COLUMBIA, S.C. — In his campaign against U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, Democrat Jaime Harrison is picking up the support of a former 2020 presidential hopeful, one he hopes will ultimately be his colleague in Congress.

In a statement to The Associated Press, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris on Monday called Harrison an “advocate for the people” whose senatorial campaign she’s officially backing.

“He believes every South Carolinian deserves the opportunity to not just get by, but to thrive and succeed,” Harris said, of Harrison. “I am confident he will continue to fight for South Carolinians in the Senate. I am proud to endorse Jaime Harrison for U.S. Senate.”

Harris has previously voiced support for Harrison’s bid, lending her voice to a fundraising appeal on his behalf last fall and portraying his bid as necessary to return the Senate to Democratic control. Harrison welcomed her official endorsement, calling the California senator “a relentless fighter for working people” and pledging to work toward equitable health care and infrastructural improvements if elected to join her in the U.S. Senate.