MD State Senator Endorses Fellow Afghanistan Vet Pete Buttigieg

SILVER SPRING, MD — Maryland State Sen. William Smith Jr., D-Montgomery, has thrown his support behind Democratic presidential candidate and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

The Afghanistan war veteran announced he was endorsing Buttigieg, who is also an Afghanistan war veteran, last week in a tweet linking to a Maryland Matters story.

@PeteButtigieg has demonstrated an incredible ability to both overcome challenges and unite Americans around their shared values. That’s why I am proud to endorse Pete Buttigieg, veteran and servant leader, for President of the United States.
https://t.co/jAWpKFPPnD
— Senator Will Smith (@Willcsmithjr) January 24, 2020

Smith's endorsement comes less than two weeks before the Feb. 3 caucuses in Iowa.

"Our country is changing and we need a leader that is prepared on day one to not only lead but unite Americans from all walks of life," Smith said in an interview with Patch's news partner, Maryland Matters. "It's more important for my president to have a vision and a plan for the next generation than to have spent a generation in a broken and polarized Washington."

Smith, who chairs the Judicial Proceedings Committee in Annapolis, isn't the only politician from Montgomery County to endorse Buttigieg.

Late last year, Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman announced his support for Buttigieg in a tweet, calling him his "favorite 2020 candidate."

Meet my favorite 2020 candidate, Mayor @PeteButtigieg. I hope you’ll take a good look at him too. He’s the real deal & there’s plenty of room on this bandwagon. pic.twitter.com/K4i6WEslN0
— Jud Ashman (@judashman) December 14, 2019