The 2024 Joe Biden Presidential campaign is over. Now, the state’s Democratic delegates say they’re all in for support of presumptive nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.
After ending his campaign, President Joe Biden endorsed VP Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
In turn, the state’s Democratic delegates unanimously voiced their support for the vice president following a recent party meeting.
Delegates are party representatives who cast the official votes for their party’s candidate at an election convention. This year, the Democratic National Convention is scheduled for late August.
One of South Dakota’s delegates is Kellen Returns From Scout, finance director at the Great Plains Tribal Chairmans Association. As a two-time delegate supporting Biden, he said his background made it difficult to change his support.
“With my tribal philosophy, culture and traditions, you aren’t critical of an elder person in that capacity," Returns From Scout said. "For me it was really difficult to see these otherwise strong and dedicated supporters abandon (Biden) in that capacity, but politics is a part of governing. It was difficult to see him perform in a debate like that, it was difficult to hear the critique.”
Despite this, Returns From Scout said he believes Harris will continue the work of the current administration.
“She was elected as Attorney General (of California), and as United States Senator," Returns From Scout said. "You don’t get elected that many times because you’re this or that, you get elected because people see you as effective and you’re successful and you do what you said you were going to do. I see that as a stark contrast to the alternative.”
In total, Harris will need the votes of just under 2,000 delegates nationwide to secure the Democratic party nomination.