Acceptance of Candidacy Scheduled for the 5th
Direct Interviews with 6 Weekend Candidates
Kamala Harris, the 59-year-old Vice President of the United States, was officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidential election scheduled for November 2.
On the 2nd (local time), the Associated Press reported that Vice President Harris secured a majority of the Democratic delegate votes and will conduct interviews with six potential running mate candidates this weekend. The official announcement of Harris's presidential nomination is planned for the 5th, after the roll call vote concludes.
Jamie Harrison, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, informed the AP that Vice President Harris had secured a majority of the Democratic delegate votes.
With this, Vice President Harris was confirmed as the Democratic presidential candidate just 12 days after President Joe Biden announced on the 21st of last month that he would not seek re-election amid concerns about his age-related health and cognitive decline.
Born to an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, Vice President Harris, a former prosecutor, rose to become California's Attorney General, then served as a U.S. Senator before assuming the vice presidency in 2021.
The U.S. presidential election on November 5 will be a contest between Vice President Harris, an Indian-American Black woman and the Democratic presidential candidate, and former President Donald Trump, a white male Republican candidate. Harris is the first Black woman to become a presidential candidate for a major U.S. political party (Democratic or Republican).
On the day, Vice President Harris stated, "I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee." She is expected to formally accept the nomination on the 5th, when the Democratic Party officially announces its presidential candidate.
Additionally, she plans to announce her running mate for vice president along with her acceptance of the presidential nomination.
The AP reported that Vice President Harris will interview six potential vice presidential running mates this weekend. Sources said the interviewees include Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
According to the AP, those on Harris's final interview list abruptly canceled their weekend plans. Shapiro canceled a scheduled fundraising event in a beach town on Long Island, New York, without providing an explanation.
All the candidates are white male politicians who could broaden Vice President Harris's appeal. Among them, Governor Shapiro and Senator Kelly are considered the most likely candidates.
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