Harris formally accepts Democratic nomination for president after Biden passes torch

Vice President Kamala Harris officially became the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee on the final day of the party's convention on Thursday night following President Joe Biden’s withdraw from the race a little over one month ago in an unprecedented turn of events.

Harris is now the second female to win a major party nomination following former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States," said Harris to thunderous applause on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Harris said she is on the stage unexpectedly due to Biden leaving the race and thanked the president for his years of service to the country.

"The path that led me here in recent weeks was no doubt unexpected, but I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys," she said.

Harris said her parents taught her she could "be anything" and treat others "the way you want to be treated."

She said her mom taught her not to "complain about injustice" but to "do something about it."

"My mother never lost her cool. She was tough," she said. "She also taught us to never do anything half assed. And that is a direct quote."

Harris said she will "put country and party above self" and be a president for all Americans.

"I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations," she said.

She tore into former President Trump, saying he has the intent to "jail journalist" and set Jan. 6 riots free.

Harris called Trump an "unserious man" who wants to take America backwards, specifically on the issue of abortion rights.

"We're not going back," she said.

Harris also touched upon the border crisis. She vowed to resurrect the border deal that failed to pass out of Congress this year.

Harris said she refuses to "play politics" with security issues and blamed Trump for the lack of GOP support of the deal.

She also said she would protect Israel so an Oct. 7 attack never happens again. At the same time, she said, the devastation in Gaza is heartbreaking.

Biden dropped out of the presidential race on July 20 after a disastrous debate performance, which resulted in members of his own party calling for him to step aside.

He officially left the race in a letter posted to social media and endorsed Harris for the job.

Biden has described his selection of Harris as his running mate as the “best decision” of his more than half of a century career in politics.

Harris, 59, was unchallenged for as Biden's replacement and immediately began to close the gap with Trump in several key swing states after announcing her presidential run, according to some polls.

She began serving as a U.S. senator from California in January 2017 and left in January 18, 2021 when she was elected vice president

Prior to that, Harris was the attorney general of California.

She also served as district attorney of San Francisco from 2004-2011.

Harris said the reason she became a prosecutor was not protect the vulnerable like her best friend who was sexually abused.