Just hours after President Biden announced he would not seek reelection, Vice President Harris is rushing to solidify support for her bid for the White House.
Ms. Harris met Sunday with the chairs of three key congressional coalitions: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.) of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Rep. Ann McClain Custer (D-Hawaii) of the New Democrat Coalition. All three have endorsed her nomination.
She also met with Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), who said, “She’s ready to win Wisconsin!!!” I said it with X— Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said he’d heard from his staff.
“Her team is fully operational, the phones are ringing, the emails are flooding in, this plan is moving forward,” Huffman told The Hill in a brief interview on Sunday. “This is growing like a rocket.”
When asked what the conversation was about, Huffman responded, “Come on, let’s get started.”
The full pressure on Capitol Hill comes as Harris seeks to accelerate her nascent presidential campaign after Biden announced he would no longer seek his party’s nomination.
Biden had been under growing pressure from Democrats to reconsider his decision to run amid concerns over his dismal performance in last month’s debate. The president initially appeared defiant, consistently insisting he would not resign, but then reversed course on Sunday and quickly endorsed Harris.
“My first decision as the nominee of my party in 2020 was to select Kamala Harris as my vice president, and it was the best decision I ever made,” Biden said. I said it with X“Today I want to express my full support and endorsement of Kamala to be our party’s nominee this year.”
Harris welcomed the endorsement, saying in a statement, “I am honored to receive the President’s endorsement and I intend to seek and win this nomination.”
Harris is expected to maintain the aggressive travel schedule she has had in recent months, according to sources familiar with the matter. Major Democratic PACs including the AAPI Victory Fund, Collective PAC and Latino Victory Fund endorsed her on Sunday, and Biden’s base is pivoting to support Harris.
The rapid pace of Harris’s endorsement comes less than a month before the Democratic National Convention opens in Chicago. While many Democrats in Congress are backing Harris for the nomination, some key figures are reserving judgment. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and former President Barack Obama have all praised Biden but stopped short of endorsing Harris, surprising some.
The path forward remains unclear. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said Sunday that “over the next few days, the party will move forward in a transparent and orderly process as a unified Democratic Party with candidates who can defeat Donald Trump in November.”
“This process will be governed by the party’s established rules and procedures,” he added. “Our representatives are prepared to take seriously their responsibility to swiftly deliver a candidate to the American people.”
Jayapal said he had spoken to Harris by phone on Sunday and told her he “supports her 1,000 percent” for president.
“She has the wisdom, experience, track record and plan to lead us to victory in November. Let’s go!” she said. Add to X.
Barragan agreed, saying: Write on X“I have just spoken to the vice president and reiterated my full cooperation.”
“Please join me in supporting Vice President Kamala Harris with a donation today!” she added.
Brett Samuels assisted.
