Leading Democratic contenders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer FINALLY endorse Kamala Harris as she heads toward nomination, days after Biden steps aside

Two of Kamala Harris’ last remaining Democratic opponents have jointly announced they will support the vice president in her November race against Donald Trump.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries have finally thrown their support behind the presidential race after Biden withdrew on Sunday.

Jeffries said in the long-awaited announcement: “Joe Biden will go down in American history as one of the most influential presidents of all time. President Joe Biden has made the selfless decision to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris, who is ready, willing and able to lead us into the future.”

Jeffries indicated that he and Schumer had delayed the endorsement so Harris could drum up grassroots support.

“Vice President Harris earned the nomination from the grassroots, not from the top,” he said.

Their endorsements follow support pouring in from rank-and-file Democrats. No other high-profile Democrat has emerged to challenge Harris, and she has now garnered enough delegate support to win the nomination.

Notably, former President Barack Obama has yet to endorse Kamala, saying vaguely that he would support the Democrats’ next “excellent candidate.”

Schumer enthusiastically endorsed Harris, saying she has the qualities the party needs to defeat former President Donald Trump.

‘Vice President Harris defeats Donald Trump and becomes the next President of the United States of America!’

The veteran New York Democrat noted that he has seen a “surge” in support since Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed his vice president.

The show of support came a day after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi endorsed Kamala and after the vice president late last night secured enough delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination.

California’s top Democrat remained quiet about her support for Harris after President Joe Biden surprisingly withdrew from the race on Sunday afternoon.

The former speaker, who is believed to have played a pivotal role in the pressure campaign to force the president to resign, announced her support in a statement on Monday.

“Today, it is with immense pride and boundless optimism for the future of our country 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.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday endorsed Kamala Harris for president

Her support comes after a wave of influential Democrats backed the vice president in the 24 hours after Biden canceled his re-election campaign.

The Clintons, Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., leader of Squad AOC, and nearly 200 Democratic lawmakers have officially endorsed Harris for the presidential nomination.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who many thought could replace Biden, even went so far as to endorse Harris for president.

Former President Barack Obama, meanwhile, has said nothing about who he wants to lead the party in November.

Other influential Democrats in Congress, such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have not yet expressed support for the presidential race after Biden leaves office.

Jeffries, however, did have words of praise for Harris on Monday.

“Vice President Kamala Harris has excited the community. She has excited the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives and she has excited the country,” Jeffries told reporters.

He added that he and Schumer will meet with Harris “soon.”

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) applaud as U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 1, 2022.

Pelosi is said to have been hanging out in Congress and talking to as many influential Democrats as possible to try to come up with a plan to get Biden to reconsider his re-election campaign.

That plan appears to have worked, as the 81-year-old president announced in a statement on Sunday that he no longer wants to return to the White House.

Yet Pelosi has previously expressed reservations about Kamala Harris’ ability to lead the party.

When asked in September 2023 whether Harris is the best possible running mate for Biden’s re-election, she replied, “He thinks so.”

“She’s very smart politically,” Pelosi added. “I don’t think people give her enough credit.”

The response at the time was clearly not one of support, but much has changed since Biden announced his re-election in April of that year.