A Wave Of Freshman Congresswomen Just Endorsed Joe Biden

A flurry of endorsements from members of Congress and other government officials followed former Vice President Joe Biden's successful Super Tuesday, when he won 10 out of 14 states including Texas, North Carolina, and Virginia. As a result, he currently has the highest number of endorsements, according to FiveThirtyEight. With former presidential candidates like Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Cory Booker, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar also joining his side, it will be interesting to see what role all of these endorsements play in the eventual nomination.

Ahead, we're keeping a running list of who specifically the freshman women in the U.S. House and Senate — part of the most diverse class in history that has already shaken up D.C. — are endorsing in the 2020 Democratic primary. We will update this story as more information becomes available.

Rep. Abby Finkenauer (Iowa), Jan. 2, 2020: "Joe Biden's character, record, and commitment to rebuilding the backbone of the country — the middle class — is what Iowa and this country needs," Finkenauer said.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania), Jan. 5, 2020: "Our country needs a steady hand, someone who can help heal the country, an experienced and proven leader who can build teams with deep expertise and work across the aisle," Houlahan said. "Like me, he believes that in this polarized environment, real change will come from pragmatic solutions that help working families. Pennsylvania is not red or blue, but a purple place which our next president needs to carry to win."

Rep. Elaine Luria (Virginia), Jan. 5, 2020: "[Joe Biden] will defeat Donald Trump and win tough districts like mine," Luria said. "When he walks into the Oval Office, he will immediately get to work, rebuild the middle class, and restore our standing on the world stage."

Rep. Cindy Axne (Iowa), Jan. 25, 2020: "He is who I believe is the one sure bet to beat Donald Trump," Axne said.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia (Texas), Feb. 19, 2020: Garcia endorsed Biden. 

Rep. Jennifer Wexton (Virginia), March 1, 2020: Wexton endorsed Biden ahead of Super Tuesday.

Rep. Veronica Escobar (Texas), March 2, 2020: Escobar endorsed Biden ahead of Super Tuesday.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (Virginia), March 3, 2020: Spanberger endorsed Biden on Super Tuesday, moments after he won the Virginia primary.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona), March 4, 2020: Sinema endorsed Biden the day after his successful Super Tuesday.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (Michigan), March 5, 2020: Slotkin endorsed Biden ahead of the Michigan primary. 

Rep. Haley Stevens (Michigan), March 5, 2020: Stevens endorsed Biden ahead of the Michigan primary.

Rep. Madeleine Dean (Pennsylvania), March 5, 2020: Dean endorsed Biden. 

Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (Florida), March 9, 2020: Mucarsel-Powell endorsed Biden.

Rep. Lucy McBath (Georgia), March 11, 2020: McBath endorsed Biden. "As a two-time breast cancer survivor and grieving mother who lost her child to gun violence, leadership is personal to me," McBath said in a statement. "I know firsthand the painful experience when our laws fail to protect our families. I know how important it is that health insurance is accessible and affordable. And that is why I am endorsing Vice President Biden. He has a record of bringing people together and finding common-sense solutions, and I am proud to stand with him in this race."

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (Arizona), March 12, 2020: Kirkpatrick endorsed Biden. "Voting for the Affordable Care Act was one of my proudest moments in Congress," she said in a statement. "This critical legislation has been life-changing for so many families in Arizona and around the country. Joe Biden helped make the Affordable Care Act a reality. I worked with him while serving in Congress — I know that on day one he’ll be able to get to work and deliver results on issues facing our country."

Rep. Donna Shalala (Florida), March 15, 2020: Shalala endorsed Biden, citing her close working relationship with him during her tenure as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Oct. 15, 2019: At a rally in Minnesota, the Somali-American congresswoman said she was "honored to stand with the son of a Jewish refugee who survived genocide." Sanders has consistently defended Omar against anti-Muslim attacks and accusations of anti-Semitism.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Oct. 19, 2019: One of the most sought-after endorsements in progressive politics, Ocasio-Cortez has admitted that choosing between Warren and Sanders would be tough. But ultimately Sanders aligns more with her socialist ideas and the diverse, working-class movement she is seeking to build. She officially announced her endorsement while appearing alongside him at a rally in Queens, his first since surviving a heart attack.

"Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib have always lead with courage by unwaveringly fighting for the working people of our country, and their endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders is no exception," Belén Sisa, Bernie 2020 Latino press secretary, told Refinery29. "These women are leading by example, showing that the only way we'll defeat Trump and gain justice for all is by coming together and building a multi-racial coalition that will go far beyond this election, which is exactly what Bernie is doing." 

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), Oct. 27, 2019: Tlaib, who calls Sanders "Amo Bernie" ("Amo" means "uncle" in Arabic), praised him for defending the Squad against attacks. "I think Amo Bernie, when he saw, not just myself but my other sisters in service being attacked by this president, this bully, for him there was no hesitation," Tlaib said in a video announcing her endorsement. "He jumped on board and said, 'What can I do to uplift you all? What can I do to support you all?'"  

Rep. Lori Trahan (Massachusetts), Feb. 9, 2019: Trahan joined Warren at her presidential-campaign kickoff rally back in February. "For too long, Washington has tinkered around the edges of our most pressing issues while the middle class struggles just to stay afloat," Trahan said in a statement. "No more. I am proud to stand with Sen. Warren in this fight to restore decency and a sense of our common values to the presidency and put a worker-focused economic agenda front and center." In October, Warren returned the favor by endorsing Trahan in her reelection bid.

Rep. Deb Haaland (New Mexico), July 30, 2019: "Elizabeth has been a great friend to me, and more importantly a great partner for Indian Country," Haaland, who is one of two Native American women in Congress, tweeted. Haaland's endorsement reportedly split the Native American community because of the controversy regarding Warren's claims of Cherokee ancestry. Warren has cosponsored Savanna's Act, which would improve federal response to the epidemic of violence against Native American women. Together, Warren and Haaland have released a proposal to "protect tribal sovereignty and make investments in Indian Country."

Rep. Katie Porter (California), Oct. 26, 2019: "I’m excited to continue this fight for the middle class with my friend and mentor. Elizabeth is the person I trust to take on corruption in Washington and I’m proud to announce my endorsement," Porter tweeted. Porter reportedly held out on making her endorsement for a while because she considers both Warren and fellow Californian Sen. Kamala Harris her mentors and has long-standing relationships with them. Both endorsed her in her 2018 run for Congress. "I adore Elizabeth and Kamala," Porter told HuffPost recently. "I think either of them would be terrific presidents. I’m very enthusiastic and supportive of both of them, and that’s where it stands."

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts), Nov. 6, 2019: Pressley endorsed and recently hit the campaign trail with Warren. "I have seen Ms. Warren in small church basements and in packed gymnasiums," Pressley said in a video announcement. "And she is consistent. She never loses sight of the people. You’ve all heard about the senator’s plans — but here’s the thing. Her plans are about power: who has it, who refuses to let it go, and who deserves more of it." While some Sanders supporters had strong words for her on Twitter for splitting from the rest of the Squad, who all endorsed Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez responded to her tweet of the endorsement with a single purple heart, showing that while they may differ in their allegiances, they're still friends.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (New Jersey), Feb. 6, 2020: "His unwavering commitment to making our schools and streets safe from gun violence, investing in our region’s infrastructure, creating opportunities for our veterans, and protecting our environment is proof that Mike Bloomberg won’t back down from the many serious challenges we face as a country," Sherrill said.

Rep. Haley Stevens (Michigan), Feb. 8, 2020: "I know Mike Bloomberg will help grow Michigan's manufacturing economy, because I worked with him in the past to create advanced manufacturing jobs," Stevens said. (later endorsed Biden)

Rep. Lucy McBath (Georgia), Feb. 12, 2020: McBath, an anti-gun violence activist whose son was shot and killed, worked with Bloomberg on gun-regulation issues long before she was elected to Congress in 2018. Bloomberg cofounded and funded the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, which spent $1.25 million on McBath's election. (later endorsed Biden)

Rep. Angie Craig (Minnesota), Feb. 10, 2019: In a video from the Minnesota senator's snowy presidential-campaign kickoff rally, Craig said, "We need a little bit of Midwest common sense in the White House."

Rep. Jahana Hayes (Connecticut), July 3, 2019: In an op-ed for Essence, Hayes, a former teacher, praised Harris' policies, such as giving teachers a raise. "Informed by her upbringing, Kamala has presented a policy agenda focused on increasing access for ALL Americans, lifting families up to ensure no child has to be told that something is not possible," Hayes wrote.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (New Jersey), Feb. 21, 2019: "He has fought for criminal justice reform and to strengthen middle-class families, and I know first-hand from working with him while at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark that he will continue that fight for all Americans as President of the United States," Sherrill said in a statement. After Booker dropped out, Sherrill went on to endorse Michael Bloomberg.

Rep. Veronica Escobar (Texas), March 14, 2019

Rep. Kim Schrier (Washington), May 23, 2019

Sen. Jacky Rosen (Nevada)

Rep. Lauren Underwood (Illinois) 

Rep. Sharice Davids (Kansas)

Rep. Susie Lee (Nevada)

Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (New Mexico) 

Rep. Kendra Horn (Oklahoma)

Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (Texas)