In a joint statement from their respective spokesmen, Bill and Hillary Clinton endorsed Bill de Blasio for mayor of New York City.
"Bill de Blasio has been a friend to both President Clinton and Secretary Clinton for many years," read the statement from Matt McKenna, a spokesman for President Clinton, and Nick Merrill, a spokesman for Secretary Clinton. "They were proud to see him run a thoughtful, creative campaign about the issues, and they are behind him as he moves on to the general election as the Democratic nominee."
The endorsement comes two days after de Blasio officially secured the Democratic nomination in the mayoral race.
Throughout this year's long primary contest, the Clintons did not weigh in on the crowded Democratic field. After Anthony Weiner, the husband of Hillary Clinton's closest aide, got in the race in May, both Clintons said they would not be making any primary endorsements, citing ties to multiple candidates.
De Blasio, who said last week that the couple had offered him "extraordinarily helpful advice," served as Hillary Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign manager.
On Monday, former comptroller Bill Thompson, who placed second in the primary, said he would withdraw from the race and not fight for a possible runoff election. Although the Board of Elections has yet to release an official vote count, de Blasio last week just barely cleared the 40% threshold required to avoid a primary runoff.
After Thompson conceded the race and endorsed de Blasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced her support as well.