Nancy Pelosi Backs Kamala Harris

zz/NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx via AP

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the former House speaker who played a key role in nudging President Joe Biden out of the 2024 race , endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination for president in a statement issued Monday.

“Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States,” she wrote. “My enthusiastic support for Kamala Harris for President is official, personal and political.”

In the hours following Biden’s announcement, Harris picked up a steady stream of endorsements from top Democrats and many of the names floated as potential Biden replacements.

CNN reported moments after Pelosi’s endorsement that Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), a Pelosi protege who succeeded her as House Minority Leader, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) would also endorse Harris.

According to a slew of reports, Pelosi played an active role behind the scenes to pressure Biden to drop out. Her machinations upset Biden, who reportedly fumed behind the scenes about the effort from Democrats to push him out of the race after his disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump last month.

Read the full statement below:

“America has been truly blessed by the wisdom and leadership of President Joe Biden. With love and gratitude, I salute President Biden for always believing in the possibilities of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfillment. As one of our country’s most consequential presidents, President Biden has been not only on the right side of history, but on the right side of the future.

Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States. My enthusiastic support for Kamala Harris for President is official, personal and political.

Officially, I have seen Kamala Harris’s strength and courage as a champion for working families, notably fighting for a woman’s right to choose. Personally, I have known Kamala Harris for decades as rooted in strong values, faith and a commitment to public service. Politically, make no mistake: Kamala Harris as a woman in politics is brilliantly astute — and I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November.

In the Democratic Party, our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power. Now, we must unify and charge forward to resoundingly defeat Donald Trump and enthusiastically elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States. Onward to victory!”

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