Tuesday Briefing: Support Builds for Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris made her first public appearance since President Biden’s exit from the race.Credit…Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Key Democrats lined up to endorse Harris

Many prominent figures in the Democratic Party said yesterday that they backed Vice President Kamala Harris as their new nominee to be president, just a day after President Biden announced that he was ending his campaign.

The biggest endorsement came from Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, who wields considerable influence in the party.

But Congress’s two top Democrats, Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, have chosen to remain neutral, for now. The decision was driven in part by their belief that their endorsement would make Harris’s nomination look like a coronation, according to people briefed on their thinking. Barack Obama has also so far declined to endorse her.

No one has come forward yet to challenge Harris. Some of the people who endorsed her yesterday were seen as potential rivals, like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois. Here’s a list of Democrats who have announced their support for Harris.

A wave of donations: Less than 24 hours after entering the race, Harris has raised more than $81 million. Several celebrities have also announced their support.

A key choice: Harris needs a running mate. Here are some of her options.