Rep. Brad Schneider Endorses Joe Biden For President

DEERFIELD, IL — U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider announced his endorsement of Joe Biden's third bid for the presidency Wednesday, arguing the former vice president is the only candidate able to step into the White House with the immediate credibility to start rebuilding relationships with allies.

"Our nation is at a crossroads and needs an experienced leader who will immediately restore America's standing in the world, fight for working families, and bring our country together," Schneider said in a statement. "That leader is Joe Biden, which is why I am proud to endorse him for President of the United States."

Schneider is in his third term representing the north suburban 10th Congressional District after winning in 2012, losing in 2014, and winning his last two races by increasingly large margins. The Deerfield Democrat is a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition and last year was appointed co-chair of a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee program aimed at supporting the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the House.

"Beyond his unmatched foreign policy experience abroad, Joe has a proven track record at home of electing Democrats up and down the ballot, election after election," Schneider said. "Winning the White House rests on the shoulders of critical battleground states where I know Joe can beat Donald Trump while also propelling Democrats into state legislative chambers, Congress, and [governors'] mansions. I am proud to join Joe in this fight for the soul of the nation and make Donald Trump a one-term president."

Biden is leading in national polling averages and has received the most endorsements from party elites in the race. More than 1,100 current and former elected officials, community leaders and "national security professionals" have so far endorsed Biden, according to his campaign. His bus is emblazoned with the slogan, "Battle for the Soul of the Nation."

Schneider was the 38th member of Congress to endorse Biden but the first from Illinois. So far, at least three of the 13 Democrats representing Illinois in the House of Representatives have publicly endorsed candidates still campaigning for delegates in upcoming primaries and caucuses, which kick off next week in Iowa.

Last summer, 7th District Congressmen Danny Davis and 1st District Congressman Bobby Rush endorsed the campaign of Sen. Kamala Harris, who dropped out of the race in December. Last week, Rush endorsed former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg in the primary. Davis has not announced who he is now supporting.

In November, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston), announced her endorsement of Sen. Elizabeth Warren's campaign at a rally in Chicago. Schakowsky, a senior chief deputy whip in the House, is in her 11th term representing the 9th District. Warren was already endorsed by Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg picked up the endorsement of State Rep. Lamont Robinson (D-Chicago), the first member of the General Assembly to be both black and openly gay. Buttigieg, 38, has also been endorsed by the mayors of Evanston and Bloomington.

Biden's closest rival in national polls, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, has the endorsements of two current and one former Illinois state representatives, according to his website. He also has the endorsement of at least one state senator, but no federal elected officials from Illinois.

Schneider's north suburban district includes all or parts of Beach Park, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Libertyville, Mundelein, North Chicago, Northbrook, Prospect Heights, Round Lake, Vernon Hills, Waukegan, Wheeling and Zion. After winning the seat back from former Republican Congressman Bob Dold by fewer than 5 percentage points in 2016, Schneider defeated Doug Bennett, vice chair of the West Deerfield Township Republican Organization, by more than 30 points in 2018, collecting nearly twice as many votes as his opponent.

Several Democratic Party organizations on the North Shore have held endorsement meetings over the past week. Evanston Democrats plan to hold an endorsement meeting Feb. 9.

On Saturday, the Northfield Township Democratic Organization met at Glenview Village Hall. No candidate reached the 60 percent threshold of support required for a formal endorsement. In two votes, one with ranked choices, Warren and Biden took the top two spots among attendees, . Township Committeeman Tracy Katz Muhl told the Glenview Journal.

Also on Saturday, more than 100 people attended a presidential straw poll and Iowa-style mock caucus organized by the Tenth Congressional District Democrats at Adlai H. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. While it was not a formal endorsement meeting and only 51 attendees participated in the poll, Buttigieg came out on top with 13 votes, followed by Biden with 11. Warren and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar were tied for third place with 9 votes. Bloomberg and Sanders each had four votes and tied for fifth place. Andrew Yang, who received a single vote, was the only other candidate to receive any support in the poll, according to a spokesperson for the group.

Then on Sunday, the New Trier Township Democratic Organization held its endorsement meeting. Again, no one secured 60 percent of the vote, even after field was reduced to the top three candidates. Biden took first place in the first vote, with Warren and Buttigieg tied for second, according to the organization. In the run-off vote, Biden received 43 percent of the vote. Warren received 32 percent, and Buttigieg received 25 percent.