Vice President Kamala Harris received President Joe Biden's backing to take his place as the Democratic presidential nominee Sunday, an endorsement he made after announcing he is abandoning his re-election bid. Biden's decision to bow out breaks open the nominating process — meaning Harris or any other Democrat could seek the party's nomination. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to begin August 19 in Chicago and with Biden's backing, Harris became the instant favorite. Harris, the first female vice president, would become the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to become a major party nominee. "We are ready to lock in and support Vice President Harris in her new role," Gavito said.

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Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's, Harris, Biden, Donald Trump, —, Tory Gavito, Gavito, She's, Trump, JD Vance Organizations: U.S, Las Vegas Aces, White, Democratic, Convention, U.S . Senate, American, Biden, Black, NBC News Locations: Washington , U.S, Chicago, Jamaican, Oakland , California, San Francisco, California, Jan, Oakland