Rev. Jesse Jackson endorses Bernie Sanders for president

Rev. Jesse Jackson is endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders for president in 2020. 

The Sanders campaign released a statement from Jackson on Sunday detailing why he believes Sanders is the best candidate for the presidency. 

Jackson is expected to speak alongside Sanders at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this afternoon. The endorsement comes a little over a week after Jackson's home state of North Carolina voted in support of the former Vice President Joe Biden. 

Jackson, who's run for president himself in the past, said in his statement that Biden's campaign has not reached out to him or asked for support. By contrast, Jackson said the Sanders campaign reached out and responded to the issues he raised and concerns he expressed. 

Among those issues, Jackson said Sanders is committed to addressed voting rights issues, including supporting a soon-to-be proposed constitutional amendment to help prevent voter suppression. 

Jackson also cited Sanders' promise to support a wealth tax and target funding toward historically black colleges and universities. 

"Senator Sanders supports a single payer health care plan that I advocated in 1984 and 1988 with his Medicare for All plan that will provide every American with universal and comprehensive health care," Jackson said in his statement, "with extra funds targeting rural and minority hospitals and community health centers."

Also on Sunday, onetime candidate Sen. Kamala Harris announced her endorsement for Joe Biden. 

In a statement released Sunday morning, Harris said there is a need to unify the party around one "candidate who reflects the decency and dignity of the American people and who can ultimately defeat Donald Trump."

Email Elizabeth at elafleur@greenvillenews.com