Schumer, Jeffries praise Harris but stop short of endorsement

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) praised Vice President Harris as “off to a great start” in her bid to win the Democratic nomination for president but stopped short of endorsing her Monday.

“She is rapidly picking up support from grassroots delegates from one end of the country to the other. We look forward to meeting in person with Vice President Harris shortly as we collectively work to unify the Democratic Party and the country,” Schumer and Jeffries said in a joint statement.

The Democratic leaders praised Harris for promising to pursue the nomination “in a manner consistent with the grassroots and transparent process set forth by the Democratic National Committee (DNC).”

Harris had already racked up the support of more than 500 delegates as of Monday afternoon.

The DNC announced last week that it would hold virtual proceedings between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7 to certify the party’s nomination for president before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19.

Several high-profile Democrats endorsed Harris for the nomination on Monday, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D); Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear; and Midwestern Govs. JB Pritzker of Illinois, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Tony Evers of Wisconsin.

Whitmer and Pritzker were floated as possible candidates for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination before Biden dropped out.

Pelosi, who worked with Schumer and Jeffries to pressure Biden out of the race, praised Harris in her endorsement as committed to public service and “brilliantly astute.”

“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,” Pelosi said in her statement.

“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,” she added.