2024 US Presidential Election
Vice President Kamala Harris secured the Democratic nomination for the
2024 United States presidential election on August 5, 2024, becoming the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket in American electoral history, with 99% of delegates supporting her candidacy against Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump. Harris's nomination followed President
Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race on July 21, 2024, after which she rapidly consolidated party support, securing the necessary 1,976 delegate commitments within 32 hours. Her campaign has emphasized reproductive rights, democracy protection, and continuation of Biden administration priorities while expanding the electoral strategy to compete in Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Georgia, in addition to Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Despite renewed Democratic enthusiasm reflected in increased donations and volunteer participation, Harris faces challenges including scrutiny of the Biden administration's economic and foreign policies, limited media engagement, and Trump campaign attacks regarding border security and her racial identity, with the election scheduled for November 5, 2024.
2024 Presidential Election: Kamala Harris Secures Democratic Nomination
Historic 2024 Democratic Nomination
On August 5, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris secured the Democratic nomination for the
2024 United States presidential election, becoming the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket. The Democratic National Committee confirmed that 99% of delegates supported Harris during a five-day virtual roll call, officially establishing her as Donald Trump's opponent in the November 2024 presidential election.Harris's nomination followed President
Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 race on July 21, 2024. She rapidly consolidated Democratic support, securing the necessary 1,976 delegate commitments within just 32 hours of Biden's announcement, demonstrating remarkable party unity as the 2024 election campaign shifted focus.
Political Background and Path to 2024 Candidacy
Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, Harris is the daughter of immigrants—Shyamala Gopalan, a breast cancer scientist from India, and Donald Harris, a Stanford University professor from Jamaica. Her career progressed from Bay Area prosecutor to California Attorney General (2010) to United States Senator (2016), where she gained national attention through her questioning of Trump administration nominees on the Senate Judiciary Committee.Harris's first presidential bid in the 2020 election ended before the Iowa caucuses due to campaign staff conflicts and fundraising challenges. Despite this setback, Biden selected her as his running mate, fulfilling his pledge to choose a Black woman as his vice presidential candidate. Their personal connection was strengthened by Harris's friendship with Biden's late son Beau, whom she knew when both served as state attorneys general.
Vice Presidential Record and 2024 Campaign Themes
As vice president, Harris initially faced challenges, particularly in her role overseeing diplomatic efforts regarding migration from Central America. However, she found stronger footing as the administration's leading voice on abortion rights following the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, becoming the first vice president to tour an abortion clinic.For the 2024 presidential election, Harris has indicated she will maintain continuity with key Biden administration themes while bringing her distinct perspective:- Democracy protection, leveraging her prosecutorial background to critique Trump's legal issues- Reproductive rights and abortion access, framed within broader maternal health concerns- Gun violence prevention initiatives
2024 Election Strategy and Voter Response
The Harris campaign has expanded its 2024 electoral map strategy beyond Biden's focus on the "blue wall" states (Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania). According to the AP article, her team believes they can competitively contest additional battleground states including Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Georgia in the 2024 presidential race.Democrats report higher satisfaction with Harris's 2024 candidacy compared to Biden's, energizing a party that had previously resigned itself to Biden as the nominee. Aggregated polling numbers by 538 found that
Harris is already doing better than Trump in polls country wide.This renewed enthusiasm has generated significant campaign momentum for the 2024 election:- Increased donations and volunteer participation- Larger event attendance requiring venue changes
Challenges and Campaign Timeline for 2024
Despite initial momentum, Harris faces significant challenges in the 2024 presidential election:- Increased scrutiny of Biden administration policies and her role in them- Economic concerns and volatile international situations- Limited media engagement since launching her candidacy- Trump campaign efforts to define her negatively, particularly on border securityKey upcoming events in the 2024 election calendar include:-
Democratic National Convention in Chicago (August 2024)-
Presidential debate against Trump scheduled for September 10, 2024- Election Day on November 5, 2024
Historical Context of the 2024 Election
The 2024 presidential election represents a potentially historic moment in American politics. As California Senator Alex Padilla noted regarding Harris's candidacy: "Given that unique voice of a new generation, of a prosecutor and a woman when fundamental rights, especially reproductive rights, are on the line, it's almost as if the stars have aligned for her at this moment in history."The November contest will determine whether Harris becomes the first woman and first person of South Asian heritage to win the presidency in the 2024 election, or whether Trump returns to office after his 2020 defeat.Article Analyzed:
AP News*There may be errors on this page.