Within hours of announcing his presidential campaign, former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, locked in his first congressional endorsement.
Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., on Twitter said she is backing her one-time colleague, who represented the El Paso area in Washington from 2013-19.
Rice said O’Rourke represents the kind of candidacy needed to rally the Democrats to victory in 2020 and defeat President Trump.
“I’m proud to endorse my friend @BetoORourke for President! He’s honest, authentic and has the courage of his convictions and a bold vision for our future. Most importantly, he’ll build a movement that will rise above the toxic division in our politics and unite this country,” she tweeted on Thursday.
I’m proud to endorse my friend @BetoORourke for President!
He’s honest, authentic and has the courage of his convictions and a bold vision for our future. Most importantly, he’ll build a movement that will rise above the toxic division in our politics and unite this country.
— Kathleen Rice (@KathleenRice) March 14, 2019
The O’Rourke campaign has yet to receive any endorsements from his former Texas congressional colleagues. Former San Antonio mayor and former Housing Secretary Julian Castro, another 2020 Democratic aspirant, will also be jockeying for their support.
Another rising star House Democrat, Florida’s Stephanie Murphy, threw her support behind her former congressional colleague. “I proudly endorse my friend & former colleague Beto O’Rourke for President. Our party will benefit from his ideas, energy & pragmatism. Our country would benefit from his compassion, authenticity & unifying vision. He’s the candidate I trust with our nation’s future. Count me in,” she tweeted.
I proudly endorse my friend & former colleague @BetoORourke for President. Our party will benefit from his ideas, energy & pragmatism. Our country would benefit from his compassion, authenticity & unifying vision. He’s the candidate I trust with our nation’s future. Count me in! https://t.co/WPI4iWUJuV
— Stephanie Murphy (@SMurphyCongress) March 14, 2019
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who unsuccessfully ran for the 2016 Democratic nomination, also issued an endorsement of the O’Rourke campaign.
“We’re all in for Beto here in Maryland and I look forward to doing everything in my power to help him beat Donald Trump,” O’Malley said.
You bet! We’re all in for Beto here in Maryland and I look forward to doing everything in my power to help him beat Donald Trump. https://t.co/7oCoA0mAzg
— Martin O’Malley (@MartinOMalley) March 14, 2019
