Democrat Congressional Leadership Throws Support Behind Kamala Harris – “I’m Clapping, You Don’t Have To”

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) threw their support behind Kamala Harris for the party’s presidential nomination.

“Now that the process has played out, from the grassroots bottom up, we are here today to throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris,” Schumer said.

Schumer awkwardly clapped in dead silence.

“I’m clapping! You don’t have to,” he said.

WATCH:

CHUCK SCHUMER:

"We are here today to throw our support behind VP Kamala Harris!"

*dead silence*

"I'm clapping! You don't have to." pic.twitter.com/6POZWDRvF2

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 23, 2024

In another clip, Schumer asked for applause.

WATCH:

TOUGH CROWD, CHUCK!

Nobody likes Kamala. pic.twitter.com/it0lukrw7A

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 23, 2024

Schumer said Biden “made the right decision” by dropping out of the election.

WATCH:

Chuck Schumer doesn't deny it was a coup to force a sitting president and major party nominee off the ballot pic.twitter.com/jKNvm9mxhv

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 23, 2024

The Senate Majority Leader dismissed concerns that party insiders and elites installed Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee.

WATCH:

Chuck Schumer dismisses concerns that Democrat elites installed Kamala Harris as their party's nominee — after forcing out the guy who Democrats backed in the primaries — without her receiving a single vote.

The opposite of democracy! pic.twitter.com/ZacFbYnlE0

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 23, 2024

Per CNN:

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination for president during a news conference in Washington on Tuesday.

“When I spoke with her Sunday, she said she wanted the opportunity to win the nomination on her own, and to do so from the grassroots up, not top down,” Schumer said. “Now that the process has played out from the grassroots, bottom up, we are here today to throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.”

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Jeffries echoed Schumer’s sentiment about Harris’ emphasis on winning grassroots support, stating that her candidacy “energized” Democrats and the nation.

“Kamala Harris and her candidacy has excited and energized the House Democratic Caucus, the Democratic Party and the nation,” he said. “I’m proud to strongly endorse Kamala Harris to be the 47th president of the United States of America.”

As the two top Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, Schumer and Jeffries’ endorsement shows how quickly Harris consolidated support after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid on Sunday.

Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries endorse Kamala Harris, say she has "earned the nomination from the grassroots up and not the top down"https://t.co/JRAbzMYueB

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 23, 2024

“Vice President Harris has earned the nomination from the grassroots up and not the top down,” Jeffries said.

WATCH:

Hakeem Jeffries: “Vice President Harris has earned the nomination from the grassroots up and not the top down.” pic.twitter.com/O5tmn8tb5J

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 23, 2024

NBC News reports:

The endorsements from Schumer and Jeffries come a day after Harris clinched support from the majority of pledged delegates for the Democratic convention. That vote to make Harris the party’s official nominee for president will happen in early August ahead of the party’s convention.

While waiting to speak with her before making a formal endorsement, Schumer, who served with Harris in the Senate, and Jeffries had both said positive things about Harris and her campaign since Biden announced Sunday he would not run for re-election. In a statement Monday, the leaders said Harris was “off to a great start” and they looked forward “to meeting in person with Vice President Harris shortly as we collectively work to unify the Democratic Party and the country.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., endorsed Harris on Monday, joining a broad range of congressional Democrats — including progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and popular governors who have been mentioned as potential rivals to Harris for a presidential run — in backing the vice president. Though no longer in leadership, Pelosi played a key role in getting Biden to exit the 2024 campaign, paving the way for Harris.