POLITICS & ELECTIONS

Utah democratic delegates announce endorsement for Harris as path to naming a nominee changes

Jul 22, 2024, 7:23 PM | Updated: 7:46 pm

SALT LAKE CITY Utah’s democratic delegates will meet this week to talk about how they will pick the party’s next nominee following President Joe Biden’s exit. 

All of the delegates present at a meeting Monday voted in favor of endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. 

“With MAGA Republicans attacking abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, social security, medicaid, and our country’s democratic institutions,this election is the most important of my lifetime,” said Utah Democratic Party chair Diane Lewis. “Vice President Harris is up to the challenge. In less than 48 hours, she has already built a coalition of young people, women, Latino voters, and Black voters that will carry her campaign to victory.

Harris isn’t immediately named the official nominee, despite the president’s endorsement. She needs to get 1,976 delegate votes to secure the nomination. 

“Vice President Harris said in her statement she wants to earn this nomination and there’s certainly no smokey back room saying that it has to be her,” DeSirant said. 

‘An unprecedented situation’

Utah Democratic Party Executive Director Thom DeSirant said democrats are now in an unprecedented situation ahead of the convention. A lot has changed for Utah’s 34 democratic delegates. The democratic national convention won’t go the way they’d imagined it would one week ago. 

“This is something that’s never been seen before in the modern primary practice,” he said. “This is something that hasn’t happened for over 50 years. I think to some extent we’re all kind of playing it by ear and figuring out what happens next.” 

DeSirant said he’s seen a large groundswell of support for the vice president, thought her path to securing the nomination isn’t over. 

“The Association of State Democratic Committees, all 57 state and territorial parties, did meet yesterday, and there was a formal announcement that our Association of Democratic Committees has endorsed Vice President Harris,” he said. 

He said, before Biden’s exit, they anticipated officially naming him the nominee in a virtual roll call. He said he doesn’t know what that will look like now. 

“Because of the Ohio laws, there is a virtual roll call that will happening,” DeSirant said. “We’ve known that that was planned for some time in the first week of August, but that could change based off of what the rules committee votes on on Wednesday.” 

Naming a nominee

Members of the rules committee from each state will meet to discuss how the party will name a nominee. Until that’s decided, DeSirant said he and others don’t know what to expect. 

“We have had hundreds of delegates say that they are pledged to the vice president or who have at least endorsed her, but until anyone else actually says that they’re running, I think that we’re all just kind of waiting to see what happens,” he said. 

Other candidates could run against Harris, though none have come forward at this point. 

If she or another candidate doesn’t win the majority of delegates on the first vote, automatic delegates, formerly called superdelegates, are allowed to vote. Automatic delegates are made up of sitting democratic elected officials, as well as former leaders, including President Barack Obama. 

“We could have three or four days of primetime TV of just doing a roll call vote at our national convention,” DeSirant said. “Now, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen because it looks like Democratic delegates are coalescing behind the VP. But we’ll have to see what happens.” 

KSL 5 TV Live

Politics & Elections

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talk prior to a NATO ...

Jim Morris, Associated Press

Justin Trudeau reportedly says Trump’s talk of making Canada a US state is ‘a real thing’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says President Donald Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st state is “a real thing” and is linked to the country’s rich natural resources.

2 days ago

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, left, claps as Tesla and SpaceX CEO ...

Anthony Izaguirre associated press

19 states sue to stop DOGE from accessing Americans’ personal data

Nineteen Democratic attorneys general have sued President Donald Trump to stop Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing Treasury Department records.

2 days ago

FILE: On the same day the Utah’s Senate unanimously passed a resolution to bring an NHL franchise...

Daniella Rivera

‘You are inviting rapists to Utah’: Survivor urges lawmakers to consider consent bill

Year after year, Utah lawmakers have resisted or ignored efforts to close what experts and advocates say is a gap in the state’s sexual assault laws. The lawmaker behind those efforts hopes this year will be different.

2 days ago

Over a thousand people filled the state Capitol rotunda Friday pleading for Gov. Spencer Cox to vet...

Shara Park

Thousands gather at Capitol Hill to protest against controversial union bill

Over a thousand people filled the Utah State Capitol rotunda Friday pleading for Gov. Spencer Cox to veto HB267.

2 days ago

People stand at the Eielson Visitor Center with a view of North America's tallest peak, Denali, in ...

Associated Press

Alaska Legislature asks Trump to retain Denali’s name instead of change it to Mount McKinley

he Alaska Legislature has passed a resolution urging President Donald Trump to reverse course and retain the name of North America’s tallest peak as Denali rather than change it to Mount McKinley.

2 days ago

Utah's Capitol building...

The Deseret News Editorial Board

Opinion: Keep Utah government transparent

Through the years, Utah lawmakers have developed few things that work as well as the State Records Committee.

2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Utah democratic delegates announce endorsement for Harris as path to naming a nominee changes