Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday received endorsements from Capitol Hill’s top Democratic leaders: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
Their seals of approval came on the heels of Harris the day prior locking up enough support from a majority of Democratic National Committee delegates to replace President Joe Biden as the party’s nominee at next month’s convention.
“President Biden’s selfless decision has given the Democratic Party the opportunity to unite behind a new nominee, and boy, oh boy, are we enthusiastic,” Schumer, flanked by Jeffries, told reporters at the campaign headquarters of Senate Democrats. “Now that the process has played out from the grassroots, bottom-up, we are here today to throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.”
Jeffries and Schumer previously relayed concerns privately about Biden remaining at the top of the ticket after fielding unease from fellow Democrats but declined to ever call for the president’s exit from the race.
Jeffries also lauded Biden for “making the selfless decision to pass the torch” and said Harris united the party.
“Her candidacy has excited and energized the House Democratic Caucus, the Democratic Party, and the nation,” he said. “Vice President Harris has earned the nomination from the grassroots up and not the top down.”
The endorsements left former President Barack Obama as one of the last major Democrats to not formally back Harris. Obama, too, cited the “process” as reason to not back a successor immediately.
“We will be navigating uncharted waters in the days ahead,” Obama said Sunday, while Bill and Hillary Clinton immediately endorsed Harris. “But I have extraordinary confidence that the leaders of our party will be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the former speaker of the House, on Monday helped Harris unanimously secure the delegation’s backing of their home state of California. Winning the largest delegation in the country gave Harris the support she needed to become the likely nominee.
Republicans have accused Democrats of subverting the will of their voters by installing Harris as the nominee with a de facto coronation led by delegates rather than primary and caucus voters.
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Schumer rejected that notion, doubling down that it was a “bottom-up process” and noted the broad and swift endorsements of Harris from elected Democrats.
“People just rallied right to her side,” he said. “The enthusiasm in this big, diverse, representative party was amazing. It was palpable. You could cut it with a knife.”
