Following the announcement by President Joe Biden that he would not seek re-election in 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris has seen an influx of donations for her presidential campaign, raising nearly $50 million in grassroots donations since Sunday. This surge of support follows the endorsement of President Biden, who praised Harris’ commitment to the ideals of freedom and equality that the country was founded upon.
In a statement released by the Harris campaign, they explained that the amount raised includes contributions from “all entities, including ActBlue.” The funds come in response to the growing pressure on President Biden to resign, with many Democratic lawmakers expressing concern that he would not be able to defeat former President Trump in November’s general election.
After Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 race, Harris declared her own candidacy for the presidency and received immediate support from the president, who endorsed her with a public letter. This endorsement is expected to discourage other potential Democratic presidential candidates while potentially paving the way for Harris to replace Biden as the party’s nominee.
Already, more than 178 Democratic members of the House and Senate, as well as six governors such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, have endorsed Harris. In her statement following Biden’s announcement, she expressed gratitude for his support and outlined her intention to “unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda.
While former President Barack Obama has not yet endorsed Harris, he has backed a process where an “outstanding” nominee can emerge. In his statement, Obama largely praised Biden for his leadership during perilous times and expressed confidence in the ability of party leaders to create a strong nomination process. He also anticipated that the Democratic Convention in August would showcase the party’s vision for a generous, prosperous, and united America that provides opportunity for everyone.
