Democrats back Harris for 2024, Pelosi remains silent

Many Democrats quickly threw their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday to run as the party’s presidential nominee against Donald Trump after incumbent Joe Biden abruptly exited the race, but some powerful members of the party, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, remained silent.

After weeks of fighting within the Democratic Party over whether Biden, 81, should remain in the race, a surge of support rallying behind her is crucial with just over 100 days to go until the November election.

However, there are still many doubts within the Democratic Party about Harris’ ability to beat Trump in November.

Biden himself endorsed Harris on Sunday, not in his initial letter announcing his resignation, but in a separate statement. He was quickly followed by the powerful Congressional Black Caucus, several key donors, lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and super PACs including Priorities USA and Unite the Country.

“Today I want to give my full support and endorsement to Kamala to be our party’s nominee this year,” Biden said on the social media platform X. “Democrats, it’s time to unite and defeat Trump. Let’s do it.”

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a Juneteenth concert hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., June 10, 2024. (REUTERS/LEAH MILLIS/FILE PHOTO)

Dmitri Mehlhorn, an adviser to LinkedIn founder and major Democratic donor Reid Hoffman, called Harris “the American dream personified,” noting that she is the daughter of immigrants. “She is also the epitome of toughness, having left my hometown of Oakland, California, to become the state’s top prosecutor. With Scranton Joe gone, I look forward to helping elect Harris as President.”

Others, including Pelosi, have thanked Biden for his patriotism but have yet to endorse Harris or any other candidate.

Democrats Want to Stop Trump

U.S. Senator Peter Welch, the first Democratic senator to call on Biden to drop his re-election bid, called for an open process to nominate Harris.

Democrats should have “an open process so that whoever our nominee is, including Kamala, has the strength to have a process that shows the consensus position of the party,” he said. “The debate within the Democratic Party is who can carry on President Biden’s legacy and defeat Trump.”