Sacramento, California – Kamala Harris has officially secured enough delegates to become the Democratic presidential nominee, solidifying her position as the contender for the upcoming November’s presidential election against incumbent Donald Trump. The announcement comes after President Joe Biden withdrew his re-election bid and threw his support behind Harris, reshaping the landscape of the 2024 presidential race.

According to the latest delegate count by the Associated Press, Harris has gathered a total of 2,668 delegates for the Democratic National Convention, surpassing the necessary threshold of 1,976. In a statement following the news, Harris expressed her gratitude for the support, particularly highlighting the backing from her home state of California for pushing her campaign over the required limit.

With the endorsement of key lawmakers and prominent figures within the Democratic Party, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Harris has seen a significant boost in fundraising efforts. In the 24 hours following Biden’s endorsement, her campaign received a record-breaking $81 million in contributions, surpassing Biden’s initial fundraising numbers during the early stages of his campaign.

During her inaugural campaign speech at the former Biden headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, Harris emphasized her commitment to unifying the Democratic Party, the nation, and securing victory in the upcoming election. Trump, in response, took to his social media platform to criticize the shift in the Democratic ticket, expressing hope for future debates and denouncing Harris’s candidacy.

Harris’s campaign has gained momentum with widespread support from donors, with over 888,000 individuals contributing within a day of Biden’s endorsement. The substantial fundraising haul exceeded expectations and surpassed the contributions raised during Harris’s previous presidential bid in 2020, indicating a strong backing for her candidacy.

As Harris prepares to lead the Democratic charge for the White House, she aims to galvanize diverse voter demographics, including women, youth, Black, Hispanic, independent, and swing voters disenchanted with Trump’s leadership. The race is set to intensify as the spotlight shifts towards the contrasting visions and policies put forward by Harris and Trump in the lead-up to the election.