4 NJ Congress Members Endorse Joe Biden For President

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Joe Biden’s presidential campaign has racked up more support from some of New Jersey’s top Democratic Party members.

On Wednesday, four Garden State members of the U.S. House of Representatives announced their endorsement of the former vice president: Mikie Sherrill (District 11), Bill Pascrell Jr. (District 9), Donald Norcross (District 1) and Josh Gottheimer (District 5).

Alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Biden has emerged as one of the frontrunners for the Democratic Party nomination against President Donald Trump in 2020.

Biden went into Tuesday's primary election leading Sanders 664-573 in the delegate count. A preliminary count expanded Biden's lead to 842-681.

• See related article: Sanders, Biden Mount Attacks As Head-To-Head Race Takes Shape

ENDORSEMENTS FOR BIDEN FROM NJ

Sherrill’s endorsement is her second this election cycle. She gave a thumbs-up to Mike Bloomberg last month; he announced his withdrawal from the race on March 4.

• See related article: Rep. Mikie Sherrill Of NJ Endorses Mike Bloomberg For President

“[Former] Vice President Biden is a life-long public servant who has shown time and again that he understands what is at the heart of America," Sherrill said. “His compassion and his understanding of the needs of working families have always defined him. I believe that he will deliver a stronger, more prosperous future for the country and, importantly, for New Jersey’s families.”

“New Jersey needs an experienced leader who will focus on the priorities that matter to us: lowering the cost of healthcare, implementing a fairer tax system, and investing in our nation’s critical infrastructure needs,” Sherrill continued. “Joe Biden has done this his entire life. He knows what is at stake, and I’m proud to stand with him.”

Biden endorsed Sherrill in her Congressional campaign against now-retired Republican stalwart Rodney Frelinghuysen in the 11th District in 2018.

• See related article: Joe Biden Endorses Mikie Sherrill's Bid For US Congress

Pascrell, Norcross and Gottheimer also offered enthusiastic words of support for Biden.

Rep. Bill Pascrell – “The Democratic Party has been blessed with an incredible field of qualified candidates who would make Americans proud as our chief executive. Defeating Donald Trump and replacing his inept and corrupt government is our highest priority. I believe the candidate who can best win in November, deliver victories up and down the ballot, and fight for expansion of our health care, reversing climate change, and rebuilding our middle class is my friend Joe Biden. Over the years, Joe and I have worked closely on many issues, including providing federal resources for our firefighters and police officers and supporting our mass transit systems and Amtrak. Joe is the experienced leader we need to bring our fractured country together, restore our leadership around the globe, and deliver the change Americans want. He’s got my support.”

Rep. Donald Norcross – “America needs a president with the integrity, experience and strength to unite our diverse nation while fighting for progressive Democratic priorities. Former Vice President Joe Biden exemplifies those values, and he's always stood up for working families in New Jersey and across the country. I am proud to call Joe a friend, and I can't wait to call him President of the United States.”

Rep. Josh Gottheimer – “I am proud to support and endorse Joe Biden because now, more than ever, we need a president who is focused on solving problems and has the proven ability to get things done. As president, Joe Biden will unite Americans across the political spectrum to take on our toughest challenges and achieve our common goals. Throughout a lifetime of public service, including his many years in the Senate and his service in the White House, Joe Biden has worked to bridge our partisan divide, finding ways we can all work together to build a stronger future for all of our families. A tireless fighter for our shared values, Joe Biden has always stepped up for his country and he is the right candidate to now lead us and move our nation forward.”

The group’s endorsement comes days after U.S. Sen. Cory Booker offered his own support for Biden, who he’d been campaigning against as late as January.

• See related article: NJ's Cory Booker Endorses Joe Biden For President

While he’s endorsing Biden for president, Booker has also worked alongside Sanders on legislative efforts, such a 2019 proposal to cut the “skyrocketing” cost of prescription drugs in the United States.

• See related article: Booker, Sanders Support Plan To Cut Drug Costs In US

As he has before, New Jersey’s other U.S. senator, Bob Menendez, has declined to endorse any candidate. But at a recent press conference in Hoboken, Menendez didn't hold back his criticism of Sanders' economic policies, opining that his peer won’t be able to find the funding for many of his ideas.

• See related article: Menendez Blasts Sanders, Calls Beating Trump Is 'Job 1'

SUPPORT FOR SANDERS IN NJ

Sanders – who rose to prominence as an independent candidate – has also racked up his own endorsements in the Garden State as he fights to become the Democratic Party nominee in 2020.

His supporters include longtime Newark activist Larry Hamm, who is running against Booker for a seat in the Senate this year and is acting as state chairman for Sanders’ campaign in New Jersey.

Among other parts of his platform, Hamm has praised Sanders’ plan to tighten up federal drinking water standards, which he wrote is “yuge” for cities such as Newark, which is recovering from a much-maligned lead water crisis.

• See related article: Newark Water Showing 'Steady Decrease' In Lead, Officials Say

“Bernie Sanders represents the people of this country – the middle class, the working class, poor people who are struggling,” Hamm said at the Warren County Democratic Convention on Sunday.

While polls show that Biden can beat Trump, they also show that Sanders can, too, Hamm pointed out.

“So the question is – more than ‘Who will defeat Trump’ – who is going to do the most for the people of this country?” Hamm asked.

Other Congress candidates from New Jersey have supported Sanders' policies, such as John Flora, a Jersey City educator running for the Democratic Party nomination in the 10th District, who offered praise for the senator's stance that every teacher in the United States should earn least $60,000 per year.

On Monday, Flora called for Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts – who recently dropped out of the presidential race – to throw her support behind Sanders.

"[President Trump] beats Joe Biden in a general election," Flora tweeted. "Bernie Sanders is unbeatable if she endorses today and reinvigorates the progressive [wave]."

Another endorsement for Sanders recently came from advocacy group Our Revolution - Essex County, whose members wrote that they are doing all they can to get him elected as the next president of the United States.

"I was 24 when I lost my father to cancer and saw firsthand the outrageous medical costs it takes to care for a loved one," wrote a member of the group. "Bernie Sanders is fighting to make sure no one else has to go through that."

"As a millennial of color, I support Bernie because he's the only candidate in this race with a consistent record of standing for social justice and as an ally to people of color and the marginalized," another person wrote. "Consistency matters."

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