Kentucky Democratic delegates endorse Harris in near unanimous vote
This story has been updated to reflect the correct number of delegates from Kentucky to the Democratic National Convention.
Kentucky delegates to the Democratic National Convention voted nearly unanimously Monday to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's nominee.
The endorsement came just a day after President Joe Biden announced his decision not to seek re-election.
The Kentucky delegates join convention delegates from many other states in coalescing behind Harris, who now has enough votes to secure the party's nomination.
The Democrats will hold their national convention Aug. 19 through 22 in Chicago, but the party plans to hold a virtual vote on the nominee before Aug. 7 in order to meet elector deadlines in Ohio and some other states, Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison told reporters Monday. Further details are expected to be released later this week.
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Kentucky will send 53 delegates elected by the party to the convention next month. Those delegates were chosen at a state convention in June. Kentucky will also send six automatic delegates, formerly known as superdelegates, who are typically party leaders and elected officials.
"(Harris) has a remarkable record of public service, from tackling housing costs as a U.S. Senator to protecting consumers as California’s chief law enforcement office," state party chair Colmon Eldridge said in a statement released after the vote. "Vice President Harris is ready to serve as president on Day 1 and finish the job that Joe Biden started."
Only one of Kentucky's delegates voted against Harris as the nominee. That delegate, who did not wish to be named for fear of losing their credentials, told The Courier Journal that they want more time to learn about Harris' positions, including on matters related to the Israel-Hamas war.
The Kentucky Democratic Party has declined to share a full list of delegates heading to the convention. Spokesperson Jonathan Levin cited security concerns.
It's not year clear who the Democrats will pick as their vice presidential nominee but a memo from national chair Harrison suggests that choice will be made before the convention.
"The in-person portion of the convention in Chicago will then showcase the party’s presidential and vice presidential nominees and their winning agenda to rally voters and defeat Donald Trump in the fall," Harrison wrote.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Democratic delegates endorse Harris in near unanimous vote
