These top Democrats are endorsing Harris in presidential race

More and more top Democrats are endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's nominee in the race for the White House after President Joe Biden announced he would step down. 

Some of the heavy-hitters include Biden himself, as well as former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Rep. Adam Schiff, and the Congressional Black Caucus.

But not every Democrat praising Biden has offered Harris an endorsement. Democratic Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Peter Welch of Vermont stopped short of throwing their support behind Harris. Welch said in an interview with The Associated Press that he thinks the party needs to "take a little pause and express our appreciation for the president."

"We have to be making our decisions first and foremost about who can best represent us so we can defeat Trump," Welch said.

Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also said that Democrats shouldn’t automatically anoint Harris as their new nominee.

Kennedy said that Democrats seem to be doing so "because it’s the easiest way to hold onto the money." Not opening up the nomination process, Kennedy warned, would "discredit the process."

Here are the endorsements Harris has gained so far: 

Barack and Michelle Obama

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama on July 26 formally endorsed Harris for president, giving the vice president crucial backing from two of the most popular Democrats.

The endorsement was announced in a video showing Harris accepting a joint phone call from the former first couple.

"We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office," the former president told Harris, who is shown taking the call as she walks backstage at an event, trailed by a Secret Service agent.

"I can’t have this phone call without saying to my girl, Kamala, I am proud of you," Michelle Obama said. "This is going to be historic."

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., held a press conference at Senate Democrats' campaign headquarters on Tuesday amid mounting speculation over whether they would endorse Harris.

"Now that the process has played out from the grassroots bottom up, we are here today to throw our support behind Vice President Kamala Harris," Schumer said.

Former US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, 40 former DOJ Officials 

More than 40 former Justice Department officials endorsed Harris in a new letter. The officials included former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former deputy attorneys general Sally Yates, David Ogden and Jamie Gorelick and John McKay.

"The fabric of the nation, the rule of law and the future of the Democracy are at stake in this election," the letter read. "The stakes could not be higher. Former President Trump presents a grave risk to our country, our global alliances and the future of democracy."

The letter continued, "We join him [Biden] enthusiastically in endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next President of the United States."

U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi 

U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi announced Monday that she is endorsing Harris. 

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said Monday that Harris had his full support. 

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker 

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee in a social media post Monday morning.

He said he believed Harris was "the most qualified and capable person to be president."

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said on Monday she was "fired up" to endorse Kamala Harris for president. 

Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire

Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire is the chair of the New Democrat Coalition, a moderate caucus on Capitol Hill, and endorsed Harris Sunday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who's also faced speculation that he could be a front-runner for the Democratic presidential candidate, shared his support of Harris Sunday evening. 

"With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, " he said. 

Bill and Hillary Clinton 

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Sunday that they are endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination for president after President Biden said he would not seek re-election.

In a statement, the Clintons said Biden "has capped his extraordinary career of service with a Presidency that has lifted America out of an unprecedented pandemic, created millions of new jobs, rebuilt a battered economy, strengthened our democracy, and restored our standing in the world. By any measure, he has advanced our founders’ charge to build a more perfect union and his own stated goal of restoring the soul of our nation."

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California Rep. Adam Schiff

 California Rep. Adam Schiff also threw his nod to Harris. 

"I am excited to endorse  @KamalaHarris for President, and give her my full support!" he tweeted. 

Gabrielle Giffords

Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords is also supporting Harris. 

"I am proud to endorse @KamalaHarris’s historic candidacy for President of the United States," she posted. "She will make a great president, and her strong, steadfast leadership will save lives. Mark and I will do everything we can to ensure she is elected in November." 

Rep. James Clyburn

Clyburn, a co-chair of Biden’s campaign, said Biden showed good judgment in choosing a running mate who "possessed the values and vision necessary." He said he was proud to follow Biden’s lead in supporting Harris.

Clyburn also heaped praise on Biden and said he "improved the lives of countless Americans through his selfless service," and thanked him for "his unparagoned leadership."

Congressional Black Caucus

The Congressional Black Caucus also, through its political action committee, gave its support to Harris as the next Democratic nominee. The Black caucus had stood by Biden since the debate last month even as many other Democrats called for him to step aside.

President Joe Biden

The president — intent on serving out the remainder of his term in office — quickly endorsed Harris to take on Trump and encouraged his party to unite behind her, making her the party’s instant favorite for the nomination at its August convention in Chicago.

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Harris, in a statement, praised Biden’s "selfless and patriotic act" and said she intends to "earn and win" her party’s nomination.

"I will do everything in my power to unite the Democratic Party — and unite our nation — to defeat Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda," she said.

FOX News, the Associated Press and Kelly Hayes contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.