Texas Democrats Rally Behind Harris After Biden’s Withdrawal

In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday, prompting several Texas Democratic delegates to rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris for the party’s nomination. This move sets the stage for what could be the first contested Democratic National Convention in decades.

However, some Texas Democrats, including at least one member of Congress, are calling for a broader discussion on the best path forward to defeat former President Donald Trump.

“It’s now time to unite and rally behind our Vice President, Kamala Harris,” stated U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat and national co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign. “She earned 14 million votes in the primary and will lead the fight for our freedoms against Trump’s Project 2025 and the MAGA movement that seeks to end our democracy.”

Texas’ 12 Democratic members of Congress, who serve as delegates to the national convention in Chicago next month, expressed their support for Harris. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio expects “the overwhelming majority of Democrats” to back Harris.

Biden’s endorsement of Harris, announced on social media, emphasized her as his best decision and urged unity to defeat Trump. Despite initial reluctance, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett has now pledged her support to Harris, expressing her disappointment with fellow Democrats who pressured Biden out of the race.

Other Texas Democrats, including Reps. Greg Casar, Lizzie Fletcher, and Marc Veasey, have also endorsed Harris. Veasey, who had called for Biden to step aside, stated, “Harris is the person everyone’s getting behind. She’s the one that is ready to go and up for the job.”

Nonetheless, Harris is not guaranteed the nomination. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Austin called for an open convention, suggesting the party should consider all talented individuals. Doggett was the first Democrat in Congress to urge Biden to step down after the president’s debate performance last month. Despite his openness to other candidates, Doggett acknowledged that most potential challengers are endorsing Harris.

Reps. Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen praised Biden but did not immediately support Harris. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas, who is running for the U.S. Senate against Ted Cruz, later clarified his support for Harris.

Texas’ 273 delegates, the third-largest contingent at the convention, include down-ballot elected officials and party leaders. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has yet to detail the nomination process, but DNC Chair Jaime Harrison promised a “transparent and orderly process.”

In her statement announcing her candidacy, Harris emphasized her intention to earn and win the nomination. Angel Carroll, a national delegate from Congressional District 17, advocated rallying around Harris, stressing the vice president’s role in stepping up when needed.

Despite some calls for discussion, many Texas delegates are uniting behind Harris. Passion Jackson from Dallas acknowledged the historical significance of Harris’s candidacy but expressed concerns about potential misogyny during the election. Julio Salinas from Austin suggested a more open discussion but ultimately supported Harris as a strong candidate to defeat Trump.

Cathy Broadrick, a first-time delegate from Midland, immediately backed Harris, expressing her desire to see the first female president in her lifetime. She doubted that other Democrats would seek the nomination.

Biden’s withdrawal, just over 100 days before Election Day, followed a chorus of calls from Democratic lawmakers, donors, and strategists for him to step down after a poor debate performance against Trump. The debate highlighted concerns about Biden’s age and fitness for another term.

The presidential race was further complicated by an attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The incident, investigated as a political attack, led to unity calls at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and caused Biden to postpone a campaign stop in Austin.

Harris, though polling slightly better against Trump, has faced challenges in standing out during Biden’s presidency. Donors like Jacob Monty and Domingo Garcia believe Harris will now have the opportunity to shine and successfully debate Trump. Garcia, despite supporting an open nomination process, acknowledged Harris’s frontrunner status.

As the Democratic National Convention approaches, Texas Democrats and party leaders nationwide are gearing up for a potentially historic and closely contested nomination process.