Virginia Democratic leadership pledges support for Harris

(The Center Square) — Virginia’s Democratic senators banded together within 24 hours of President Joe Biden’s exit from the presidential race to offer their unanimous endorsement of Biden’s pick, Vice President Kamala Harris. 

“Vice President Kamala Harris has served as a steadfast and principled leader alongside President Biden for the past four years. She will carry Democrats to victory up and down the ballot this November,” the Democratic senators wrote in a statement. “She is the clear choice to succeed President Biden and continue her work focused on making America and our democracy stronger for generations to come.” 

The statement was released shortly after Virginia’s 32-member Legislative Black Caucus announced it would be backing Harris, as would its delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

“She is an accomplished champion of civil rights, environmental protections, reproductive justice, and economic policies which prioritize everyday Americans,” the caucus wrote in a statement. “The [caucus] is pleased to announce that every member of the VLBC who will serve as a delegate for the 2024 Democratic National Convention has pledged their support to Vice President Harris.”

There are 11 DNC delegates from the caucus, including prominent members of the state House of Delegates and Senate, such as Speaker of the House Don Scott, House Majority Leader Charniele Herring and veteran Sens. Louise Lucas and Mamie Locke.

In addition, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Herring and Sen. Lashrecse Aird, who served as Harris’ 2020 Virginia campaign co-chairs, jointly wrote a letter to all of Virginia’s DNC delegates (119 and eight alternates) describing Harris’ qualifications and urging delegates’ support.

The lawmakers argue that Harris is the leader Biden trusts most and has a long history of marching for civil rights, prosecuting “serial felons,” and standing up for abortion and has championed voting rights and immigration reform.

But there are some other convenient reasons, besides some of Harris’ earned credentials, why the co-chairs argue delegates should unite behind her.

For one, Biden’s campaign funds can be transferred to Harris and no one else.

“Vice President Harris is the only candidate who can accept the Biden campaign’s existing campaign operation under federal law,” the co-chairs wrote.

Every other candidate would have to start from scratch. Beyond that, however, Harris is Biden’s choice, which should count for more than anything else, according to the letter. 

“Most importantly, President Biden has endorsed her campaign to replace him and has asked the Democratic Party to nominate her to be our nominee. It is absolutely critical that the party rally around Vice President Harris immediately so she can focus on choosing a Vice President and take the fight to Donald Trump and J.D. Vance tomorrow,” they wrote.

They ask everyone to indicate their support for Harris online so they can inform the campaign where she stands with Virginia’s Democratic delegates.

Surovell posted to X to provide an update, saying 89 delegates had already committed to supporting Harris. 

Before Biden’s Sunday announcement, some of the state’s Democratic leaders remained outspoken supporters of Biden, while others believed he needed to step down.