President Joe Biden's surprise announcement on July 22, 2024, that he was ending his re-election campaign and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president, breathed new life into the party's efforts to defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November election. The news sparked a surge of online donations from Democrats excited about a new ticket.
According to multiple reports, Democrats donated over $50 million online on July 21, 2024, making it the single biggest day for online Democratic contributions since the 2020 election. The funds will be crucial in supporting Harris' campaign and other Democratic candidates across the country.
Biden's endorsement of Harris was met with swift action from state Democratic party chairs, who all endorsed her as their new nominee. Ken Martin, president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, stated that members immediately assembled to unite behind Harris as a proven leader on key issues such as reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention, climate protection, justice reform and rebuilding the economy.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) will hold a rules committee meeting on Wednesday, July 24, to discuss the process of selecting a new nominee. The DNC chair and convention chair informed members that guidance on the formal nomination process would be provided in the coming days.
Despite this positive momentum for Harris, she still faces challenges from her Republican opponent Donald Trump. The election is scheduled for November 5, 2024.