The current vice president was the only candidate to qualify for the Democrats’ presidential ballot. She now has the votes needed to run for the Oval Office – but it’s not quite official just yet.
Kamala Harris has won the delegate votes needed to become the Democrats’ presidential nominee – which will make her the first woman of colour to top a major US party’s election ticket.
The current vice president has been the frontrunner to stand against Republican Donald Trump since incumbent Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month.
Ms Harris quickly won the support of party heavyweights after the outgoing president backed her to run in his place, and she was the only candidate to qualify for the Democrats’ presidential ballot.
Party delegates voted virtually this week and Ms Harris needed at least 2,350 votes to formally secure the nomination, her campaign said.
The online voting process doesn’t end until Monday but she has already passed that threshold, they added.
Having joined the livestream event where the announcement was made, Ms Harris said: “The power is with the people. We are going to win this election and it is going to take all of us.”
Ms Harris will wait until the Democratic National Convention (DNC) – which takes place from Monday 19 August to Thursday 22 August – to officially accept the nomination.
She continued: “Later this month, we will gather in Chicago united as one party where we’re going to have an opportunity to celebrate this historic moment together.”
