West Virginia delegates to the Democratic National Convention have announced their support for Kamala Harris to lead the presidential ticket.
The decision follows President Joe Biden’s decision to discontinue his campaign.
The announcement from the West Virginia Democratic Party noted that Harris, as the first African American woman nominated by a major political party, will represent a historic milestone in American politics. The West Virginia Democrats said her nomination will not only break barriers but also paves the way for a more inclusive and representative democracy.
The Democrats highlighted comments from Jean Evansmore, an 83-year-old African American woman and a lifelong advocate for civil rights from Mount Hope. “As someone who has witnessed the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement, seeing Vice President Harris as our nominee fills me with immense pride. Her leadership is what our nation needs to restore justice and equality,” Evansmore said.
Teresa Toriseva, vice chairwoman of the West Virginia Democratic Party and a candidate for state attorney general, described Harris as a “steadfast advocate for reproductive rights. In light of recent attacks on reproductive freedom, her commitment to safeguarding these rights is crucial. We need her leadership to ensure that every woman has the autonomy over her own body and the freedom to make her own health care decisions.”
Olivia Dowler, a first-time candidate for the House of Delegates from Weirton, emphasized the importance of defeating former President Donald Trump. “Donald Trump represents an existential threat to our democracy. His divisive rhetoric and policies have undermined the very foundation of our nation. Vice President Harris is the leader we need to unite us and steer us towards a brighter future. As a new candidate, I am inspired by her vision and dedication,” she said.
West Virginia has 25 delegates to the convention, plus two alternatives.
Nationally, close to 4,000 delegates will gather at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago starting Aug. 19. Biden had won more than 3,800 of those delegates, who will now all be released to vote for whomever they choose.
To win the nomination, a candidate must secure 1,986 delegates. Well into Monday, multiple news organizations reported Harris had enough delegates to meet that mark.
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Biden announced on Sunday afternoon that he would drop out of the presidential race, now leaving the Democratic nomination for president open. Moments later, Biden posted his support for his running mate, Harris, to take the lead at the top of the Democratic ticket.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,” Biden posted.
Harris then posted on social media that her intention is to “earn and win this nomination. I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.”
Harris, 59, is the first female vice president, first African-American and first Asian-American vice president. She was a U.S. Senator from California from 2017 to 2021 and served as attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017. Before that, she was a prosecutor in California.
West Virginia’s Democratic Party chairman, Mike Pushkin, said Harris has already served as a key part of the administration and the Democratic ticket. “So to me, without hesitation, yeah, I support the nomination of vice president Kamala Harris,” Pushkin said today on “The Dave Allen Show” on 580 WCHS Radio.
Pushkin said Democrats are lining up behind Harris quickly because “she was the elected vice president, and that’s the role of the vice president — to step in if, God forbid, something should happen to the president.”
Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, the Democratic nominee for governor of West Virginia, said earlier today on MetroNews “Talkline” that he supports a process that would include competition for Harris.
“I prefer to say that I prefer that I support having a deliberative and transparent process that Kamala Harris and whoever else is wanting to run for president be able to go through that deliberative and transparent process,” Williams said.
“I would like to have conversations from West Virginia to be able to say: Well, where do you stand on issues that affect rural America, rural states, rural communities, energy-related states? To talk to us about where she sees us — or whoever else would be in line.”
Williams said competition would make the Democratic presidential nominee stronger.
“Iron sharpens iron, and can’t have this go on forever, obviously” — but he advocated “having to actually have the conversation out into the field and be able to sharpen your messages of what’s going on and give states like West Virginia, Kentucky and other communities and states like ours — so where do you stand on these issues as it relates to rural America and Appalachia.”