U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on gun violence during an event at John R. Lewis High School on June 2, 202,3 in Springfield, Virginia. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
With President Joe Biden’s decision to back out of his reelection campaign, attention is turning to whether Democrats who will be delegates at next month’s party nominating convention will back his choice of Vice President Kamala Harris.
In Louisiana, Democrats are rallying behind Harris while heaping praise on Biden for decades spent in elected office.
Randall Gaines, chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party, will lead the state delegation at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In a phone interview, he said the party would back the vice president if she is the nominee, saying she would “energize our core voters to an unprecedented level.”
“We’ll make history and save the country at the same time,” Gaines said.
The mounting pressure around Biden to leave the race robbed all momentum from Democrats to promote his candidacy for November, Gaines said. He and his fellow Democratic state party chairs are scheduled to hold a conference call at 4 p.m. Central to discuss Sunday’s developments.
Like Gaines, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter of New Orleans is one of five automatic delegates to the Democratic National Convention. In a text message, he praised Biden’s legacy and “unwavering commitment to civil rights, voting rights, and the rule of law” and elevating Justice Ketani Brown Jackson as the first African-American woman on the Supreme Court.
“His selfless decision to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris resonates deeply,” Carter said. “I have every confidence in Vice President Kamala Harris to continue their great work.”
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State Rep. Kyle Green of Marrero, one of the state party’s elected leader delegates, said he supports Harris as the Democratic nominee and endorsed the choice of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as vice president.
“I don’t care if America is ready or not,” Green said when asked whether America was ready to support a two-woman ticket. “If not now, then when?”
Arthur Morrell, the former top elections official in New Orleans as its clerk of criminal court, is a DNC delegate representing the 2nd Congressional District. Like Biden, he is 81 years old and referred to the president as “one of my heroes.”
Morrell said he would support Harris as the nominee.
“We know she would follow the path to keeping our country a democracy … Kamala would be an excellent leader.”
Other DNC delegates made statements on social media indicating they would support the president’s pick of Harris as his successor.
President Biden fought hard and delivered. We are tremendously grateful for this true patriot. Now he passed the torch to VP @KamalaHarris who is the obvious, unifying and exciting choice for nominee to win the presidency. God bless President Biden. He always put country first.
— Helena Moreno (@HelenaMorenoLA) July 21, 2024
Under @JoeBiden‘s leadership, we’ve seen historic investment in solutions for a changing climate.
As a Commissioner, I am grateful for what this has meant for renewable energy growth.
& as a delegate, I will proudly vote for the next leader of the Democratic ticket.
— Commish. Davante Lewis (@davantelewis) July 21, 2024
Yes I am supporting @VP, as a delegate to the @DNC. She was chosen as the VP for a reason: because she might need to assume the role of President. I’ve been a fan since she ran in 2019.
I was very much prepared to continue to support the President @POTUS as the nominee… 1
— Mandie Landry (@votelandry) July 21, 2024
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