Stacey Abrams, Karen Bass, Susan Rice And Other Biden VP Contenders Congratulate Kamala Harris

© Al Drago/Getty U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks to reporters after announcing her candidacy for President of the United States, at Howard University, her alma mater, on January 21, 2019 in Washington, DC. On Tuesday, August 11, presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden announced his decision to choose Harris as his Vice President.

Several of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s vice president contenders praised his decision Tuesday after the presidential candidate chose California Senator Kamala Harris as his vice president.

“I have the great honor to that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris – a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants – as my running mate,” Biden wrote in a tweet.

In a subsequent tweet, Biden wrote, “back when Kamala was [California] Attorney General, she worked closely with Beau [Biden]. I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people, and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I’m proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.”

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In March, Biden first pledged that he would pick a woman as his running mate during a Democratic debate.

“I commit that I will in fact pick a woman to be vice president,” Biden said during the debate. The former vice president later reiterated that announcement in a tweet.

Prior to his decision, many speculated a number of potential candidates could be selected, including Harris, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and former national security adviser Susan Rice.

Following his decision, several of those candidates used Twitter to congratulate Harris and Biden.

In a statement, Rice said she was “confident Biden-Harris will prove to be a winning ticket.”

“I warmly congratulate Senator Kamala Harris on her selection as Joe Biden’s Vice Presidential running mate. Senator Harris is a tenacious and trailblazing leader who will make a great partner on the campaign trail,” Rice wrote. “As I have said from the outset, I will do my utmost to assist Joe Biden to become the next president of the United States and to help him govern successfully.”

Georgia Representative Stacey Abrams issued a similar statement, writing that she was “thrilled to support Senator Kamala Harris as the next Vice President of the United States.”

“I look forward to doing all I can for Team Biden-Harris to deliver Georgia’s 16 electoral votes and a Senate majority, and to fight voter suppression across the country,” Abrams added in her statement.

In addition to Abrams and Rice, Whitmer and California Representative Karen Bass made similar comments.

“I am extraordinarily proud to support @KamalaHarris and @JoeBiden,” Whitmer wrote in a tweet. “They will be a fierce team to Build America Back Better.”

Bass wrote in a tweet that Harris “is a great choice for Vice President.”

“Her tenacious pursuit of justice and relentless advocacy for the people is what is needed right now,” Bass added. “Now all Americans will benefit from her work as Vice President. I will do everything I can to help her and @JoeBiden win in November.”

Newsweek reached out to Biden’s campaign for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

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