California Democratic delegates prepare to back VP Kamala Harris at upcoming convention

Democrats will gather in Chicago on Aug. 19-22 for the Democratic Party’s nominating convention. Some 4,700 delegates from around the country, including 496 from California, will now have to – in some form or fashion –- pick a new presidential nominee.

While the exact roadmap is still being written, Democratic delegates are preparing to formally back Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee at the convention next month.

It’s an unprecedented situation, delegates say, caused by President Joe Biden’s Sunday announcement that he is setting aside his re-election bid. The president immediately endorsed Harris to lead the party’s presidential ticket.

Democrats will gather in Chicago on Aug. 19-22 for the Democratic Party’s nominating convention. Some 4,700 delegates from around the country, including 496 from California, will now have to – in some form or fashion –- pick a new presidential nominee. Since Biden won the presidential primary, at least 3,896 delegates have pledged to support him. Just how delegates can now choose another candidate in what essentially amounts to an open convention, is a bit unclear.

“We are in an unprecedented situation, and there does need to be a credible process where it’s clear the delegates have made their choice without any funny business,” said David Atkins, a delegate in California’s 24th congressional district who isn’t bound to a candidate. “But I think it will be clear the overwhelming choice will be Kamala Harris.”

The California Democratic Party is already whipping votes for Harris. In an email to delegates Sunday, obtained by the Southern California News Group, party chair Rusty Hicks asked delegates to officially endorse her nomination at the upcoming convention. There’s a link to a Google Form for delegates to sign, pledging support virtually.

Harris said Sunday that she intends “to earn and win this nomination” – and multiple delegates in Southern California say they plan to support the vice president at the convention. They noted her record already serving in the Biden administration and her ties to California, where she has served as the state attorney general and a U.S. senator.

“We want to make sure our nominee … is on the ballot in all 50 states and D.C., and we have a process to go forward to feel like our Democrats nationwide are represented,” said Dan Kalmick, a Huntington Beach councilmember and delegate from Orange County’s 47th congressional district.

Harris, Kalmick said, is “someone who is going to unite the party and fight back” against former President Donald Trump and his party’s platform.

“I ran to be a delegate just to be a part of history, take this one opportunity when I’m currently serving in public office to do something more for the country,” Kalmick said. “When the news broke, I was really surprised. It’s kind of that weird sensation of both excitement and trepidation. Wow, this is going to be a big change, and what are the next steps?”

Kevin Sabellico, from San Diego and delegate from CA-49, is pledged to Biden but switching support to Harris is easy. He worked on her presidential campaign in 2020 and interned in her Senate office.

“I was a Biden delegate. Now I’m a Harris delegate,” Sabellico said.

While there is no formal direction for delegates quite yet, Atkins said he believes most will happily endorse Harris. Atkins had called on Biden to drop out of the race since early July and had already endorsed Harris.

“She’s the next generation, capable and energetic,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.