Indiana Dems help Harris become presumptive nominee

(The Center Square) – Vice President Kamala Harris may still face a challenge for the Democratic presidential nomination, but she now has the support of Indiana’s party leaders.

During a virtual meeting, the 88 delegates from the state party who were previously pledged to President Joe Biden agreed to back Harris’ bid for the party’s nomination.

Biden initially won the entire slate of delegates thanks to his victory in the May primary election. However, the president announced Sunday afternoon that he would no longer seek a second term, freeing the delegates from their commitment.

“Our party stands behind her at this moment, and we are ready to work to usher in a new generation of leadership in our state and nation – and defeat Trumpism at the ballot box once more,” Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl said in a statement.

Hoosier Dems weren’t the only party leaders meeting Monday to support the new flag bearer. Late Monday night, the Harris campaign issued a release saying the California native secured enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee ahead of the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago.

It took Harris less than 36 hours after Biden’s historic announcement to garner the nearly 2,000 delegates necessary to win the nomination.

“I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon,” Harris said in the statement.

The Indiana Democratic Party said Harris has played a key role in “one of the most consequential administrations in our recent history.” The party also praised the former U.S. senator and California attorney general for her efforts to secure women’s reproductive rights and to protect Americans from gun violence.

“She is tenacious, skilled, and powerful, and we are proud to endorse her as the next President of the United States so that she can continue the legacy of unprecedented job growth, historically low unemployment and fighting for reproductive freedom in all 50 states,” Schmuhl said.

In addition, the party’s State Central Committee also unanimously approved resolutions thanking Biden for his service and endorsing Harris as the presumed candidate.

Harris is scheduled to be in Indianapolis on Wednesday to speak at the Zeta Phi Beta national convention taking place this week. The campaign stop with members of the historically Black sorority was announced before Biden chose to leave the race.