Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) stopped short of endorsing Vice President Harris as the party’s new nominee on Sunday, after President Biden announced that he would not seek reelection, a notable omission as Democrats head into an uncharted path forward.
Pelosi and Jeffries — both of whom were reported to have expressed concerns to Biden about his candidacy following last month’s disastrous debate performance — heaped praise on the president but did not mention Harris by name, nor mention who they want to see at the top of the ticket ahead of November.
“President Joe Biden is a patriotic American who has always put our country first,” Pelosi said in a statement. “His legacy of vision, values and leadership make him one of the most consequential Presidents in American history. With love and gratitude to President Biden for always believing in the promise of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfillment. God blessed America with Joe Biden’s greatness and goodness.”
Jeffries echoed that sentiment, calling Biden “one of the most accomplished and consequential leaders in American history” before ticking through a number of his accomplishments from this term.
“America is a better place today because President Joe Biden has led us with intellect, grace and dignity. We are forever grateful,” he added.
Jeffries and Harris spoke with each other later on Sunday.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and former President Obama also put out statements that did not explicitly express support for Harris as the party’s new nominee, raising some eyebrows.
A source familiar with the thinking of top Democrats told The Hill that Sunday is an emotional day and lawmakers are processing the news. They added that the day is about Biden, and that lawmakers are taking matters one day at the time.
But their lack of endorsements is notable since those Democrats — especially Pelosi — were instrumental in the behind-the-scenes effort to get Biden to rethink his decision to stay in the race.
Pelosi earlier this month, when tides began turning in Biden’s direction, went on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” — known to be Biden’s favorite news program — and said “I want him to do whatever he decides to do,” even though the president had been clear that he had already decided to remain in the race.
Pelosi and Biden have not spoken in more than a week, The Hill has learned.
The absence of an endorsement from the top Democrats contrasts with other members of the House Democratic Caucus who quickly offered their support for Harris.
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) — who previously served in Democratic leadership and whose endorsement of Biden during the 2020 race was key to his victory — backed Harris as the new nominee, as did Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee. Clyburn had previously said he’d back Harris if Biden were no longer in the race.
While the top Democrats stopped short of voicing support for Harris in the immediate aftermath of Biden’s announcement, endorsements could come in the near future. Jeffries, for one, typically waits to meet with and talk to members of the House Democratic Caucus before making big decisions.
The group is scheduled to gather for its weekly meeting on Tuesday.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) told The Hill in a brief interview Sunday afternoon that some top Democrats may not be rushing to endorse Harris because they feel that allowing some type of process to unfold would make her a stronger candidate. What that process looks like, however, is unclear.
“There are some who believe that Kamala will be stronger and more legitimate if there is a bit of a process,” Huffman said. “But I don’t hear anyone suggesting that she’s not gonna be the nominee at the end of that process. I just see this inexorable consolidation happening in real time.”
“I am completely confident, like 100 percent confident, that Vice President Harris is going to be our nominee, but it’s okay to allow this to play out a little bit, too,” he added.
The California Democrat noted that calls from lawmakers for a more open process “doesn’t mean they’re opposing her.”
Huffman said he expects that process to be “less than a wide-open convention,” deferring to the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) rules committee.
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison in a statement on Sunday said “in the coming days, the Party will undertake a transparent and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump in November.”
“This process will be governed by established rules and procedures of the Party,” he added. “Our delegates are prepared to take seriously their responsibility in swiftly delivering a candidate to the American people.”