Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has officially endorsed his predecessor, Terry McAuliffe, in the Virginia governor’s race.

Northam’s endorsement of McAuliffe solidifies the former governor’s strong positioning in the race— and adds another name to a long list of endorsements McAuliffe has successfully courted.

In a statement announcing the endorsement, Northam, who cannot legally seek another consecutive term, cited Virginia’s need for an experienced leader to combat the long-term impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s critical that our next governor has the plans and experience to continue the fight to rebuild Virginia into a stronger, more equitable future. That’s why I am so proud to support Terry McAuliffe to be our next governor,” said Northam. “I’ve worked side-by-side with him for years, and simply put, he always gets the job done.”

Northam also said that McAuliffe was his pick because he could “build on the incredible progress Democrats have made over the past eight years” in the state.

According to the Associated Press, which first reported the endorsement, Northam met with all of the candidates before making his endorsement except one: Del. Lee Carter (D-Manassas), a socialist who did not seek Northam’s endorsement.

Northam’s senior political advisor Mark Bergman told the outlet that, in the end, Northam was deciding between McAuliffe, Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Prince William), and state Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond). Both Foy and McClellan are Black women seeking to make history this election: If elected, either would become the first woman to be governor of Virginia and the first Black woman to be governor in the United States.

McAuliffe, who served as Virginia governor from 2014 to 2018, has collected a number of other high-profile endorsements, including one from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He has the support of Virginia House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, and state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, who are serving as his campaign co-chairs.

McAuliffe is also known in Virginia’s Democratic circles as a highly effective fundraiser—and he had raised more campaign money than all of his opponents combined by the end of last year. His opponents face an uphill battle against his name recognition and large well of funds.

The Northam endorsement follows this week’s Democratic gubernatorial debate. Comments from Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax, one of McAuliffe’s opponents in the race, dominated headlines in the aftermath. Fairfax was accused by two women of sexual assault in 2019; he denies he assaulted them. In the debate, he said that McAuliffe, who was among those who called for his resignation in the aftermath, “treated me like George Floyd, he treated me like Emmett Till, no due process.” Fairfax, who is Black, has made similar comparisons before in trying to make the point that he was presumed guilty.

Many immediately condemned Fairfax’s comments, in which he compared himself to a Black man who was killed by a police officer and a Black boy who was lynched in Mississippi. McClellan called them “shocking, unseemly, and insensitive.”

During the debate, Foy emphasized her commitment to working class Virginians. The former public defender, known for her work on economic and gender justice issues like paid leave and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, has described her campaign as a grassroots movement.

McClellan, who has served in state government for more than 15 years, emphasized her legislative experience and successes. She has championed legislation related to voting rights and marijuana legalization, and has touted her track record on issues of racial equity.

Carter, the only socialist in the House of Delegates, emphasized the class divides in the state, promised to stand up to big corporations and place more power in the hands of the working class. Virginia’s divide, he said, is “not between Democrats and Republicans. It’s not between urban and rural voters. It’s between the haves and have-nots.”

Fairfax emphasized his track record and ability to work collaboratively as president of the Senate, citing his role in the state’s expansion of Medicaid.

And McAuliffe doubled down on what he’s touted as a bold plan to build on the sweeping policy changes Democrats accomplished during Northam’s term. Perhaps in anticipation of criticism that he would be an establishment figure willing to settle for the status quo, McAuliffe has emphasized since the start of his campaign that he wants to be ambitious in tackling issues like education and racial inequity.

In a statement announcing the Northam endorsement, McAuliffe repeated some of those promises.

“We will accelerate Virginia’s minimum wage increase to $15 by 2024, make sure all Virginians have access to paid sick, family, and medical leave, invest in small businesses, and give every child access to a world-class education,” said McAuliffe. “The road of our continued recovery is long, but with our unmatched coalition and bold plans, I know we will get it done.”