A New Hampshire congresswoman endorsed Pete Buttigieg for the Democratic presidential nomination, giving him a boost in the more liberal-leaning western half of the state she represents.
Rep. Annie Kuster compared the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, 37, to another Democratic candidate 12 years ago who didn’t begin his race as a party establishment favorite, then-Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.
“Like Barack Obama before him, Pete is young, inspiring, brings fresh ideas to the table, and is motivated to win,” Kuster, 63, said Wednesday in a statement. “By building a coalition of progressive Democrats, independents, and disaffected Republicans, Pete will win next November and lead our country to a brighter future for every American.”
Obama actually lost New Hampshire in 2008 to rival Hillary Clinton in what turned out to be a slog of a nomination fight, but it’s still a favorable comparison for Buttigieg, a Harvard graduate, Rhodes scholar, and former McKinsey consultant, who also served as a Naval Intelligence officer in Afghanistan.
Kuster, who’s been in office since 2013, represents large swaths of New Hampshire’s west, which has leaned Democratic for the past two decades.
The effect of most presidential candidate endorsements by other politicians is questionable, as voters usually prefer to make up their own minds. But it can be useful for fundraising purposes and generating media exposure.
There are three more federal endorsements up for grabs in New Hampshire. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of neighboring Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota often tout their working relationships with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan on the campaign trail, celebrating the record number of women currently in Congress.
But Shaheen told ABC-affiliate WCVB Channel 5 last June she wasn’t going to back a candidate in the 2020 Democratic race for the White House, despite her friendship with Warren.
“I’m not going to endorse anybody on the Democratic side,” Shaheen said. “I’m running for the Senate myself in 2020, and I need to focus on my Senate race,” she added, referring to her seeking a historic third term.
Rep. Chris Pappas is the final member of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation who could weigh in on the contest. The freshman, who represents much of New Hampshire’s east in what doubles as one of the most competitive districts in the country, co-owns Manchester’s Puritan Backroom restaurant, a popular stop for White House hopefuls.
Kuster joins veteran Democratic Iowa Rep. Dave Loebsack, who was first elected to Congress 2006, in supporting Buttigieg’s presidential bid.
Fellow Democratic Iowa Rep. Abby Finkenauer backed former Vice President Joe Biden earlier in January, while Rep. Cindy Axne has yet to endorse in the primary.
Although Loebsack represents the heavily Democratic seat covering Davenport and Iowa City, first-term lawmakers Finkenauer and Axne flipped their districts in 2018 and face tough re-election pushes in the fall.
The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 3, while New Hampshire’s primary will take place on Feb. 11.
