Mississippi delegates for the Democratic National Convention met virtually Monday evening and agreed to give all 49 of the state’s votes on the presidential nomination to Kamala Harris, following President Joe Biden dropping out of the race on Sunday.
The motion to fully back Harris came from U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who endorsed Harris within hours of Biden’s eleventh-hour decision. Thompson and Harris were cross-chamber counterparts when Harris served in the Senate from 2017-2021 before moving into the role of vice president.
I want to express my gratitude to President Biden for his lifelong dedication to improving America. While his decision to step down was undoubtedly challenging, I believe it’s time for the Democrats to unite and nominate Vice President Kamala Harris to lead us forward.
— Bennie G. Thompson (@BGThompsonMS) July 21, 2024
Mississippi Democratic Chair Cheikh Taylor issued a statement, pleased with the state party’s decision to put its weight behind Harris. Both Taylor and Harris attended Howard University in Washington, D.C.
“As chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, it gives me great pleasure to endorse Kamala Harris who is a fellow alumni of Howard University,” Taylor said. “We will work diligently to ensure that she is the next president of the United States. The first woman and woman of color to serve us in the highest office in the land.”
Mississippi becomes the latest state to place all its delegates in Harris’ camp. On Sunday, party chairs across all 50 states agreed to back Harris as she needed 1,986 delegates to win the Democratic nomination and set up a Nov. 5 matchup against three-time GOP nominee and former President Donald Trump. On Monday at 9:05 p.m., the Associated Press confirmed that Harris had enough delegates to become the nominee.
“Vice President Harris has my vote and support for the Democratic nomination for president. I know Kamala Harris, and let me tell you, the Republicans have no idea what they are about to face with her leading our ticket,” National Democratic Committeewoman Jacqueline Amos said. “I call on all Democrats to join President Biden in endorsing Vice President Harris for the presidency. Now, let’s go win.”
Since Biden’s departure from the race, Harris has not only inherited his campaign but is the only candidate by federal rules who can inherit his war chest, which includes $96 million in cash and more than 1,000 staffers.
Biden, who plans to finish out his final year in office, became the first presumptive presidential nominee to step away this close to the election after Democratic President Lyndon Johnson announced in March 1968 that he would not seek reelection. In 2020, Biden received 539,398 votes, or 41.1%, to make for the closest a Democrat has come to winning Mississippi since Barack Obama obtained 43.8% on the way to a second term in 2012.
