House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) endorsed Michigan congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D.) on Wednesday in her Democratic primary contest, in a change of course from her past criticisms of Tlaib and other members of "The Squad."
"Rep. Tlaib never stops fighting for her district, which she is proud to represent," Pelosi said. "And I am proud to endorse her for re-election."
Tlaib and the three other far-left House Democrats known as "The Squad" have had a contentious relationship with Pelosi and the Democratic establishment. After the congresswomen voted against the speaker's border-aid bill last year, for example, Pelosi said the group didn’t "have any following."
"All these people have their public whatever and their Twitter world," Pelosi told New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. "But they don’t have any following. They’re four people and that’s how many votes they got."
Pelosi’s announcement comes just days after Tlaib said she would not endorse Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden—whom the speaker endorsed in April—and would instead focus on voter turnout in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.
Tlaib will face Detroit city council president Brenda Jones in the August 4 Democratic primary.