Eliza Collins

USA TODAY

Hillary Clinton can now boast the vote of California Gov. Jerry Brown in the state’s primary next week.

On Tuesday, Brown posted an open letter to Democrats and Independents urging them to vote for the former secretary of State and said the Democratic nomination was already wrapped up.

“The stakes couldn’t be higher. Our country faces an existential threat from climate change and the spread of nuclear weapons. A new cold war is on the horizon. This is no time for Democrats to keep fighting each other. The general election has already begun. Hillary Clinton, with her long experience, especially as Secretary of State, has a firm grasp of the issues and will be prepared to lead our country on day one.”

Despite his support for the Democratic front-runner, Brown did have kind words for Bernie Sanders. He drew parallels to his own 1992 campaign for president.

The Vermont senator is 8 points behind Clinton in California, according to the RealClearPolitics average. But he has vowed to take his candidacy through the election despite Clinton’s significant lead with delegates.

“I have closely watched the primaries and am deeply impressed with how well Bernie Sanders has done,” Brown wrote. “He has driven home the message that the top one percent has unfairly captured way too much of America’s wealth, leaving the majority of people far behind. In 1992, I attempted a similar campaign.”

That campaign against then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton at one point included this sharp exchange at a Democratic debate between Brown and Clinton over the candidate the California governor now backs.

The California primary will take place June 7.