'My intention is to earn and win': Harris seeks Dem nomination after Biden drops out

WASHINGTON  – Vice President Kamala Harris said Sunday she will seek the 2024 Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden stepped aside and endorsed her candidacy, quickly uniting potential challengers and party leaders from across the country behind her.

Her announcement came via the Biden campaign's email list, nearly two hours after the president signaled she was running .

"I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination," Harris said. "Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party − and unite our nation − to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda."

Biden on Sunday afternoon said he was dropping out of the race and will “focus solely on my duties as President for the rest of my term.” He went on to endorse Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee − before she announced publicly she planned to compete.

More: Donald Trump has a new strategy: Attack Kamala Harris (and Joe Biden)

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” he said in a social media post. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

Kamala Harris endorsements

As pressure built over the last several weeks for Biden to step aside in the election after a dismal debate performance against Trump, many Democrats were already rallying behind the vice president. She immediately received endorsements from abortion rights groups.

"She is the only candidate positioned to win against Trump in November, and the best voice to define the stakes in this election!" EMILYs List, a liberal group that works to elect Democratic women who support abortion rights, said Sunday.

More: Joe Biden drops out of 2024 race and endorses Kamala Harris

A number of top Democrats also threw their support to Harris.

Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee, pledged to do “whatever we can” to support Harris. Former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said it’s time to “unite behind the only veteran of a national campaign,” Kamala Harris. South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, a close Biden ally, said he will follow Biden’s lead and support her candidacy to be the party’s nominee.

Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Adam Schiff of California and Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware were also quick to endorse her.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a one-time Democratic presidential contender in 2020, on Sunday evening said he will do everything to help Harris get elected, saying in a statement that she is "now the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as President."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had been mentioned as a possible alternative for the Democratic nominee ahead of Biden stepping aside, on Sunday backed Harris.

"With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, @KamalaHarris," Newsom wrote on X .

But it's the party's convention delegates who will ultimately decide. Harris will have to convince the bulk of the more than 4,000 delegates to the Democratic National Convention to support her candidacy over the next month.

It may not end up being much of a race. Among her possible competitors for the nomination, including Govs. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan , J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Wes Moore of Maryland, none immediately said they would challenge her.

Shapiro was among the Democratic Party officials she called on Sunday evening, as she sought to quickly coalesce lawmakers and potential competitors around her candidacy. She also spoke with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford, a source familiar said .

Buttigieg, who competed against Biden and Harris for the nomination four years ago, and Newsom, another would-be contender, shared statements backing her candidacy within hours.

The Tennessee and South Carolina convention delegations also threw their support behind her.

It was not immediately clear when Harris planned to hold her first official campaign event, although she already had plans to be in Milwaukee on Tuesday and Indianapolis on Wednesday.

More: How will delegates and superdelegates at the DNC handle Biden dropping out?

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison in a Sunday statement acknowledged the situation is "unprecedented" and said the Democratic Party would soon make clear the nominating procedure.

"In the coming days, the Party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November," he said. "This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the Party. Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people."

Shortly after Harris’ announcement that she will pursue the nomination, Biden’s campaign committee turned into a committee for Harris, making the vice president’s bid official.

The campaign, formerly known as Biden for President, in a filing with the Federal Election Commission changed its name to the Harris for President campaign. Harris also appointed a campaign treasurer.

With the moves, Harris’ campaign is assuming control of Biden’s campaign funds, which would give her a major strategic advantage over other potential Democratic nominees. The Biden campaign reported having $240 million on hand at the end of June.

By filing with the FEC Harris was also able to begin raising money for her presidential bid. She sent her first fundraising text on Sunday evening.

She also getting the support of key PACs that will be crucial for a presidential run.

Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee, the fundraising arm to the CBC, announced Sunday that it is fully backing Harris after Biden stepped aside.

“She has been instrumental in delivering the accomplishments of the last 3.5 years and has led on lowering maternal mortality rates, protecting reproductive freedoms, and ensuring economic opportunities for all,” Rep. Gregory Meeks, the PAC’s chairman, and Rep. Steven Horsford, chair of the CBC, said in a joint statement. “She will do an excellent job as President of the United States.”

Contributing: Joey Garrison

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'My intention is to earn and win': Harris seeks Dem nomination after Biden drops out