Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) got his second congressional endorsement for his presidential bid — from the other chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Hillary Clinton has gotten more than 100 endorsements from members of Congress, many who have served as campaign co-chairs for their home states in this or her last presidential campaign. But last week Progressive Caucus co-chairman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) declared his support for Bernie, rallying with the senator and more than 13,000 supporters Friday in Tucson. “It is way past time that we had a national candidate and a voice that speaks truth to power,” Grijalva said at the rally. “It’s a message that the American people want to hear and that the American people support.”
Today, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) declared that he, too, is feeling the Bern.
The endorsement conveniently comes the day before the Democratic candidates are set to face off in their first debate.
“I’m endorsing Bernie because he is talking about the issues that are important to American families,” Ellison said in a statement. “His candidacy is important for many reasons, but I believe the most important part of his candidacy is that it has the ability to create a renaissance in voter participation, which was at its lowest in decades this past election cycle.”
“We’ve all seen the massive crowds he is attracting, and I think that is a testament to his message connecting with people — people we will need to turn out in November.”
The Congressional Progressive Caucus was actually founded by Sanders when he was a freshman congressman in 1991.
After Ellison’s endorsement, Bernie lauded him as “one of the great progressive leaders in the country leading the fight for the rights of working families and the environment.”
“I look forward to working with him to create a government which represents all Americans and not just the billionaires,” Sanders added.
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