Jul 22, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Senate's No. 2 Dem endorses Harris

Stephen Neukam

U.S. Sens. Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) await a Judiciary Committee hearing for testimony from Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill September 27, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the second-ranking Senate Democrat, on Monday endorsed Vice President Harris to replace Joe Biden at the top of the ticket.

Why it matters: The Durbin endorsement is yet another sign of the party quickly coalescing around Harris, after President Biden left the 2024 race over the weekend.

"Vice President Harris was a critical partner in building the Biden record over the past four years. Count me in with Kamala Harris for President," Durbin said in a statement.
Durbin is the most senior Senate Democrat to throw support behind the vice president. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has yet to weigh in.

The big picture: Biden's endorsement, along with an outpouring of support from congressional Democrats, makes clear that Harris is in pole position to become the Democratic nominee for president.

Harris said Sunday that she will do "everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party—and unite our nation—to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda."

Go deeper: Harris rapidly starts building her Capitol Hill coalition

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Senate's No. 2 Dem endorses Harris

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