Sunday morning, less than three hours after President Joe Biden stepped aside in his bid for reelection, the chair of the California Democratic Party sent a plea to hundreds of people representing the state at next month’s national convention.
“Endorse Kamala Harris for President,” said the email from Rusty Hicks.
It was just one part of a frantic effort from state Democratic Party leaders to quickly rally support behind Harris, according to interviews with more than 20 delegates.
Using phone calls and text messages, party officials and leaders pushed the representatives to back Harris. Some delegates were surprised with how quick and insistent the party was in its outreach, especially so soon after Biden’s announcement and endorsement. But many said they did not need the extra push to line behind the vice president from California.
The stakes were clear: California will send the most delegates to the convention next month — and it is Harris’ native state. Any hesitation from the influential, and expectedly supportive, contingent would not bode well for her chances.
“We’re the biggest delegation to the national convention but we’re also the delegation that’s known Vice President Harris the longest,” said Andrés Ramos, chair of the Sacramento County Democratic Party. “We’re familiar with her and have stood by her much longer than any other state.”
The state party’s targeted ground effort stretched into Monday. If there were any dissenters, they were dissenting quietly, delegates told The Sacramento Bee.
“As chaotic as the party can be sometimes, you’d think somebody somewhere would have an issue, but it doesn’t seem like it so far,” said Michael Vargas, a Sacramento-area delegate. “Everyone looks like they’re falling in line.”
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President Joe Biden withdrew Sunday from the 2024 presidential race. Read more on this developing story:
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On Monday evening, delegates voted to endorse Harris at the state party’s nominee during a virtual call.
Of California’s 496 representatives to the convention, 424 were pledged to support Biden, but are able to vote for anyone they want to now that he has decided to leave the race. They are made up of representatives from congressional district across the state, at-large representatives, elected officials and state party leaders.
One delegate on the call said there was some concern voiced in the Zoom chat that leaders were not following procedures and allowing people to voice their opinions. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-San Francisco, introduced the motion to endorse Harris.
After the meeting, Hicks said more than 80% of delegates had already pledged their support for the vice president.
“I can certainly understand where hundreds of people want to say something — they’ll have the opportunity to do that,“ Hicks said. “At the end of the day, California is proud to support our own: Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Since late June, top Democrats have been at odds over whether or not Biden should step down following a debate against Republican nominee Donald Trump , where critics said the 81-year-old Biden was too old and shaky . The ensuing media coverage and disagreements among members of the party created infighting at a particularly crucial moment in the campaign against Trump.
The weeks of uncertainty surrounding Biden’s future allowed Harris supporters to prepare for the possibility of her candidacy, and quickly rally delegates who were no longer pledged to the president. For many, Biden stepping down was bittersweet. But they were excited by the chance to bring energy to a sputtering campaign.
“Once he decided, there was strong unanimity,” said Kevin Sabellico, a San Diego delegate who volunteered for Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign.
“I haven’t heard from a single delegate who was not supportive,” he said. “We can all agree that the media frenzy that followed (the debate) was bad for our party. There’s a strong sense among the delegates that we can’t have a repeat of that. We have to unite behind his obvious and natural successor.”
That was made easier by Biden, who endorsed Harris shortly after deciding to step aside. His decision to do so was significant for Necola Adams, a Merced-area delegate.
“If President Joe Biden has the confidence in his vice president,” Adams said, “then so do I.”
And so do the hundreds of thousands of Democrats who donated to the Harris campaign — by Monday afternoon, she raised a record-breaking $81 million .
Still, other major Democratic figures didn’t immediately support Harris, leading to speculation as to who might decide to enter the race.
That included Gov. Gavin Newsom , who has long been rumored to have his own presidential aspirations. His decision to back Harris on Sunday served as both support for the fellow Northern Californian and a way of saying he is not running. Pelosi on Monday also gave Harris her endorsement, ending speculation that the powerful lawmaker was supporting an open competition.
“There was a question of other candidates,” said Matthew Hilliard, a delegate from Siskiyou County, “but the question has moved more into who she’s going to pick to be on her ticket.”
Despite the state party’s efforts, not all California representatives were immediately ready to endorse.
Savonnda Blaylock, from the Stockton area, said Sunday evening she supported the vice president but needed more time to decide.
“I’m just taking it all in and making sure that I make the right, informed decision.”
Vargas, the Sacramento-area delegate, is “not at all surprised” that state party leaders “are pushing as hard as they are.”
“Her success is seen as California Democratic Party success more broadly in national politics.”
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