CHICAGO — Delegates at the Democratic National Convention ceremonially voted Tuesday to crown Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s 2024 nominee for president.
“I am thrilled to reaffirm Kamala Harris as the nominee,” a DNC spokesman said Tuesday night.
Harris is technically already the nominee, having officially received that title on Aug. 6 after a virtual roll call, but Democrats opted to hold a ceremonial procession in a nod to the tradition of voting on the party standard bearer during the convention.
“The roll call is a beloved and time-honored tradition, and we’re proud to bring it back in a new and fun format,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement.
“Democrats from all across the country have made their voices heard in support of our Democratic nominees, and we look forward to using this convention to drive historic momentum behind the Harris-Walz ticket as we unify in our mission to defeat Donald Trump,” he added.
The ceremony dragged on for more than an hour, with celebrities including Lil Jon and Eva Longoria helping announce their home states’ votes.
Democrats opted for a virtual roll call at the start of the month to avoid any potential ballot access snarls, particularly in Ohio, which had an Aug. 7 deadline to finalize its ballots.
Party officials sought to cast the ceremony as a way to gin up support for Harris and her runningmate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D).
The ceremonial roll call began with President Biden’s home state delegation from Delaware and wrapped up with California and Minnesota, the home states of Harris and Walz.
“The experience is intended to be felt arena-wide while also providing compelling visuals for those tuning in from home, with infused music, lighting, visuals, and special effects utilized throughout,” a convention spokesperson explained.
Democratic National Convention Chair Minyon Moore stressed that “the convention roll call is more than a ceremony — it is a celebration of everything the Democratic Party stands for: diversity, strength, and unity.”
Besides departing from the traditional weight of the convention roll call — which normally makes the party’s presidential nominee official rather than a virtual one ahead of time — Democrats also split from tradition in selecting Harris.
Normally, both political parties choose the presidential nominee via primary contests. Harris never competed in those contests for the 2024 presidential nod.
President Biden had locked the sufficient delegates from the Democratic primary this cycle but ultimately dropped out and endorsed her for president on July 21, paving the way for his delegates to flock toward her.
Walz is set to formally accept the party nomination on Wednesday with his signature address to the convention.
Harris will do the same on Thursday when she caps off the four-day gathering.
