In a major milestone for diversity and representation in American politics, Vice President Kamala Harris has won the support of enough Democratic delegates to secure the party's nomination for president, announced Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison on Friday.

Harris, who will become the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major-party ticket, expressed her gratitude during a virtual event with supporters. The virtual voting process for the nomination began on Thursday and will continue until Monday evening.

"I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States," Harris stated during the event. She added that she would officially accept the nomination once the virtual voting period concludes next week.

The vice president went on to address the anticipation for an in-person celebration of this historic moment. "Later this month, we will gather in Chicago, united as one party, where we're going to have an opportunity to celebrate this historic moment together," Harris said.

The path to nomination for Harris has been markedly different from her previous presidential run in 2020, where she withdrew from the race before the Iowa caucuses. President Joe Biden's subsequent selection of Harris as his running mate positioned her for this opportunity after he stepped aside last month.

Within a remarkably short timeframe, Harris garnered overwhelming support from the Democratic party, including potential challengers. In less than 36 hours, she secured unofficial endorsements from enough delegates to become the party's nominee, as she was the only candidate to meet the required 300 delegate signatures.

While the official nomination process progresses, Harris has been refocusing her campaign, which inherited a truncated timeline. Energized by her candidacy, her campaign announced that it raised an impressive $310 million in July, more than double the reported fundraising efforts of Republican nominee Donald Trump's political operation for the same month.

Meanwhile, Harris is nearing the final stages of selecting her running mate, with top contenders including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. The vice president is expected to meet with these finalists over the weekend, ahead of next week's campaign tour across battleground states.

Although voting for the Democratic nomination is ongoing and may conclude before the announcement of her running mate, party rules do not necessitate a separate vote to confirm the nominee for vice president. The delegates will have a ceremonial roll call at the Democratic convention in Chicago, slated to commence on August 19.

The nomination of Kamala Harris marks a historic breakthrough in American politics, reflecting the country's progress toward inclusivity and representation. Her accomplishment serves as a symbol of hope for many, as she is poised to lead the Democratic charge in the upcoming presidential race.