Vice President Kamala Harris has officially secured the Democratic nomination for president after having won a majority of pledged delegates to the party’s convention.
Democratic officials made the announcement on Friday after a virtual roll call. President Joe Biden dropped out of the race less than two weeks ago and endorsed Harris.
Harris said on the call that she’s “honored” to be the presumptive nominee and that “the tireless work of our delegates, our state leaders, and our staff has been pivotal to making this moment possible.”
The Democratic National Convention is set to take place in Chicago later this month.
Meanwhile, the Harris campaign raised $310m in July which more than doubles the figure that Donald Trump’s team was touting during the same period.
The huge sum was fuelled by the vice president raking in a record-breaking $81m in the first 24 hours of announcing her presidential campaign last month, followed by $200m in its first week. Figures released by Trump’s campaign team say it pulled $137m in July as the former president took to Truth Social to thank the Maga movement for their “spectacular support” on Thursday evening.
It comes just hours after the United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday.
Key Points
- Who is winning in the Kamala Harris veepstakes?
- Insiders are torn on whether ‘nepo baby’ Andy Beshear should be Kamala Harris’s running mate
- Why Josh Shapiro might be Kamala Harris’s running mate pick
- Why Arizona’s Mark Kelly could end up being Kamala Harris’s response to JD Vance
- History-making Kamala Harris says she’s ‘honored’ to clinch presidential nomination
Why Arizona’s Mark Kelly could end up being Kamala Harris’s response to JD Vance
21:21
John Bowden
A first-term senator from Arizona, on paper, sounds like a perfect foil against a junior senator from Ohio, at least as running mates go.
With Kamala Harris ascending to the rank of presumptive Democratic nominee and nobody in her party apparently willing to challenge her for the nomination now that Joe Biden has dropped out of the race, all eyes have turned to Harris’s selection of a potential running mate ahead of her party’s convention, which kicks off August 19.
Reporting of her selection process has consumed much of the last two weeks. According to various outlets, the first female, Black vice president is looking at a list of (for lack of a better term) white guys as she seeks “balance” on the 2024 ticket and, importantly, an ally who can deliver a major swing state for her side. Essentially, she’s looking for a better option than her rival Donald Trump picked — a celebrity senator from a state he is virtually guaranteed to win, whose unfavorables have climbed since his nomination and whose past comments have forced his campaign on the defensive as they are unearthed by the press.
Why Josh Shapiro might be Kamala Harris’s running mate pick
21:20
John Bowden
Kamala Harris is days — if not mere hours — from publicly announcing her selection of a running mate for the remainder of the 2024 cycle. A Yinzer may be at the top of her list.
Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro emerged early on as a strong contender in the running to serve as the vice president’s own future VP, with Harris now at the top of the Democratic ticket and Joe Biden stepping aside. Married to highschool sweetheart Lori Ferrara, the governor and his wife moved back to Pennsylvania to raise their children after Shapiro graduated from Georgetown Law. It was his law school time which saw him get his foot in the door as a political operative — he worked as an intern for Carl Levin’s Senate office.
He almost never got into politics at all. “I started as a pre-med student, but a few months into freshman year, I nearly flunked out of organic chemistry,” he revealed to students at University of Rochester in 2023.
Insiders are torn on whether ‘nepo baby’ Andy Beshear should be Kamala Harris’s running mate
21:19
Andrew Feinberg
There’s a tradition of people with famous names getting into national politics by way of what John Adams called “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived,” also known as the vice presidency of the United States.
Both George HW Bush and Al Gore each served in the second-highest office in America after coming into politics as the son of a famous father, using their family reputation as a stepping-stone.
So if Kamala Harris chooses Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to be her running-mate — and if she defeats Donald Trump to become the 47th President of the United States — Beshear would find himself in good company.
Full statement from Harris after securing Democratic nomination
21:15
Gustaf Kilander
I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States.
The tireless work of our delegates, our state leaders, and staff has been pivotal in making this moment possible. And your dedication cannot be overstated.
We believe in the promise of America: the promise of freedom, opportunity, and justice – not just for some, but for all. And, ultimately, in this election – you all have heard me say many times – we each face the question: What kind of country do we want to live in? Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion, and rule of law, or a country of chaos, fear, and hate? And the beauty of our democracy is ... every one of us has the power to answer that question. And that is why I say, and know, the power is with the people.
So here’s the bottom line, I say to all the friends on the call: We are going to win this election. And it is going to take all of us, whether it is making calls, connecting with our communities, engaging online, or even talking with people where we go every day, whether it be to the grocery store or our church.
We are going to talk with people about the fact that we are all in this together, and we stand together. And so, let’s let folks know that our campaign is about the future. And it’s about an expansion of rights and freedoms, and for the opportunity of everyone to not just get by, but to get ahead.
November 5th is 95 days away … It’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to get this done. And, as your future president, I know we are up to this fight. And when we fight, everyone will say in unison, we win.
Georgia Republicans try to stop former GOP official from calling himself a Republican after he endorsed Kamala Harris
21:00
Gustaf Kilander
The Georgia Republican Party is attempting to purge one of its own.
Geoff Duncan, a former lieutenant governor of the state and member of the Georgia statehouse, has endorsed Kamala Harris for president.
In an open letter to Duncan, the chair of the Georgia Republican Party Josh McKoon, demanded that Duncan “cease referring to yourself as a Republican.”
An Open Letter to @GeoffDuncanGA
— Josh McKoon (@JoshMcKoon) August 2, 2024
August 2, 2024
Dear Mr. Duncan:
In a life otherwise devoid of accomplishment (e.g. dropping out of college, failing as a minor league baseball player, starting a series of sketchy businesses), your nominations by the Republican Party were…
“In a life otherwise devoid of accomplishment (e.g. dropping out of college, failing as a minor league baseball player, starting a series of sketchy businesses), your nominations by the Republican Party were signal honors, without which you would have never served as a member of the Georgia General Assembly or the Lieutenant Governor of this Great State,” McKoon stated.
Duncan was quick to reply, writing that McKoon has “decided to lick the boots of Donald Trump, a man who spent most of his life registered as a Democrat, donating to Democrats and supporting Democratic candidates.”
An open letter to @JoshMcKoon
— Geoff Duncan (@GeoffDuncanGA) August 2, 2024
Dear Josh:
Life is a series of choices, and choices bring consequences.
On the one hand, you have decided to lick the boots of Donald Trump, a man who spent most of his life registered as a Democrat, donating to Democrats and supporting…
Can Trump replace JD Vance as his running mate?
20:45
Alex Woodward
Donald Trump’s selection of JD Vance as his running mate “may be one of the best things he ever did for Democrats,” according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Seemingly every day, the Republican senator from Ohio has made headlines for resurfaced misogynistic comments, awkward campaign appearances, and fringe policy positions on issues that the former president’s campaign has desperately been trying to avoid.
Vance stepped off the stage of the Republican National Convention with the worst favorability ratio of any non-incumbent vice presidential candidate in nearly 45 years, while presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris erased Trump’s leads in crucial swing states and saw a surge in donations within just weeks of her candidacy.
DNC slams Trump for not committing to debating Harris
20:30
Gustaf Kilander
The Democratic National Committee blasted Trump for not committing to debating Harris on September 10.
“Wherever Trump campaigns, the DNC is launching digital homepage takeovers starting in Atlanta on Saturday to slam Trump for his pathetic attempts to hide his extreme agenda from voters,” the DNC said in a Friday press release. “Trump is afraid to debate because he’s hiding from his toxic Project 2025 agenda.”
The committee added that “readers of battleground state newspapers” would be reminded of Trump’s agenda.
DNC Communications Director Rosemary Boeglin said in a statement that Trump is “running scared and attempting to dodge his commitment to a September debate.”
“Trump knows all too well that the more voters hear about his plans to ban abortion nationwide, spike prices for the middle class, and subvert our democracy, the more determined voters will be to reject him in November,” she added.
Who is winning in the Kamala Harris veepstakes?
20:15
Eric Garcia
Vice President Kamala Harris has continued to build on her momentum since the Democratic Party coalesced around her. A new poll showed that she has made significant inroads with Latino voters and White Dudes for Harris raised more than $4 million on Monday.
But with the election 95 days away, Harris has to clear every hoop to have a chance at beating Donald Trump. That means she must ace her first big task: picking the person to run against Senator JD Vance as her running mate.
Historically, running mates have had a minimal effect on the top of the ticket. This time is different; similar to Barack Obama in 2008, Harris remains untested on the national stage and her 2020 campaign ended before the Iowa caucus. This means the running mate selection will have even higher salience.
Here’s The Independent’s ranking of who’s doing all the right moves in the veepstakes.
JD Vance says Harris ‘sounds like a third grader giving a book report on a book she didn’t read'
20:00
Gustaf Kilander
JD Vance claimed that Kamala Harris sounded “like a third grader giving a book report on a book she didn’t read” after she spoke to the press following the prison exchange between the West and Russia.
“This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy,” Harris said.
Kamala sounds like a third grader giving a book report on a book she didn’t read. https://t.co/KLGSn55n5g
— JD Vance (@JDVance) August 2, 2024
Trump-sized crowds and battleground wins: Kamala Harris is now a big problem for Republicans
19:45
John Bowden, Eric Garcia
They’re feeling the Kamala-mentum in the battlegrounds.
Just under two weeks since the vice president became her party’s presumptive nominee, Democrats around the country are feeling a surge of optimism that is translating into real, tangible gains — and a real, tangible problem for Republicans.
On Tuesday night, Harris was in Atlanta, Georgia, where she turned out a Trump-sized crowd of 10,000 at Georgia State University. A fired-up audience roared in response when she dared her opponent to “say it to my face” and attend a debate (or debates) with her in person.
That energy is palpable around the country. The Harris campaign has now released several statements bragging about a $200m-plus fundraising haul in less than two weeks and a surge in volunteers for the campaign. But it’s not just the vice president herself seeing eager supporters coming back into the fold — it’s the party as a whole, and that’s something that spells trouble not just for Donald Trump but for all Republicans.
Manhattan DA fires back at Trump’s attempt to get judge recused
19:30
Gustaf Kilander
The office of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg has fired back at Trump’s most recent attempt to get Judge Juan Merchan, the judge who oversaw Trump’s recent criminal trial, to recuse himself because of his daughter’s work for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Your Honor’s daughter has a long-standing relationship with Harris, including work for political campaigns,” Trump’s lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote in a pre-motion letter. “She has obtained — and stands to obtain in the future — extensive financial, professional, and personal benefits from her relationship with Harris.”
Trump re-upped his demand that the judge recuse himself after Harris become the presumptive Democratic nominee. The vice president officially clinched the nomination on Friday.
Bragg’s office said that “Defendant’s motion to renew is a vexatious and frivolous attempt to relitigate an issue that was twice addressed by this Court in orders that the First Department then refused to disturb … No amount of overheated, hyperbolic rhetoric can cure the fatal defects in defendant’s ongoing effort to impugn the fairness of these proceedings and the impartiality of this Court. The motion for recusal should be denied for a third time.”
How Trump’s attacks on Kamala Harris’s Black heritage are reviving racist ‘birther’ conspiracy theories
19:00
Alex Woodward
Donald Trump’s false claims that Kamala Harris “happened to turn Black” and only recently “became a Black person” have inflamed racist conspiracy theories surrounding his Democratic rival.
The former president’s allies have seized on his unhinged remarks by reviving racist “birther” claims that Trump has repeatedly used to undermine his opponents’ ethnic backgrounds, when he suggested that Harris wasn’t “born in this country” during the 2020 election and years earlier doubted whether Barack Obama was a US citizen by demanding to see his birth certificate.
His latest statements have turchocharged online racism that has surrounded the 2024 election, with supporters posting copies of her “birth certificate” and accusing Harris of “changing” her race for political reasons.
Watch live as Secret Service holds press conference on Trump assassination attempt
18:56
Oliver Browning
Watch live as the Secret Service holds a news conference on the Donald Trump assassination attempt.
The service’s new acting director said earlier this week that he was “ashamed” of a security lapse that led to the 13 July attempted assassination of the Republican presidential candidate.
In testimony before two Senate committees, Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe said he visited the outdoor rally site in Butler, Pennsylvania, and climbed onto the roof of a nearby building from which 20-year-old Thomas Crooks fired shots that wounded Trump’s right ear, killed one rally attendee and wounded two others with an AR-15-style rifle.
“What I saw made me ashamed,” Rowe told a joint hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees.
“As a career law enforcement officer, and a 25-year veteran with the Secret Service, I cannot defend why that roof was not better secured.”
The first shooting of a US president or major party candidate in more than four decades was a glaring security lapse that led last week to former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s resignation under bipartisan congressional pressure.
History-making Kamala Harris says she’s ‘honored’ to clinch presidential nomination
18:38
Alex Woodward
Kamala Harris has officially received a majority of Democratic delegates to clinch the party’s presidential nomination, making history as the first Black woman and Asian American to lead a major political party.
The vice president reached the requisite 2,350 delegate votes on Friday afternoon during a virtual roll call vote ahead of this month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, according to DNC chair Jaime Harrison.
“I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States and I will tell you, the tireless work of our delegates, our state leaders, and our staff has been pivotal to making this moment possible,” Harris said on the call.
Trump says prisoner exchange with Russia will lead to ‘tremendous kidnappings'
18:30
Gustaf Kilander
Trump is working hard to spin the prisoner exchange as a bad deal that hurts America pic.twitter.com/9mZ6ZYAsng
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 2, 2024
Kamala Harris officially secures Democratic presidential nomination
18:30
Gustaf Kilander
Vice President Kamala Harris has officially secured the Democratic nomination for president after having secured a majority of pledged delegates to the convention.
Democratic officials made the announcement on Friday after a roll call vote following President Joe Biden dropping out of the race less than two weeks ago.
“I am so proud to confirm that Vice President Harris has earned more than a majority of votes from all convention delegates and will be the nominee of the Democratic Party following the close of voting on Monday,” the chair of the Democratic National Committee Jaime Harrison said.
On the call, Harris said: “I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States and I will tell you, the tireless work of our delegates, our state leaders, and our staff has been pivotal to making this moment possible.”
Harris campaign pushes Trump to debate
18:00
Gustaf Kilander
The Harris campaign has responded to Trump appearing to be planning not to take part in the scheduled debate on September 10.
“Right now, I say why should I do a debate? I’m leading in the polls,” Trump said on Fox Business.
Trump sure sounds like he's leaning toward not debating Harris: "Right now, I say why should I do a debate? I'm leading in the polls." (Trump is not leading in the polls.) pic.twitter.com/fkjKuNgbK6
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 2, 2024
Harris campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond said in a statement that Trump “needs to man up. He’s got no problem spreading lies and hateful garbage at his rallies or in interviews with right-wing commentators. But he’s apparently too scared to do it standing across the stage from the Vice President of the United States.”
He added: “Since he talks the talk, he should walk the walk and – as Vice President Harris said earlier this week – say it to her face on September 10. She’ll be there waiting to see if he’ll show up.”
Harris leads Trump in seven national polls
17:30
Gustaf Kilander
Kamala Harris now leads Donald Trump in seven national polls by between one and four points, Newsweek noted.
Civiqs found her leading by 49 to 45 percent after they surveyed more than 1,100 registered voters between July 27 and 30.
The vice president is three points ahead in a poll conducted by Leger between July 26 and 28 which surveyed about 1,000 US residents. Ahead by 49 to 46 percent, Harris’s lead expanded when third-party candidates were included to seven points – 48 to 41 percent.
Trump appears to say he’s not planning on debating Harris
17:00
Gustaf Kilander
Trump appeared to say that he’s not currently planning on taking on Harris in a debate, telling Fox Business: “Right now, I say why should I do a debate? I’m leading in the polls.”
“And everybody knows her, everybody knows me,” he added.
Trump sure sounds like he's leaning toward not debating Harris: "Right now, I say why should I do a debate? I'm leading in the polls." (Trump is not leading in the polls.) pic.twitter.com/fkjKuNgbK6
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 2, 2024
Harris campaign rakes in double the amount of Trump’s fundraising haul in July
16:30
Alicja Hagopian
Kamala Harris’ campaign has raked in $310m in fundraising cash in the month of July – more than double the $137m raised by Donald Trump.
The last month was undoubtedly the most dynamic of the presidential election so far, and fundraising numbers were expected to be high.
There was the debate between Trump and President Joe Biden in late-June, the assassination attempt on Trump in early July, and the Republican National Convention and JD Vance being tapped as Trump’s number two days later.
Trump calls prisoner exchange a ‘win for Putin'
16:00
Gustaf Kilander
Trump addressed the prisoner exchange during an interview with Fox Business, saying that “as usual it was a win for Putin, or any other country that deals with us.”
“But we got somebody back so I’m never gonna be challenging that,” he added.
Trump to Bartiromo on prisoners coming home: "Well, as usual it was a win for Putin, or any other country that deals with us. But we got somebody back so I'm never gonna be challenging that. It wouldn't have happened with us" (One of the prisoners was taken while Trump was POTUS) pic.twitter.com/UZwwgMI5hq
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 2, 2024
JD Vance called rape and incest ‘inconvenient’ in 2021
15:30
Gustaf Kilander
In his most recently unearthed controversial statements, JD Vance was asked by Spectrum News in 2021 if a woman should be forced to carry a child to term if she’s been the victim of rape or incest.
“Look, my view on this has been very clear and I think the question betrays a certain presumption that's wrong,” Vance told the outlet at the time. “It's not whether a woman should be forced to bring a child to term, it's whether a child should be allowed to live even though the circumstances of that child's birth are somehow inconvenient or a problem to the society ... above all, we want women, and young boys, in the womb, to have the right to life.”
VOICES: Why calling Trump ‘weird’ is freaking Republicans out
15:00
Ryan Coogan
Hell, Donald Trump is weird, isn’t he? It’s funny to say it now, after we’ve spent the past eight years taking him seriously, treating him like a legitimate politician, and in many cases being quite afraid of what he might do next. Simply calling him “weird” feels like the understatement of the century – so why is it getting to him and his supporters so much?
If you haven’t heard, the big attack line against Republicans at the moment is as clever as it is basic – simply pointing out the fact that Trump, and “Trumpism” as a concept, are at their core extremely “weird”.
Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff pushes suite of ‘Second Gentleman’ merch
14:30
James Liddell
Kamala's campaign team tells me you liked this photo so much they made merch out of it: https://t.co/t57XrbiNsv
— Doug Emhoff (@DouglasEmhoff) August 1, 2024
Hush money case: Trump loses another attempt to throw out trial gag order
14:05
James Liddell
Donald Trump has lost yet another attempt to throw out a gag order in his hush money case in New York.
A panel of appeals court judges on Thursday rejected the former president’s argument that the gag order should be entirely lifted after his conviction. The five judges on the midlevel state appeals court sided with New York Justice Juan Merchan, who extended protections for prosecutors and court staff through Trump’s sentencing.
Alex Woodward reports.
How does the DNC’s virtual roll call to nominate Kamala Harris work?
13:49
James Liddell
With just over two weeks to go before the Democratic National Convention, the party’s virtual roll call, during which Kamala Harris is expected to become the party’s official nominee, is underway.
The voting process began on Thursday and runs through August 5. The party convention takes place in Chicago from August 19 to 22.
Mike Bedigan unpacks how the process works.
Watch: Biden shares Oval Office phone call with freed US hostages
13:31
James Liddell
President Joe Biden has shared the emotional moment freed US hostages spoke to their families on the phone ahead of their release.
The Oval Office phone call took place on Thursday ahead of the Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerschkovich, touching down on US soil following the highest-profile prisoner swap with Russia since the end of the Cold War.
Lucy Leeson has the full video below.
Racist ‘birther’ conspiracy theories are being revived after Trump’s attack on Harris’ heritage – here’s why
13:10
James Liddell
Donald Trump’s false claims that Kamala Harris “happened to turn Black” and only recently “became a Black person” have inflamed racist conspiracy theories surrounding his Democratic rival.
The former president’s allies have seized on his unhinged remarks by reviving racist “birther” claims that Trump has repeatedly used to undermine his opponents’ ethnic backgrounds, when he suggested that Harris wasn’t “born in this country” during the 2020 election and years earlier doubted whether Barack Obama was a US citizen by demanding to see his birth certificate.
His latest statements have turbocharged online racism that has surrounded the 2024 election, with supporters posting copies of her “birth certificate” and accusing Harris of “changing” her race for political reasons.
Alex Woodward writes.
JD Vance channels inner-influencer and joins TikTok – and posts bizarre first video
12:59
James Liddell
Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance has joined TikTok – and bizarrely used his first video to promote a hard seltzer.
Joined by Nelk, a group of YouTubers known for their prank videos and vlogs, the video shows Vance accepting a box of Happy Dad Hard Seltzer.
TikTok users gave mixed reactions to his first outing on the social media platform, coming two months after the former president also created an account.
Myriam Page has taken to Vance’s TikTok to find out more.
Kamala Harris campaign launches merch to cash in on viral obsession with young Doug Emhoff
12:50
James Liddell
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff recently sent the internet into a frenzy with a photo of him at 20 years old – and now his wife, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, is cashing in on it.
On Thursday, the Harris campaign launched a new line of merchandise featuring a photo of a younger Emhoff with thick brown hair, tanned and wearing a turquoise Laguna Beach t-shirt.
The throwback image was first posted by the second gentleman back in 2020, captioning it “#MeAt20.”
Amelia Neath has the full story.
Black Muslim organization endorses Kamala Harris for president
12:30
James Liddell
The Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund has endorsed Kamala Harris for president after previously being “uncommitted” to Joe Biden during his re-election bid.
Its founder and chief executive Salima Suswell attributed the organization’s decision to back Harris over the vice president’s perceived stance on the Israel-Hamas war. It is believed to be the first Muslim group that was uncommitted to Biden to support Harris’ presidential run.
The vice president’s decision to decline to preside over the Senate chamber last month when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of Congress has helped garner support from progressive circles, with hopes that she may adopt a tougher stance towards Israel than Biden.
“[Harris] has shown more sympathy towards the people of Gaza than both President Biden and former President Donald Trump,” Suswell told NBC.
She continued: “During Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress, she decided not to attend. She has repeatedly called for a cease-fire, and I believe she has also expressed empathy towards civilian life and has been very caring as it relates to getting aid to the people of Gaza.”
Marc Fogel’s family left ‘heartbroken and outraged’ as jailed US teacher is left out of Russia prisoner swap
12:11
James Liddell
The release of several Americans and other westerners from Russian detention has been hailed as the biggest and most significant prisoner swap since the end of the Cold War.
But one family has been left “heartbroken and outraged” after their loved one was left out of the historic deal.
American teacher Marc Fogel, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been held in a Russian prison for the last three years after he was arrested in August 2021 for possession of 17 grams of medical cannabis.
Myriam Page explains the family’s heartbreak.
In depth: Inside the secret talks behind the US-Russia prisoner swap
11:50
James Liddell
The first photo released after Russian authorities on Thursday Related News & Content
