Kansas Democratic delegates endorse VP Kamala Harris for president

Kansas Democratic delegates to the national convention endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president after a secret meeting Monday evening.

The Kansas Democratic Party announced the delegation’s endorsement in a news release a day after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the race.

“Tonight, Kansas Democratic Party and Delegation Chair Jeanna Repass convened a meeting of the Kansas Democratic Party’s DNC Convention Delegation,” KDP executive director Andriy Bilyk said in a statement. “Among other things discussed, the delegation endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Nominee for President.”

Kamala Harris has enough delegate support to win nomination

The meeting was conducted in private, and the party didn’t respond to a question on why it wasn’t open to the public.

With the promise of commitment from Kansas’ 39 delegates plus delegates from other states, Harris has enough support to win the nomination at the Democratic National Convention next month in Chicago. However, delegates have not formally been awarded yet and individuals remain free to vote for other potential candidates.

In a post on X, the KDP said the state’s delegation was “unified in our endorsement.”

There are 3,936 total Democratic delegates nationwide, and USA TODAY found that Harris had enough support after her home state of California endorsed her. With enough endorsements to win in the first round of voting, Harris will potentially avoid a bitter internal party dispute.

“Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee, and as a daughter of California, I am proud that my home state’s delegation helped put our campaign over the top,” Harris said in a late-night statement Monday. “I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.”

Kansas governor gives support to Kamala Harris for president

Gov. Laura Kelly is among the Kansas delegates, and she endorsed Harris prior to Monday’s meeting.

“From her time as a prosecutor getting violent criminals off the streets to serving as a US Senator fighting to protect reproductive freedom to traveling across the country delivering for the American people as Vice President, Kamala Harris has always done what’s best for American families,” Kelly said in a post on X.

“At a time when our country is desperate to restore reproductive rights, strengthen the middle class, safeguard democracy, and bring people together, we need her leadership now more than ever. I’m proud to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as our country’s next President of the United States.”

More: USA TODAY review: Kamala Harris secures votes needed to become Democratic nominee

Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.