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BREAKING: Kamala Harris becomes Democratic nominee
Vice President Kamala Harris formally secured the Democratic presidential nomination on Monday — becoming the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket.
WASHINGTON - Vice President Kamala Harris has been formally chosen as the Democratic presidential nominee after Democratic National Convention (DNC) delegates cast their final votes on Monday.
Harris' formal nomination came after a five-day round of online balloting by Democratic National Convention delegates ended Monday night, with the party saying in a statement released just before midnight that 99% of delegates casting ballots had done so for Harris.
While the DNC Chair Jaime Harrison confirmed that Harris secured enough votes from delegates last week, Monday’s vote just made it official.
Harris, now the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket, is expected to accept the nomination during the party’s convention – which will take place on August 19 through August 22 in Chicago.
FILE - Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally at the Georgia State Convocation Center on July 30, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)
What is the DNC?
The Democratic National Convention, or DNC, takes place every four years and is a gathering of Democratic delegates from all 50 states and U.S. territories, similar to the Republican National Convention, except it’s for Republican delegates.
Democrats will rally behind their chosen candidates for both president and vice president during the event.
RELATED: Kamala Harris VP: Nominee's choice for running mate has accepted, per source
Harris VP pick
The process of picking a running mate is a high-pressure decision that usually spans months, but in this case, has been compressed into a matter of just weeks.
Harris effectively has a deadline of Tuesday to select who will be her No. 2 from a list that has been whittled down to four governors, a senator and a Cabinet official who was also one of her 2020 foes:
- Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois
- Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania
- Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota
- Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
RELATED: What polls say about Harris' potential running mates
Battleground state visits
After Harris names her running mate, the duo will launch into an aggressive, seven-state battleground tour that begins in Philadelphia on Tuesday and winds through Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.
Campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez is now focusing more on Arizona and Nevada because of what officials say is Harris’ increased competitiveness against former President Donald Trump in the two states, both of which President Joe Biden won four years ago.
RELATED: Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? Initial reaction from swing states
More debate chatter
Another big moment yet to come will be a debate between Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump — or not.
The two sparred over the weekend about when and where to debate. Trump pulled out of a Sept. 10 debate on ABC in favor of a Sept. 4 debate on Fox News. Harris' campaign says it's sticking with the original date, and Trump posted on social media, "I’ll see her on September 4th or, I won’t see her at all."
The Associated Press and Megan Ziegler contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.