Rep. Marcia Fudge’s support comes as Kamala Harris works to chip away at former Vice President Joe Biden’s significant lead in the 2020 Democratic primary. | Win McNamee/Getty Images 2020 elections Marcia Fudge endorsement widens Kamala Harris' lead with CBC lawmakers

Rep. Marcia Fudge endorsed Sen. Kamala Harris’ bid for president on Thursday — giving the California Democrat a field-leading 10th endorsement from a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Fudge’s support comes as Harris works to chip away at former Vice President Joe Biden’s significant lead in the 2020 Democratic primary, built in large part on his popularity among African American voters.


Fudge told POLITICO that she met with six presidential candidates before siding with Harris. The Ohio Democrat called it significant that the “people in Congress who probably know her the best are the people who have stepped out for her the most.

“I think it sends a very, very strong statement that she has more endorsements from the CBC than any other candidate, including Joe Biden,” Fudge said.

Biden has endorsements from seven members of the CBC, including Rep. Cedric Richmond, a top surrogate for the former vice president on issues of race and criminal justice, two topics on which Harris has challenged Biden.

New Window Interactive: Track the 2020 Democratic candidates' endorsements

Other than Harris and Biden, Democratic candidates have struggled to gain traction with the influential caucus. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who is black, is backed by two CBC members, both from his home state of New Jersey, while former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro was endorsed earlier this year by freshman Rep. Colin Allred, a fellow Texan.

Asked how she came to her decision, Fudge pointed to Harris’ staying power as a top-tier candidate — along with her understanding of people and aptitude for metabolizing political strategy that the congresswoman took away from their conversations. Fudge said chief among her considerations was Harris’ ability to go up against President Donald Trump. “She has the experience. She has the presence. And she’s tough,” Fudge said.

“I think if the electability argument is something that is out there, she clearly can take him on," she continued.