Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison announced on Friday, Aug. 2, that Vice President Kamala Harris secured enough Democratic Party delegates to become the presumptive Democratic nominee when the virtual roll call ends on Monday. Harris is the first Black woman and first South Asian American to become a presidential nominee in a major political party, making U.S. history.
The milestone comes as the Harris presidential campaign has gained strong momentum ahead of the naming of her vice presidential running mate and Democratic National Convention on August 19-22.
In addition to the delegates, the presumptive nominee has secured significant endorsements and amassed unprecedented financial support.
This week, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the largest professional union of social workers worldwide, endorsed Vice President Harris’s bid for the presidency. NASW CEO Dr. Anthony Estreet highlighted Harris’s unwavering leadership on mental health and her commitment to expanding access to care. “Vice President Harris has consistently championed issues vital to our members and the communities they serve,” Dr. Estreet said, urging every union member to mobilize for Harris’s victory.
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have also thrown their weight behind Harris. In an interview with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, UAW President Shawn Fain drew a stark contrast: “You have one candidate in Trump who represents the billionaire class—I call him the lap dog for the billionaires. And you have a candidate in Kamala Harris, who stands for working-class people and has proven it through her actions.”
Fueling Harris’s campaign is a historic fundraising effort. Team Harris announced a staggering $310 million raised in July, marking the largest single-month haul of the 2024 cycle. The Trump campaign and RNC combined contributions for the same period pale compared to this record-breaking amount, resulting from an unprecedented grassroots fundraising surge. Notably, over $200 million was raised in the week following President Biden’s endorsement of Harris.
With this latest milestone, Team Harris has surpassed the $1 billion mark this cycle, achieving this historic fundraising threshold faster than any previous presidential campaign. The campaign also reports an impressive $377 million in cash on hand, the largest ever at this point in a presidential cycle, outpacing the Trump team by $50 million.
Two-thirds of the contributions from first-time donors drove July’s fundraising success. More than 3 million donors made over 4.2 million contributions, with over 2 million making their first donation this cycle. Grassroots support was solid, with 94% of donations under $200 and significant increases in donations from Gen Z, Millennials, and women.
Officials said the Harris campaign’s grassroots machine is a testament to its broad and energized coalition, which included:
- July marked the highest grassroots fundraising month in presidential history.
- Team Harris raised more from grassroots donors in the four days following Biden’s endorsement than Trump’s entire monthly total.
- Teachers and nurses are among the most common donor occupations, reflecting Harris’s appeal across diverse sectors.
Coalition groups like Black Women for Harris, Latinas for Harris, and White Dudes for Harris collectively raised over $20 million, underscoring the widespread enthusiasm for Harris’s candidacy.
“This historic fundraising haul is a powerful indicator of the momentum and energy behind Vice President Harris. Our coalition is mobilized and ready to work tirelessly to ensure victory in November,” Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez declared.
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison echoed Rodriguez’s thoughts. “From unprecedented grassroots fundraising to a surge in new volunteers, it’s clear that voters are fired up to elect Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump,” Harrison stated. “This overwhelming support is a testament to the belief in Harris’s vision for America.”
Officials say the funds are strategically deployed as the campaign progresses to reach critical voters. They noted:
- Over 260 coordinated campaign offices and more than 1,400 staff are now operational across battleground states.
- A $50 million paid media campaign targets key demographics ahead of the Democratic National Convention.
- Team Harris recently welcomed 170,000 new volunteers and organized 2,300 mobilizing events across key states.
In stark contrast, the twice impeached and 34 times convicted felon and former president’s campaign continues to cater to the ultra-wealthy and corporate interests, making promises to billionaire oil and gas executives while lagging in campaign infrastructure in crucial battleground states.
“This historic 2024 fundraising operation is the product of a dedicated coalition ready to fight and win,” Rodriguez asserted. “We know the hard work required to secure a victory in November, and we are committed to seeing it through. When we fight together, we win.”
Stacy M. Brown is the NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent.