Rep. Pramila Jayapal, A Leading Progressive, Endorses Bernie Sanders For President

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) announced Sunday that she has decided to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders for president, adding to the list of notable progressive Democrats backing the Vermont senator.

Jayapal, who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said she chose to endorse Sanders because the senator has a clarity on policy prescriptions that goes right to the heart of what working people need, according to The Washington Post , which first reported news of the endorsement.

Jayapal will also be named the national health policy chair and the Washington State chair for the Sanders campaign, she told The Post. Jayapal, like Sanders, has been an outspoken advocate for Medicare for All, and was one of the first House Democrats to support the proposal.

Im all in for @BernieSanders. Join us! pic.twitter.com/bTfY5WsL3N

Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) January 19, 2020","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Pramila Jayapal","author_url":"https://twitter.com/PramilaJayapal","cache_age":86400,"description":"Im all in for @BernieSanders. Join us! pic.twitter.com/bTfY5WsL3N Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) January 19, 2020\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":675,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EOqpt9LWoAIYC7K.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1350,"title":"Pramila Jayapal on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/PramilaJayapal/status/1218973262597754880","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5e24ca4ac5b673621f77f081","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/pramila-jayapal-progressive-endorses-bernie-sanders_n_5e24ca4ac5b673621f77f081","entryTagsList":"bernie-sanders,elizabeth-warren,democratic-primary,pramila-jayapal","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":11},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5e24ca4ac5b673621f77f081","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Bernie Sanders","slug":"bernie-sanders","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/bernie-sanders","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/bernie-sanders","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/bernie-sanders"},"relegenceId":3548003,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Bernie Sanders","slug":"bernie-sanders","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/bernie-sanders"},{"name":"Elizabeth Warren","slug":"elizabeth-warren","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/elizabeth-warren","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/elizabeth-warren","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/elizabeth-warren"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Elizabeth Warren","slug":"elizabeth-warren","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/elizabeth-warren"},{"name":"Democratic Primary","slug":"democratic-primary","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/democratic-primary","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/democratic-primary","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/democratic-primary"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Democratic Primary","slug":"democratic-primary","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/democratic-primary"},{"name":"pramila jayapal","slug":"pramila-jayapal","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/pramila-jayapal","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/pramila-jayapal","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/pramila-jayapal"},"relegenceId":6426598,"url":"https://action.news/topic/pramila-jayapal"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

Im all in for @BernieSanders . Join us! pic.twitter.com/bTfY5WsL3N
Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) January 19, 2020

Jayapal is expected to speak at a Sanders rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday.

Bernie has the bold passion, authenticity & clarity that working people across this country desperately need, Jayapal tweeted . We are building the progressive movement that will bring justice & opportunity & transform out country.

The endorsement expands Sanders public support from progressive lawmakers. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), the other co-chair of the CPC, endorsed the senator just days earlier .

Jayapal, an Indian American, also joins the many diverse lawmakers who have endorsed Sanders, including three of the four members of the so-called Squad freshmen Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) . Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), the fourth member, endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for president .

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Warren has formed a strong friendship with Jayapal in recent years, and the pair recently co-authored a letter to officials demanding to know what U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are doing to prevent corruption and stop conflicts of interests in the private prison and detention industries.

Jayapals endorsement deals a blow to Warren, whose competition with Sanders for progressive endorsements appears to be growing as the two work to move past a conflict that dominated headlines over the past week.

Warren on Saturday received the endorsement of Janet Petersen , the Iowa state Senates Democratic leader. Both candidates endorsements in recent days could give them a surge ahead of the Feb. 3 Iowa Caucuses .