Here Is the Presidential Pick for Each Member of the Democrat Congress Today
This weekend, New York City Representative. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez formally approved Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for president at a rally in Queens, New York, in front of an enthusiastic crowd . And while the rally drew some backlash – mostly from the GOP and conservative media – the approval is a much-needed seal of approval for Sanders at just the right time, as candidates like Elizabeth Warren are skyrocketing in recent polls. “I think supporting female freshmen from Congress will bring new life to his campaign,” Trump’s 2016 campaign adviser Michael Caputo told the Daily Beast this week.
So why do these big endorsements matter at all? Perhaps even before Twitter and Facebook came along, politicians hoped that their endorsement could influence your thinking and the thinking of other voters to take this candidate more seriously; at least it’s a damn good PR strategy to throw in support of big names like Nancy Pelosi or Diane Feinstein. (And it’s not just current and former officials who bless candidates; nonprofits, PKKs, and celebrities will be free to support candidates – remember when Oprah backed Obama in the 2008 election?)
As Five Thirty Eight points out, while endorsement doesn’t necessarily affect who gets nominated or wins the election, it’s a pretty good predictor overall – winners in endorsement tend to win the ticket. (Leaders are determined not only by the number of supporters, but also by the names themselves.) Accordingly, below you will find a list of each Democratic member of Congress and those who supported the candidates in the 2020 race.
It’s still early, so most have not decided yet, and this post will be updated as the race continues. For obvious reasons, we have excluded Republicans from this list (most of them were undecided as well, and those who supported the Republican nominee largely support Trump’s re-election), as well as those in the 2020 race, currently competing in Congress; those candidates who do not receive approval from a current member of Congress will also not appear on this list, which includes candidates such as Andrew Young and Tulsi Gabbard.
What have we learned so far? Well, politicians tend to remain loyal to their state candidates, actual endorsements are not always an indicator of how they vote and it is highly likely that we will see more endorsements announcements in the months (or even days) … ).
Amy Klobuchar
- Minnesota Senator Tina Smith
- Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig : “We need a little common sense from the Midwest in the White House.”
- Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum
- Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips
- Minnesota Rep. Colleen Peterson : “From a small state, she will have a difficult battle.”
Total: 5 (one senator, four representatives of the House of Representatives; overall zero approvals out of state)
Bernie Sanders
- California rep. Roh Hannah: Appointed co-chair of Sanders’ national campaign in February.
- Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib
- Minnesota Rep. Ilkhan Omar
- New York rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “One of the important things about what Senator Sanders is talking about and what this campaign is about is that it is much more than a presidential campaign. It’s about building a grassroots movement, ”she told NPR .
- Washington Rep. Pramila Japayal
- Senator Patrick Leahy from Vermont
- Vermont Rep. Peter Welch
Total : 7 (one senator, six House of Representatives; total of five out-of-state approvals)
Corey Booker
- New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez: “I can’t think of anyone better to represent and unite the American people,” he tweeted . “Corey will be a great friend and an even stronger president.”
- New Jersey Rep. Albio producers
- New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim : “Senator Corey Booker represents the best of New Jersey and the best of America.”
- New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr.
- New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman
- New Jersey Rep. Donald Norcross
- New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne Jr.
- New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone : “He is what we need to move our country forward from the divisive policies of Donald Trump.”
- New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drews
- New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer
- New Jersey Rep. Mickey Sherrill
- New Jersey Rep. Tom Malinowski
Total: 12 (one senator, 11 House of Representatives; overall zero out-of-state approvals)
Elizabeth Warren
- Arizona rep. Raul Grijalva : “She is a courageous, persistent, forward-looking leader who cares for working-class families, and for this she earned my approval.” (Also previously supported Sanders in 2016.)
- California rep. Katie Porter
- Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey
- Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressly
- Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern
- Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III
- Massachusetts Rep. Catherine Clarke: “We need a leader who will fight to give every family a chance to succeed,” she wrote on Twitter .
- Massachusetts Rep. Laurie Trahan
- Michigan Representative Andy Levin
- New Mexico rep. Deb Haaland : “Elizabeth was a great friend to me and a great partner for Indian Country.”
Total: 10 (one senator, 9 House of Representatives; four out of state approvals in total)
Joe Biden
- Senator from Alabama Doug Jones
- California Senator Diane Feinstein
- California rep. Lou Correa : “We need someone who knows our country, who knows the soul of our country, and I believe it is Joe Biden.”
- Delaware Senator Chris Koons
- Senator Tom Carper from Delaware: “In 1982, then Senator Joe Biden was the first to advise me to run for Delaware’s seat in the US House of Representatives … Today I am very proud to support my friend Joe as he launches his campaign to become the next president. U.S.A “.
- Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester : “I believe the American people will choose hope and compassion over fear by electing Vice President Joe Biden as the next President of the United States.”
- Florida rep. Alfred Lawson
- Florida rep. Charlie Christ
- Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond : Appointed co-chair of Biden’s national campaign in May.
- Missouri representative. Emanuel Cleaver
- New York rep. Tom Suozzi
- North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield
- Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey
- Pennsylvania, rep. Brendan Boyle
- Pennsylvania, rep. Dwight Evans : “Joe Biden was a champion of all Americans as a Senator, Vice President, and hopefully the 46th President of the United States.”
- Pennsylvania, rep. Matt Cartwright
- Pennsylvania, rep. Michael Doyle
- Texas Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson
- Texas Rep. Philemon Vela
- Texas Rep. Vicente Gonzalez: Initially supported Castro until the September debate.
- Virginia Rep. Donald MakIchin : “His dedication to the ordinary Americans and fair and worthy of respect for the system serves as a guide for our democracy. But perhaps most importantly, I know he can defeat President Trump and that should be our top priority. “
Total: 21 (five senators, 16 House of Representatives; 18 out of state approvals total)
John Delaney
- California rep. Juan Vargas
- Maryland Representative David Throne : “@JohnKDelaney has done a great job bringing people together to solve problems. He would be a fantastic president, and I’m 100% for him! “
Total: 2 (Two House Representatives; One Out of State Approval)
Juli en Castro
- Texas Rep. Colin Allred
- Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro
Total : 2 (2 House Representatives; zero out of state references)
Kamala Harris
- Arizona rep. Ruben Gallego
- California rep. Barbara Lee: “As the third African American to run for president in a major party, I am very proud to support her candidacy as she continues this fight for equality, justice and dignity for all Americans.”
- California rep. Jim Costa
- California rep. Julia Brownlee
- California rep. Katie Hill : “She was just an outstanding leader in the state of California, and I think she is exactly the candidate we need to show the right vision that we need to have for this country.”
- California rep. Nanette Barragán : “She is the tough, decisive progress that we need right now to not only defeat Trump, but also to mobilize a movement of people behind a generous vision of change.”
- California rep. Ted Lie
- Connecticut rep. Jahana Hayes : “Kamala Harris is the perfect antidote to the false stories of our current president.”
- Florida rep. Elsie Hastings
- Florida rep. Frederica S. Wilson : “Senator Harris is a lifelong civil servant who has staked her career on those who bring results to those who are most often overlooked.”
- Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush
- Illinois Rep. Danny Davis : “History is constantly changing, and America is ready to elect its first woman president, and Kamala Harris is ready to become that woman.”
- Michigan Representative Brenda Lawrence : “I am looking for someone who is well versed in matters, who has the tenacity, strength and courage to fight Donald Trump. And I’m also looking for someone with compassion for this country, and I’m very determined to support Senator Harris. “
- Missouri representative. William Lacy Clay
- Ohio rep. Marcia Fudge
- Texas Rep. Al Green : “Kamala Harris represents the future of our nation,” he told Politico.
Total: 16 (16 House of Representatives; 10 out of state approvals total)
Pete Buttigieg
- Virginia rep. Don Beyer : “I think he is the most eloquent candidate we have … Politics is about communication and the ability to tell a story well. And I think he does it better than anyone I’ve seen since Barack Obama. “
Total: 1 (representative from one chamber; only one out-of-state approval)
Steve Bullock
- Montana Senator John Tester
Total : 1 (one senator; overall zero out-of-state approvals)
Unclear or undecided
- Alabama rep. Terry Sewell
- Senator from Arizona Kristen Cinema
- Arizona rep. Ann Kirkpatrick
- Arizona rep. Greg Stanton
- Arizona rep. Tom O’Halleran
- California rep. Adam Schiff
- California rep. Alan Lowenthal
- California rep. Ami Bera
- California rep. Anna Eshu
- California rep. Brad Sherman : Believes that the democratic race can “descend” to Biden and Warren.
- California rep. Doris Matsui: Harris supported her .
California rep. Eric Swalwell
He did not endorse a candidate after the end of his presidential campaign in July. “If Megan Rapino comes out in the race, I’ll probably support her,” he said jokingly.
Photo: Scott Olson
- California rep. Gil Cisneros : Biden , Harris and Warren all supported him.
- California rep. Grace Napolitano
- California rep. Harley ore
- California rep. Jackie Speyer
- California rep. Jared Huffman: In an interview in April 2019 , he said he prefers Harris, O’Rourke and Warren (and also Insley before dropping out).
- California rep. Jerry McNerney
- California rep. Jimmy Gomez: Harris supported him in 2016 .
- California rep. Jimmy Panetta
- California rep. John Garamendi
- California rep. Josh Harder: Harris and Warren supported him in 2018.
- California rep. Judy Chu
- California rep. Karen Bass
- California rep. Linda Sanchez
- California rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
- California rep. Mark DeSolnier
- California rep. Mark Takano
- California rep. Maxine Waters
- California rep. Mike Levin
- California rep. Mike Thompson
- California rep. Nancy Pelosi
- California rep. Norma Torres
- California rep. Pete Aguilar: Biden supported him in 2014.
- California rep. Raul Ruiz
- California rep. Saloud Karbajal : Supported O’Rourke before he dropped out.
- California rep. Scott Peters: Biden approved hi m in 2016.
- California rep. Susan Davis
- California rep. TJ Cox: Harris supported him in 2018.
- California rep. Tony Cardenas
- California rep. Zoe Lofgren
- Colorado Rep. Diana DeGett
- Colorado Rep. Ed Perlmutter
- Colorado Rep. Jason Crowe: Biden approved hi m in 2018.
- Colorado Rep. Joe Neguse: Biden approved hi m in 2018.
Senator from Connecticut Chris Murphy
Did not endorse the candidate, but publicly called for donations on behalf of Booker. “I have not yet supported and am not going to do it now,” he tweeted . “But my friend @CoryBooker deserves to stay in this race. I hope you watch this video and think about helping him make a donation. “
Photo: Drew Angerer
- Senator from Connecticut Richard Blumenthal
- Connecticut rep. Jim Himes
- Connecticut rep. Joe Courtney
- Connecticut rep. John Larson
- Connecticut rep. Rose L. DeLauro
- DC Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton
- Florida rep. Darren Soto: Biden approved hi m in 2018.
- Florida rep. Donna Shalala: Both Biden and Warren supported her in 2018.
- Florida rep. Debbie Mukarsel-Powell: Biden backed her in 2018.
- Florida rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Sanders supported her rival in 2016.
- Florida rep. Katie Castor
- Florida rep. Lois Frankel
- Florida rep. Stephanie Murphy : Supported O’Rourke before he dropped out.
- Florida rep. Ted Deutsch
- Florida rep. Val Demings
- Georgia rep. David Scott
- Georgia rep. Hank Johnson
- Georgia rep. John Lewis : “I’m not leaning towards support at all.”
- Georgia rep. Lucy McBeth
- Georgia rep. Sanford Bishop Jr.
- Guam rep. Michael FC San Nicolas
- Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz
Hawaii Senator Mazi Hirono
She has not yet supported the candidate, but made it clear that she does not support Gabbard’s nomination. “… I want someone to be on this page in terms of supporting equal opportunity, choice, all kinds of challenges that I have struggled with for decades,” she told MSNBC.
Photo: Chip Somodeville
- Hawaii rep. Ed Keyes
- Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth: Biden backed her 2016 campaign .
- Illinois Senator Dick Durbin
- Illinois Rep. Bill foster
- Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider
- Illinois Rep. Cherie Bustos
- Illinois Rep. Jesús Garcia: Supported Sanders in 2016 , but hasn’t supported the candidate yet.
- Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood
- Illinois Rep. Robin Kelly
- Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley
- Illinois Rep. Sean Kasten: Warren supported his campaignin 2018 .
- Indiana rep. Andre Carson
- Indiana rep. Janice Danoff Shakovski
- Indiana rep. Peter Wiskloski
- Indiana rep. Raja Krishnamurti
- Iowa Rep. Abby Finkenauer : Has worked with (but has not yet approved) campaign staffer Elizabeth Warren.
- Iowa Rep. Cindy Axn
- Iowa Rep. Dave Lobsack
- Kansas Rep. Sharis Davids: Biden approved her run in 2018 .
- Kentucky Rep. John Yarmouth
- Maine rep. Jared Golden
- Maine rep. Chelley Pingree
- Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen
- Senator from Maryland Ben Cardin
- Maryland spokesman Anthony Brown : Said he sees Biden is “just as well positioned” to defeat Trump.
- Maryland Representative Dutch Ruppersberger
- Maryland Representative John Sarbanes
- Maryland Representative Steny Hoyer
- Massachusetts Rep. Bill Keating
- Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal
Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton
“I’m not going to support anyone right away, but the vice president is a mentor and friend, and I think he will make a great president,” he told the New York Times after the end of his presidential campaign.
Photo: SCott Eisen
- Senator from Michigan Gary Peters
- Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow : “Seriously, all running people are my friends. I think it’s great to see so many people who are hardworking, ethical, smart and ready to be president, ”she told Detroit News.
- Michigan Representative Dan Kildy
- Michigan Representative Debbie Dingell
- Michigan Representative Elissa Slotkin: Biden supported her in 2018.
- Michigan Representative Hayley Stevens: Biden backed her in 2018.
- Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig
- Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips
- Mississippi Rep. Benny Thompson
- Mississippi Rep. Colleen Peterson
- Senator Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada
- Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen: Biden approved her S Enate to launch in 2018.
- Nevada rep. Dina Titus : Expects to support the candidate until the end of 2019 (she also expressed her addiction to Biden in 2018).
- Nevada rep. Stephen Horsford: Haven’t endorsed the nominee yet, but tweeted his support for the Booker campaign. “Please consider making a donation to help him and solve the many problems he advocates across the country.”
- Nevada rep. Susie Lee: Biden supported her campaign in 2018.
- Senator from New Hampshire Maggie Hassan
- New Hampshire Rep. Annie Custer
- New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas
- New Mexico Senator Tom Udall: P ublicly called on 2020 candidates to highlight politicians protecting state lands; in September, he retweeted Booker’s extensive proposal but did not support its launch.
- New Mexico rep. Ben Ray Lujan
- New Mexico rep. Xochitl Torres Small
- Senator from New York Chuck Schumer
- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York: “I’m going to support the man who I think will be the first, the best president and the second who can beat Trump,” she told USA Today after the end of her presidential campaign.
New York rep. Adriano Espailat
According to Politico, he is still “weighing his options,” but has met with candidates such as Biden, Buttigieg, Sanders and Warren.
Photo: Chip Somodeville
- New York rep. Antonio Delgado: Biden supported his 2018 campaign .
- New York rep. Anthony Brindisi
- New York rep. Brian Higgins
- New York rep. Caroline Maloney: Previously supported Gillibrand .
- New York rep. Eliot Engel
- New York rep. Grace Maine
New York rep. Gregory Meeks
This race is so significant that I don’t understand how you can do something because of your home state, ”he told the New York Times back in March, explaining why he did not support Senator Gillibrand from New York at the time.
Photo: Rob Loud
- New York rep. Hakim Jeffries
- New York rep. Jerrold Nadler
- New York rep. Jose Serrano
- New York rep. Joseph Morell
- New York rep. Kathleen Rice: Supported O’Rourke before he dropped out.
- New York rep. Max Rose
- New York rep. Nita Lowy
- New York rep. Nidia Velazquez
- New York rep. Paul Tonko: “This area is still evolving,” he told the New York Times back in March.
- New York rep. Sean Patrick Maloney: Supported O’Rourke before he dropped out.
- New York rep. Yvette D. Clarke
- North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams
- North Carolina Rep. David Price
- Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown
- Ohio rep. Marcy Captur: Supports Biden .
- Ohio rep. Joyce Beatty : “Biden stands out.”
- Oklahoma Rep. Kendra Horn
- Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley: Supported Sanders in 2016 .
- Oregon Senator Ron Weeden
- Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer
- Oregon Rep. Kurt Schroeder
- Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio
- Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici
- Pennsylvania, rep. Chrissy Hulahan: I was recently a co-organizer of a fundraiser for Buttigieg .
Pennsylvania, rep. Conor Lamb
Called Biden as his ” initial favorite, ” but received no support.
Photo: Drew Angerer
- Pennsylvania, rep. Mary Gay Scanlon
- Pennsylvania, rep. Madeleine Dean
- Pennsylvania, rep. Susan Wilde
- Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reid: “Called prospect Biden as having a big sec lead .”
- Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
- Rhode Island Rep. Jim Langevin
- Rhode Island Rep. David N. Chicillin: Didn’t fully support Biden, but publicly supported his Twitter campaign.
- Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen
- Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper
- Tennessee Rep. James Cliburn
- Tennessee Rep. Joe Cunningham: Biden supported his 2018 campaign .
- Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar
- Texas Rep. Lizzie Fletcher: Biden supported her campaign in 2018.
- Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett
- Texas Rep. Mark Veasey
- Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
- Texas Rep. Silvia Garcia
- Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar : Supported O’Rourke before he dropped out.
- Utah Representative Ben McAdams
- Virgin Islands Rep. Stacy Plaskett
- Senator from Virginia Tim Kane
- Virginia Senator Mark Warner
- Virginia Rep. Abigail Spahnberger: Biden supported her campaign in 2018.
- Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott
- Virginia Rep. Elaine Luria
- Virginia Rep. Jerry Connolly
- Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton
- Senator from Washington Maria Cantwell
- Senator from Washington Patty Murray
- Washington Rep. Adam Smith
- Washington Rep. Danny Heck
- Washington Rep. Derek Kilmer
- Washington Rep. Kim Schrier: Previously supported Jay Inslee .
- Washington Rep. Rick Larsen: Previously supported Jay Inslee .
- Washington Rep. Susan DelBene
- West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin III
- Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin: Will not endorse the Democratic nominee.
- Wisconsin Rep. Gwen moore
- Wisconsin Rep. Ron Kind
- Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pokan
Total: 193 (28 senators, 169 representatives of the House of Representatives).
This story was updated 10/23/19 regarding Warren’s support for the California rep. Donna Shalala and Maryland Representative. Supported by David Tron Delaney.
This story was updated on 10/24/19 to reflect the reputation of Texas. Supported by Castro Collin Allred.
This story was updated on 10/27/19 to reflect announcements from the Michigan State Representative. Supported by Rashida Tlaib of Representative Sanders and California. Support for Katie Porter Warren.
This story was updated on 6/11/19 to reflect O’Rourke’s elimination from the race and the announcement of the Massachusetts representative. Warren’s support by Ayanna Pressly.