Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Jayapal endorses Sanders

Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) is endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the presidential race. 

Jayapal said she plans to officially announce her endorsement Monday while campaigning with Sanders in Iowa, The Washington Post reported Sunday. 

The campaign announced the same day that Jayapal will be joining Sanders at a Monday rally in Des Moines.

The congresswoman’s endorsement comes just weeks before the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucus. 

Jayapal told the Post she’s backing Sanders because “he has a clarity on policy prescriptions that goes right to the heart of what working people need.” 

She told the newspaper she’ll also be named a national health policy chair for the campaign and a Washington State chair. 

Sanders has been battling with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for endorsements from progressive members of the party as they vie for the Democratic nomination. 

Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) endorsed Sanders Thursday.

The Vermont senator also earned the backing of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) last year. The high-profile endorsement helped boost Sanders support after his heart attack. Fellow freshmen Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) also endorsed Sanders around the same time.

Ocasio-Cortez highlighted Jayapal’s announcement that she’ll be backing Sanders, tweeting that it’s a “really big deal.” 

Really big deal – @PramilaJayapal has endorsed Bernie Sanders for President.

Pramila is a major leader in the House, carries the Medicare for All bill & co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Both chairs of the Progressive Caucus have now endorsed Bernie Sanders. https://t.co/DPUjrFWTW3

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 19, 2020

Warren, however, has had her fair share of high-profile progressives endorsements. Among them, are Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), as well as his brother Julián Castro who backed Warren after ending his own presidential bid. 

Warren was also endorsed by freshman Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and liberal Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told The Hill he plans to formally endorse Warren soon.