Vice President Kamala Harris quickly began pursuing the Democratic presidential nomination after President Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed her on Sunday, and scores of party leaders followed Mr. Biden’s lead.
“I am honored to have the president’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination,” Ms. Harris said in a statement. “Over the past year, I have traveled across the country, talking with Americans about the clear choice in this momentous election. And that is what I will continue to do in the days and weeks ahead.”
Mr. Biden said in an X post earlier that his “first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President.”
“And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he said. “Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Former President Donald Trump, who was nominated at the Republican National Convention last week in Milwaukee, said Ms. Harris would be easier to defeat than Mr. Biden.
He called Mr. Biden the “worst president” in U.S. history.
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The Biden-Harris campaign filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Committee to change its name to Harris for President.
The ticket was upended roughly a month before the Democratic National Convention, where delegates usually nominate the nominee.
Ms. Harris on Sunday also scored her first delegates to the party convention. The Tennessee Democratic Party delegation said on X that it voted to back Ms. Harris after Biden dropped out of the race.
Mr. Biden’s endorsement of Ms. Harris gave her a leg up in the process, though some senior Democrats, most prominently former President Barack Obama, did not immediately endorse her.
“I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda,” Ms. Harris said. “We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight. And together, we will win.”
A steady stream of congressional Democrats quickly came out in support of Ms. Harris, including Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, an influential Black lawmaker and longtime leader in the caucus who was a key supporter of Mr. Biden.
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Ms. Harris also received endorsements from former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Others endorsing Ms. Harris included Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Mark R. Warner of Virginia, Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Barragán of California, and several members of the Congressional Black Caucus, whose political arm officially endorsed the vice president as well.
“I couldn’t be more confident that Vice President Kamala Harris is the right person to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country into the future,” said Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin backed Ms. Harris and suggested that Mr. Trump could also drop out of the race.
The congressman wrote on X: “If Donald Trump isn’t replaced by the Republicans as their nominee, he’s not going to know what hit him against Harris on the campaign trail!”
Mr. Obama, who heaped praise on Mr. Biden for his work as president and decision to bow out, was conspicuously silent about Ms. Harris.
Mr. Obama as president was a powerful booster for Ms. Harris since before she won her Senate seat in California.
In 2013, however, Mr. Obama apologized for calling Ms. Harris the “best looking” attorney general when singing her praises at a fundraiser. The remark drew sharp criticism and the White House said Mr. Obama called her “to apologize for the distraction created by his comments.”
By not jumping on the Harris bandwagon, Mr. Obama, who remains one of the most influential figures in the Democratic Party, sparked speculation that an open nomination process was an option.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore are Democrats who could pursue the nomination.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, whom some eyed as a replacement for Mr. Biden, endorsed Ms. Harris on Sunday.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Democrat who is running as an independent for president, said he is open to being the Democratic nominee.
In a lengthy statement, Mr. Obama lauded Mr. Biden as “one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we’ve also been reminded — again — that he’s a patriot of the highest order.”
The Clintons praised Mr. Biden for his “extraordinary career of service” and said they would support Ms. Harris as the nominee.
“We join millions of Americans in thanking President Biden for all he has accomplished, standing up for America time and again, with his North Star always being what’s best for the country,” the Clintons said in a joint statement. “We are honored to join the president in endorsing Vice President Harris and will do whatever we can do to support her.”
They mentioned how “worried for our country” they are about the possibility of a second term for Mr. Trump.
“Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her,” they said. “America’s future depends on it.”
Mr. Obama and Mr. Clinton had been active in Mr. Biden’s reelection campaign and were often seen at Biden fundraisers.
Mr. Biden announced he was dropping out of the race Sunday afternoon in a letter posted to X. Shortly afterward, another post from him endorsed Ms. Harris to take over his spot on the ballot.
• Kerry Picket contributed to this report.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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