Kamala Harris officially named Democratic candidate for 2024 election

US Vice President is seeking to become first female, black and South Asian president in US history

Kamala Harris secured the Democratic Party's presidential nomination after raising record campaign funds and attracting support nationwide. AP

US Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday night formally became the Democratic Party's presidential nominee for the November 5 election.

She has obtained the party nomination after becoming a candidate only weeks ago, when President Joe Biden stepped out of the race and effectively ended his decades-long political career.

Mr Biden endorsed her as his replacement as the Democratic challenger to former US president Donald Trump, who gained the Republican Party's nomination last month.

Democratic leaders quickly threw their weight behind Ms Harris after Mr Biden – plagued by public concerns over his mental faculties and fitness to serve after a disastrous debate performance, and opposition to his support of Israel amid the Gaza war – made the historic announcement.

Ms Harris's replacement of Mr Biden has led to more than 170,000 volunteers joining Democratic Party efforts, tens of thousands registering as new voters and much social media cultural conversation.

The Vice President raised a record $200 million in the first week of her campaign, including $81 million in the first 24 hours after she announced her candidacy. She now has a campaign financial chest amounting to more than Mr Trump's.

The roll call vote to formally name a party candidate is usually done at the party convention, which will take place in Chicago in mid-August.

Democrats opted for an online roll call, because of an August 7 deadline for political parties to ensure their candidates appear on the Ohio state ballot this November.

Ms Harris is expected to announce her vice presidential running mate some time on Tuesday, before a joint event in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

Her presidential run could prove to be historic. Ms Harris is seeking to be the first female, black and South Asian president.

The stakes are high, as Democrats say the election will decide whether democracy will be preserved in the country.

Mr Trump has expressed authoritarian and dictator-like sentiments, and a far-right playbook from a conservative think tank – Project 2025 – advocates ending civil rights for some protected groups and overhauling US federal agency operations.

Ms Harris faces the challenge of trying to reintroduce herself to the country after years of working as a Vice President in the Biden administration, as a California senator and as attorney general for the western US state.

Polls show a close race between Ms Harris and Mr Trump, although the Vice President has erased the gains Mr Trump had made over Mr Biden earlier in the year.

A recent poll by the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee found that more than 27 per cent of Arab-American voters support Ms Harris, an increase from Mr Biden at 7 per cent in May.

She is, however, lagging behind the community's support for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who has expressed support for Palestinian rights.