SPOKANE, Wash. – Vice President Kamala Harris has already received support from more than half the Democratic delegates she needs to become the official Democratic presidential nominee, according to the Associated Press.
“What it means for the Democrats is that they now have a more realistic chance of beating Donald Trump,” said Dr. Blaine Garvin, a political professor at Gonzaga University.
Dr. Garvin has been teaching political science at Gonzaga for over 50 years.
“The issue had become Biden’s age and capacity,” Dr. Garvin said. “Now that issue is removed. So, the race is more likely to be even now.”
As for the presidential primaries, Dr. Garvin said changes will come to that too.
“We chose delegates pledged to President Biden. Now that Biden is not running, those delegates are released and they can vote for whoever they please,” Dr. Garvin said.
Just like many of the Democratic delegates, young Spokane Democrats said they support Harris as their party’s nominee.
“She can articulate herself and make the argument against Trump, everything he stands for, and all of his policies. Now we can get excited. We can go and have energy behind our candidate and not kind of sheepishly avoid ‘oh is he too old or can he do another four years?'” said Joe Parry, the membership chair of the Spokane County Young Democrats.
Young Democrats said this is also an opportunity to potentially vote for a woman of color as their next president.
“I think it’d be great for the United States of America to elect a female president,” said Miguel Valencia. “I think that this country is at a point now where we can have a female president. I think it’s exciting to younger voters. I think it will drive out turnout.”
The Democratic delegates will officially choose their nominee at the Democratic National Convention at the end of August.
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