Congressman Danny K. Davis (7th) has officially endorsed a candidate in the crowded race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. During a press conference held July 28 at MacArthur’s Restaurant, 5412 W. Madison St., Davis announced his support for California Sen. Kamala Harris.
“I think it’s important that she be the candidate, because she’s top flight and understands the issues,” Davis said, referencing Harris’ experience as California’s former attorney general for California and some of her campaign positions.
Harris was California’s first female, Jamaican-American and Indian-American attorney general and is its first U.S. senator of that Jamaican and Indian ancestry.
“She’s demonstrated through her work that she agrees with eliminating the cash bail bond system that we’ve been talking about,” Davis said. “Why should a person sit in jail for a minor crime or misdemeanor because they ain’t got no money? Why should a guy behind in his child support have to sit in jail when you can’t possibly make any money to pay the child support? That’s kind of an oxymoron.”
Davis was accompanied by 2nd District Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer, who also announced his support for Harris.
“I believe in believing in people who are fighting for us,” Deer said. “Not only was Kamala Harris one of the first black elected officials to hold a particular office in California, she is fighting for what I consider to be Black issues. She’s passionate about criminal justice reform.”
Davis said that the 7th Congressional District will have eight delegates to the Democratic National Convention in 2020 — four men and four women. During his remarks, Deer said that he wants to be one of those delegates.
Harris is one of 25 candidates who have announced their candidacy for the Democratic nomination. As of July 26, Harris ranked fourth in the national polling average, according to the New York Times. The California senator was polling at 13 percent — behind Sen. Elizabeth Warren (14 percent), Sen. Bernie Sanders (15 percent) and former vice president Joseph R. Biden Jr. (28 percent).
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