Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with President Joe Biden by phone multiple times Sunday morning before he announced he would not seek re-election and would instead endorse her, a source familiar with her schedule said.
Surrounded by family and staff at the vice presidential residence, Harris spent more than 10 hours calling more than 100 party leaders, members of Congress, governors, union leaders, advocacy and civil rights leaders. On each call, she made it clear that she was extremely grateful for the president’s support but would work to win the Democratic nomination on her own, the people said.
One of the calls was to her pastor, Amos Brown III, who prayed for her along with his wife, according to sources.
Throughout the day, the vice president wore a Howard University hoodie, tracksuits, and sneakers. In between her many calls, she took the time to organize lunch and dinner for the assembled aides, which consisted of salads and sandwiches for lunch and pizza and salad for dinner. Harris’ pizza was topped with anchovies, her favorite topping, the source said.
-Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie for ABC News
The next meeting of the Democratic National Committee’s Rules Committee is scheduled to take place from 2-5 pm ET on Wednesday, July 24, a source told ABC News. The meeting will be public and can be viewed on the DNC’s YouTube page.
Following the president’s decision, the committee is responsible for implementing a framework for the selection of new candidates in an open, transparent, fair and orderly manner, the co-chairs said Sunday.
The Co-Chairs announced that the process put forward for consideration would be inclusive and expedited.
-Gabriella Abdulhakim for ABC News
Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison and Democratic National Convention Chair Mignon Moore wrote in a memo obtained by ABC News that guidance on the formal nomination process following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the election is expected “in the coming days.”
“While these circumstances are unprecedented, the DNC stands ready to move forward as a united Democratic Party and conduct a transparent and orderly process to select a nominee,” they said in the message. “This process will be governed by party rules and procedures. We know you are all ready to take seriously the responsibility to swiftly nominate a candidate who will defeat Donald Trump in November. You will hear more from us in the coming days about our next steps to formally select a nominee. As we move forward, our values as Democrats will remain the same: protecting our fundamental freedoms, fighting for working families, and defending our democracy from the threat of tyranny.”
They said the DNC would “honor Biden’s legacy” and continue the progress he made as president with “an unwavering commitment to nominating and electing a Democratic president in November.”
As of Friday, Democrats were planning to continue their virtual nominating process to ensure Biden and Harris appear on the ballot in all 50 states — that was, of course, before Biden made his announcement on Sunday afternoon.
-Brittany Shepherd for ABC News
The United Auto Workers union responded to the news that President Joe Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for presidential nomination.
A UAW spokesman called Harris an “ally” but stopped short of issuing a statement of support, saying the union’s board of directors was due to meet soon.
A UAW spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News: “The UAW International Executive Committee, elected by the UAW membership, will meet in the coming days to determine our next steps. Vice Chair Harris is an ally and advocate for the UAW and the entire working class, and we look forward to defeating Donald Trump and the billionaire class at the polls in November.”
The UAW endorsed Biden for president earlier this year.
-Briana K. Stewart, ABC News
