Biden Campaign Press Release - Former Congressman Ron Barber and Arizona Leaders Endorse Joe Biden

Today, former Congressman Ron Barber and 27 elected and community leaders from across the Copper State announced their endorsement of Joe Biden for the President of the United States:

"Following the shooting in Tucson I will never forget the kindness and warmth Joe Biden showed my family and our staff. I worked closely with Joe when he led President Obama's Gun Violence Task Force. As a mental health professional of more than three decades -- I can say Joe gets it. That's why his education plan makes serious investments in school counselors and his plan to end our gun violence epidemic significantly expands investments in mental health services," said former Congressman Ron Barber. "I saw up close and personal Joe's immense compassion, empathy and unwavering desire to solve problems facing American families across the country. On day one he'll be able to get to work and get our country back on track. I'm proud to endorse him."

Barber served in the United States House of Representatives from 2012 to 2015. Prior to that he served as then Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' District Director. For more than three decades he worked in the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Today's endorsements also include:

• Jamescita Peshlakai, Arizona State Senator
• Lupe Contreras, Arizona State Senator
• Sally Ann Gonzalez, Arizona State Senator
• Mitzi Epstein, Arizona State Representative
• Diego Espinoza, Arizona State Representative
• Daniel Hernandez, Arizona State Representative
• Jennifer Longdon, Arizona State Representative
• Robert Meza, Arizona State Representative
• Lorenzo Sierra, Arizona State Representative
• Steve Gallardo, Maricopa County Supervisor
• Ramon Valadez, Pima County Supervisor
• Pat Dennis, Avondale Vice Mayor
• Veronica Malone, Avondale Councilmember
• David Luna, Mesa Councilmember
• Jennifer Adams, Tempe Councilmember
• Lauren Kuby, Tempe Councilmember
• Joel Navarro, Tempe Councilmember
• Paul Durham, Tucson Councilmember
• Nikki Lee, Tucson Councilmember
• George Cunningham, Former Arizona State Representative
• Jonathan Larkin, Former Arizona State Representative
• Steve Farley, Former Arizona State Senator
• David Lujan, Former Arizona State Senator
• Paul Johnson, Former Phoenix Mayor
• Craig Tribken, Former Phoenix Councilmember
• Neil Giuliano, Former Tempe Mayor
• Jonathan Rothschild, Former Tucson Mayor
• Adolfo Gamez, Former Tolleson Mayor

This announcement builds on the wide support for Joe Biden in Arizona, which includes prominent leaders like Senator Kyrsten Sinema, candidate for the U.S. Senate Captain Mark Kelly, Congressman Greg Stanton, Congressman Ruben Gallego, Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, former United States Senator Dennis DeConcini, Arizona Corporation Commission Member Sandra Kennedy, Former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and numerous other Arizona leaders.

Biden for President has previously announced more than 2,100 endorsements from national, state, and local leaders, including current and former U.S. senators and representatives, governors, state elected officials, community leaders, and national security professionals.