Vice-President Harris is up to the challenge. In less than 48 hours, she has already built a coalition of young people, women, Latino voters, and Black voters that will carry her campaign to victory,” she said.

With Biden’s exit, the scheduled virtual roll call vote that was planned ahead of the Democratic National Convention is expected to be elevated from a ceremonial poll to a formal vote for a new candidate. 

Though many Utah Democrats “are a little sad to see President Biden go,” Mason Hughes, communications director at the Utah Democratic Party said before the delegates discussion, they are confident that Harris will be able to defeat Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.

Contributing: Kyle Dunphey