Nancy Pelosi formally endorses Kamala Harris for president

Nancy Pelosi threw her support behind vice president Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party presidential nominee.

The former House speaker formally endorsed her fellow Californian on Monday, about 24 hours after president Joe Biden announced he would end his re-election campaign over pressure from Democratic lawmakers – reportedly including Pelosi – who were concerned about his ability to win and serve a second term.

"With immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future, I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States," Pelosi said in a brief statement posted on her X account. "I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November."

The 81-year-old Biden endorsed his running mate and was soon followed by many other Democrats, but Pelosi, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and former president Barack Obama had been notably silent on Harris since the announcement.

“America has been truly blessed by the wisdom and leadership of President Joe Biden," Pelosi said in a longer statement. "With love and gratitude, I salute President Biden for always believing in the possibilities of America and giving people the opportunity to reach their fulfillment. As one of our country’s most consequential presidents, President Biden has been not only on the right side of history, but on the right side of the future."

"Today, it is with immense pride and limitless optimism for our country’s future that I endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for President of the United States," Pelosi continued. "My enthusiastic support for Kamala Harris for President is official, personal and political."

"Officially, I have seen Kamala Harris’s strength and courage as a champion for working families, notably fighting for a woman’s right to choose," she added. "Personally, I have known Kamala Harris for decades as rooted in strong values, faith and a commitment to public service. Politically, make no mistake: Kamala Harris as a woman in politics is brilliantly astute — and I have full confidence that she will lead us to victory in November.

"In the Democratic Party, our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power," Pelosi concluded. "Now, we must unify and charge forward to resoundingly defeat Donald Trump and enthusiastically elect Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States. Onward to victory!”