Melinda French Gates said she’s backing Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid to become president, calling the California Democrat “a leader who knows that when women have their full power in society, we all thrive.”
“There is so much riding on the election in November,” the billionaire philanthropist said Tuesday in a post on X. “We need a leader who will stand up for reproductive freedom. A leader who understands that supporting caregivers leads to healthier families and a stronger economy.”
French Gates last month offered similar support for President Biden’s reelection plans, saying it’s the first time she has ever publicly endorsed a presidential candidate. A week later, his widely panned debate performance threw his candidacy into doubt. He exited the race Sunday.
The billionaire stepped down in June as co-chair of the foundation she helped run with her former husband, Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates. As part of the agreement, she received an additional $12.5 billion from Gates to use for her own charitable purposes, which have been largely focused on women and girls.
Harris has spent the past two days clearing the field of other potential contenders after Biden’s announcement that he wouldn’t seek reelection. She has secured the endorsement of nearly every major Democrat and announced a record-breaking fundraising haul of more than $100 million during her first day as a presidential candidate.
Actor George Clooney, in a statement to CNN, said he would support Harris and praised Biden’s leadership. Clooney, a major Biden donor, called for him to step aside after the president’s debate performance.
In Tuesday’s post, French Gates cited Harris’ support of reproductive rights, paid leave, child care and efforts to eliminate racial disparities in maternal health care.
French Gates, 59, has a net worth of $13.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.