TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents part of the Tampa Bay area in Florida’s 14th Congressional District, says she will be supporting Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.

What You Need To Know

  • Throwing her support behind Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor says the Democratic Party is energized with a "deep bench" of potential VP picks 

  • Democratic National Committee’s Rules Committee will meet Wednesday to outline the plan for a virtual roll call to select Harris as the party's official nominee

  • The committee's chair says the party will have a nominee by Aug. 7  

  • MORE: Democratic delegates cite new energy while rallying behind Kamala Harris for president

The first step in the process of securing a presidential pick will begin Wednesday during a meeting of the Democratic National Committee’s Rules Committee.

The group plans to outline rules for a virtual roll call, which is a process that could make the party’s presidential nominee final before the start of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19.

In a post on X, Rule Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said they are moving to the next phase of selecting a nominee. After the Rules Committee Meeting Wednesday, the party will open the window for candidates to secure at least 300 delegate nomination signatures.

Then the electronic voting process will begin, when delegates can select their pick for presidential nominee.

Harrison said he was confident the party will have a nominee by Aug. 7 — the deadline for a candidate to be submitted to appear on the ballot in Ohio.

Castor, who serves as a party delegate, says she endorses Harris, and the Democratic Party has a deep bench when it comes to her pick for a running mate. Castor said it is an exciting time for the party because voters are energized and engaged, and she believes Harris is going to have a campaign based on the future.

“She is a patriotic hard working American who, as opposed to President Biden, will be able to articulate our accomplishments and then share a vision for the future," Castor said. "And I think the race for VP on her ticket is going to be quite exciting.”

Wednesday’s Democratic National Committee’s Rules Committee will be live streamed on YouTube.