New York Attorney General Letitia James is leading a group of Black attorneys generals in supporting Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race over the weekend.
Biden on Sunday announced he would step aside from the campaign amid concerns about his age, while endorsing Harris to lead the Democratic ticket in November. Democrats quickly rallied around Harris after his announcement, though it remains to be seen whether she will face a significant challenge during the Democratic National Convention next month.
James announced on Sunday that she is backing Harris. She released a joint statement alongside Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.
In 2010, Harris became California's first Black and South Asian attorney general.
"As District Attorney, Attorney General, Senator, and now Vice President, Kamala Harris has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting and expanding the rights of all Americans," the statement said.
It continued: "She has fought fearlessly to support hardworking families, strong unions, accessible education, reliable infrastructure, and healthy communities. She has staunchly defended our right to choose and preserved our most sacred right to vote. There is no one more qualified to lead and continue to uphold the values of our great nation."
The attorneys added that they "proudly endorse" Harris and have "tremendous gratitude" toward Biden for "years of selfless and dedicated service."
Newsweek has contacted Harris' and James' offices for comment via email.
Supporters of Harris have argued that she can easily inherit the Biden campaign's infrastructure and money, making it easier for her to mount a robust challenge against former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, in November.
Others, however, have said potential contenders should make their cases at the convention for why they may be stronger candidates than Harris. Critics have pointed to polls showing that the vice president, like Biden, has struggled to strengthen her approval rating over the past few years.
However, most high-profile Democrats considered potential challengers have already rallied around Harris, who is viewed as the front-runner, and several states have pledged their delegates to her. The DNC is set to begin on August 19.
Governor Josh Shapiro, a Pennsylvania Democrat, endorsed Harris, writing in a statement that the Democratic Party's "best path forward" is to "quickly unite behind" Harris. He has been viewed as a potential running mate because of his strong electoral performance in the 2022 gubernatorial race.
Harris has received endorsements from key Democratic figures, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and more progressive figures, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat.
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About the writer
Andrew Stanton is a Newsweek weekend reporter based in Maine. His role is reporting on U.S. politics and social issues. ... Read more