Biden Campaign Press Release - Joe Biden's Illinois Support Continues to Grow with Over 60 New Endorsements

New Endorsements Include State Lawmakers and Community Leaders

Before tomorrow's Illinois Primary, more than 60 community leaders and legislators across Illinois endorsed Joe Biden for President of the United States.

"I'm proud to endorse Vice President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for President," said Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia. "It is time to come together, now more than ever, and support the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump. We need unity to win back the White House and Senate if we want to pass policies that support affordable health care and paid leave. Joe Biden is the candidate we need to help build the future we all deserve."

"Time and time again, Donald Trump has turned his back on the American people," said Illinois State Senator Elgie Sims. "From his dedicated service in the U.S. Senate to steering our foreign policy as Vice President, we have seen a clear leader in Joe Biden. I am proud to endorse a compassionate candidate who has proven that he will restore strong, steady leadership to the Oval Office. Illinois and the United States will be better off when Joe Biden is president."

"I can list many reasons why I am proud to support Joe Biden for President, but knowing that he was always the last person in the room when President Obama had a big decision to make is something I cannot emphasize enough," said Former Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. "The last few years have proven that leadership is sorely missing from the Oval Office. Joe Biden — one of the most compassionate men to have ever entered public service — has the experience, the knowledge, and the character to bring that leadership back, and I will work as hard as I can to see him sworn into office in January 2021."

Today's new endorsements include:

• Leslie Hairston, Alderman and Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 5
• Anthony Beale, Alderman and Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 9
• Derrick Curtis, Alderman and Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 18
• Matthew O'Shea, Alderman and Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 19
• Howard Brookins, Alderman and Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 21
• Michael Scott, Alderman and Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 24
• Jason Ervin, Alderman and Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 28
• Tom Tunney, Alderman and Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 44
• Sean Tenner, Democratic Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 46
• Harry Osterman, Alderman, Chicago Ward 48
• Carol Ronen, Democratic Committeeperson, Chicago Ward 48
• Anna Valencia, Chicago City Clerk
• Alexi Giannoulias, Former Illinois State Treasurer
• Kevin Johnson, Democratic Activist, President GlidePath Federal Solutions
• Marty Castro, President and CEO of Castro Synergies, LLC and Interim CEO of Casa Central
• Ruben Castillo, Former Chief Judge US District Court for the Northern Illinois District
• Sharon Fairley, Professor at University of Chicago Law School
• Brian McPartlin, Democratic Activist
• Becky Carroll, Democratic Activist
• John Spencer, Clay County Democratic Chair
• Justin DeJong, Board member at Equality Illinois
• Dan Sidwell, Bond County Democratic Chair
• Terry Redman, DeWitt County Chair
• Jackie Knackmus, Edwards County Democratic Chair
• Hugh Scates, Gallatin County Democratic Chair
• Richard Bigger Jr., Henderson County Democratic Chair
• Robert Alexander, Jasper County Democratic Chair
• Chuck Napier, Montgomery County Vice Chair
• Robert Lovero, Democratic Committeeperson, Berwyn Township
• Dean Maragos, Democratic Committeeperson, New Trier Township
• Ted Mason, Democratic Committeeperson, Elk Grove Township
• Mattie Hunter, Illinois State Representative, 3rd District
• Lamont J. Robinson, Illinois State Representative, 5th District
• Sonya Harper, Illinois State Representative, 6th District
• Arthur Turner, Illinois State Representative, 9th District
• Greg Harris, State Representative and Majority Leader, District 13
• John D'Amico, Illinois State Representative, 15th District
• Michael Zalewski, Illinois State Representative, 23rd District
• Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez, Illinois State Representative, 24th District
• Kambium "Kam" Buckner, Illinois State Representative, 26th District
• Marcus Evans Jr., Illinois State Representative, 33rd District
• Kelly Burke, Illinois State Representative, 36th District
• Debbie Meyers-Martin, Illinois State Representative, 38th District
• Mark Walker, Illinois State Representative, 53rd District
• Maurice West, Illinois State Representative, 67th District
• Lance Yednock, Illinois State Representative, 76th District
• Kathleen Willis, Illinois State Representative, 77th District
• Stephanie Kifowit, Illinois State Representative, 84th District
• Lawrence Walsh Jr., Illinois State Representative, 86th District
• Jehan Gordon-Booth, Illinois State Representative, 92nd District
• Natalie Manley, Illinois State Representative, 98th District
• Monica Bristow, Illinois State Representative, 11th District
• Katie Stuart, Illinois State Representative, 112th District
• Nathan Reitz, Illinois State Representative, 116th District
• Kimberly Lightford, Illinois State Senator, 4th District
• Sara Feigenholtz, Illinois State Senator, 12th District
• Jacqueline Collins, Illinois State Senator, 16th District
• Elgie Sims Jr., Illinois State Senator, 17th District
• Bill Cunningham, Illinois State Senator, 18th District
• Mike Hastings, Illinois State Senator, 19th District
• Pat McGuire, Illinois State Senator, 43rd District
• David Koehler, Illinois State Senator, 48th District

Biden has garnered support from more than 200 prominent Illinois leaders across the state, including U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth; U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush, Sean Casten, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Brad Schneider, Danny Davis, Mike Quigley, Robin Kelly, and Bill Foster; Governor JB Pritzker; Secretary of State Jesse White; Attorney General Kwame Raoul; former U.S. Senator and Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun; Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot; and state legislators, mayors, and community leaders from across Illinois.

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.