Colorado Politics

Colorado Senate President Leroy Garcia, slew of fellow Democrats endorse Joe Biden in presidential primary

The two leading Democrats in the Colorado Senate are among two dozen elected officials and political figures endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden, the presidential candidate’s campaign said Friday.

Senate President Leroy Garcia of Pueblo and Senate President Pro Tempore Nancy Todd of Aurora are supporting Biden ahead of Colorado’s March 3 Super Tuesday presidential primary.

Other Democrats backing Biden include state Rep. Tracy Kraft Tharp of Arvada and Pueblo County Commissioner Chris Wiseman, the campaign said.

They’re adding their names to a list of Coloradans that already includes former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, who served in Bill Clinton’s cabinet.

“As we enter 2020, we are excited to grow Team Joe with this latest group of leaders from Colorado,” said Rachel Caine, the Biden campaign’s state director, in a statement.

“These new endorsers represent the growing support for Joe Biden across the country. Voters around the state know Joe’s track record of delivering for working families and are rallying behind his commitment to restoring the soul of our nation, rebuilding the middle class, and moving our country forward from Trump’s failed presidency.”

Biden is one of 17 Democrats on Colorado’s Democratic presidential primary ballot, which starts arriving in voters’ mailboxes the week of Feb. 10.

Although he hasn’t held public appearances in the state since announcing his candidacy last spring, Biden attended a fundraiser in Denver last fall and is slated to raise money on Feb. 17 at Salazar’s Denver home.

Other Democratic presidential candidates with campaign presences in the state include Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who won Colorado’s caucuses in 2016, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and California businessman Tom Steyer. Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet is also running.

Also among the fresh slate of Biden’s endorsers are Pueblo Clerk and Recorder Gilbert “Bo” Ortiz, Pueblo Councilman Ray Aguilera, Grand Junction City Councilman Chuck McDaniel, former Pueblo City School Board Presidents Stephanie Garcia and Phyllis Sanchez, Mesa County School Board member John Williams, Aurora Parks and Recreation Advisory Board member Terry Todd and Faye Diamond, a former executive director of the Colorado Democratic Party.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at the North Iowa Events Center on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in Mason City, Iowa.
(AP Photo/John Locher)
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