Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, a member of the so-called progressive group know as, “The Squad,” endorsed her home state Massachusetts Senator, Elizabeth Warren, for President.
“I’m proud to call her my Senator, I can’t wait to call her our President,” Pressley said in her endorsement video.
Big structural change can’t wait. pic.twitter.com/8Sanof9COD
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) November 6, 2019
By endorsing Warren, Pressley breaks from the other three members of “The Squad,” including Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who have pledged their support to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., for the 2020 Democratic nomination.
Warren and Sanders are not all that different. They both want to eliminate student debt, provide free college, provide “Medicare for All,” and have a swath of other radical progressive policy proposals. Despite, their differences in styles or policies, Warren and Sanders both want to fundamentally overhaul the American economy.
So, why would it matter whether Pressley and the rest of “The Squad” endorsed Warren or Sanders?
With Warren’s Senate seat available, this would allow Pressley, a progressive “rising star” in the Democratic Party, the opportunity to run for Senate in 2020.
Pressley is smart to not only to eye the Senate seat vacancy, but to align with the Massachusetts Senator who holds a 51 percent approval rating. Endorsing Warren signals to voters she will continue the Warren legacy.
“For Elizabeth and for me, power belongs in the hands of the people. That’s why she’s fighting for fundamental change that restores power to those who’ve been left behind, and centers those who’ve never had access to it in the first place,” Pressley said in the video.
On a national level, Pressley’s endorsement could help Warren earn the support of African-American voters and minority groups where Warren has struggled with securing support thus far. However, in the past month Warren has seen a significant gain in support among African-American women under 50. Pressley’s endorsement could help with the continued growth Warren needs from African-Americans to win in early primary states.
