California Democratic delegates voted for Harris, despite misleading claims
During the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, social media users claimed California's delegates opted "to pass" rather than vote to nominate Kamala Harris as the party's candidate for president. This is misleading; representatives from the West Coast state initially asked to be skipped over, allowing the nominee's home state to be the final delegation to declare its support.
"During night 2 of the DNC, California delegates chose to pass instead of casting their votes for Kamala Harris," says an August 20, 2024 X post.
Similar posts circulated elsewhere on X and other platforms, including Facebook, as Democrats gathered for the four-day event.
The Democratic National Committee held a virtual roll call ahead of the convention after President Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy and backed Harris to take his place. The virtual vote opened on August 1 and the following day Harris received the majority votes needed to secure her nomination.
It was announced that Harris had been officially certified as the party's presidential nominee, receiving 99 percent of the delegates' votes following the five-day online balloting process that concluded on August 6.
Harris formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination August 22 -- the final day of the convention -- before a rapturous crowd, pledging a "new way forward" if she beats Republican Donald Trump in the upcoming November election.
Two days before her address, a ceremonial roll call vote was held, with a DJ spinning tracks as states and territories were called on in alphabetical order to affirm the votes of their delegates.
Misinformation has swirled online alongside coverage of the convention and the posts about California's votes are similarly misleading.
The roll call was live-streamed (archived here) and California can be seen passing its turn at the 1:30:32 mark. Minnesota, the home state of Harris's running mate Tim Walz, did the same at the 1:53:44 mark. Alabama also notably kicked things off by passing its turn to Delaware, allowing the roll call to start with Biden's home state.
Once all the other states had voted, the chair returned to Minnesota and California to close out the roll call with their endorsements, a procedure that allows the home states to conclude the ceremony.
California cast its 482 votes for the Democratic nominee and concluded the vote with Governor Gavin Newsom affirming support for Harris.
"The future happens in California first, and Democrats, I've had the privilege of over 20 years to see that future taking shape with a star in Alameda (County) courtroom by the name of Kamala Harris," Newsom said.
The speech was broadcast by various news outlets (archived here and here) and AFP photographers captured several photos of the moment.
The same procedure was followed in 2020 with Biden's home state of Delaware casting its votes at the end of the roll call.
AFP has debunked other misinformation about US politics here.
