Iowa DNC delegates back Kamala Harris for presidential nomination

DES MOINES — Iowa's delegation to the Democratic National Convention is unanimously supporting Vice President Kamala Harris for the party's presidential nomination, adding to the list of state delegates and high-profile endorsers backing Harris.

Harris has consolidated many of the party's top leaders after President Joe Biden on Sunday announced he would withdraw from the race just weeks before the party was set to nominate him for president. Biden faced weeks of mounting pressure from Democrats to drop out over growing concerns about his mental fitness, voter confidence and his ability to beat Republican Donald Trump in November.

In a statement, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart, who is also chair of the delegation, said the moment was "historic" and pointed to the record-smashing fundraising Harris achieved in 24 hours after Biden's exit.

"Not only has Vice President Harris broken national fundraising numbers — here in Iowa, we’ve had a substantial number of people reach out asking to volunteer," Hart said. "Iowans know what’s at stake this November. Our reproductive freedoms, our public schools, Social Security and Medicare, and our values are on the ballot. I’m proud to lead a united delegation in Chicago that will work relentlessly to elect more Democrats in Iowa and help get Kamala Harris elected as the next President of the United States.”

The decision was made after a meeting of the 49 Iowa delegates to the DNC on Monday evening.

Iowa joins a growing list of states that have thrown their full support behind Harris in a steady and rapid march to clinching the nomination. Delegations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee also announced their delegates were unanimously supporting Harris.

Bret Nilles, the Linn County Democratic Party Chair and a delegate to the convention, said the decision to support Harris was made quickly and without major disagreements.

"I think it shows that we're all on the same mindset, we believe that Kamala is the best choice to step in behind President Biden and looks like the best opportunity to win," Nilles said.

Iowa Sen. Janice Weiner of Iowa City, a delegate to the convention, said the support for Harris's candidacy was clear based on how quickly the party had fallen behind her.

Harris's support is evident by "not just the number of state delegations but the number of really high-powered political figures who have endorsed her with unprecedented speed," Weiner said.

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Weiner said Harris is "the right candidate for the moment" and she would appeal to Americans on issues including abortion rights and voting rights.

"I think this is an historic moment for this nation and that people will show up for women's rights, for democracy, and I think we're living history right now," she said.

No major Democrats have announced plans to challenge Harris for the nomination. By Monday night, she had received the backing of every sitting Democratic governor and large majorities of Democrats in the House and Senate, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.

As for what's next, Iowa delegates said details of the nomination process are likely to be decided in a public meeting of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee on Wednesday.

The party plans to formally nominate their nominee by virtual roll call before the convention in Chicago, which begins Aug. 19, according to the Associated Press. The plan was in place before Biden dropped out over concerns about a ballot access deadline in Ohio, though lawmakers there have changed the deadline.

Under the proposed nomination plan, Harris and any candidate who may challenge her need to gather signatures from 300 delegates — counting no more than 50 from the same state — before a virtual vote is taken.