DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — White House hopeful Kamala Harris has nabbed her first Iowa endorsement from a major state Democratic activist.

Jean Hessburg is a former Iowa Democratic Party executive director and the current chair of the party's Women's Caucus.

She tells The Associated Press that she's endorsing Harris because "she's tough, she's got heart. She's quick on her feet, she's sharp as they come and great on all the issues."

The California senator said in a statement that she was proud of the endorsement.

Harris says, "Women will be a deciding voice in the 2020 Iowa Caucuses and I will do all I can to earn their support."

Hessburg will appear with Harris at a house party Thursday afternoon hosted by Emerge Iowa, a group focused on electing Democratic women.