Obama Lends His Endorsement To New York And New Jersey Democrats
Former President Barack Obama lent a hand to four New York and New Jersey Democrats looking to knock off Republican incumbents this fall.Â
Two are former Obama administration employees. Tom Malinowski was a top deputy in the State Department. He's taking on Leonard Lance in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
Andy Kim was a national security adviser and is challenging Tom MacArthur in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District.
Obama also endorsed Antonio Delgado, running against John Faso in New York's closely-watched 19th Congressional District. The fourth is a state senate candidate on Long Island.
Today I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates – leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent: pic.twitter.com/gWzalQhFas
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 1, 2018
"I’m confident that, together, they’ll strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity," Obama wrote on Twitter, "repairing our alliances and standing in the world, and upholding our fundamental commitment to justice, fairness, responsibility, and the rule of law."
They were part of 81 Democrats Obama endorsed on Wednesday, part of an effort to help Democrats win back at least one House of Congress and turn state legislatures and governors mansions to aid redistricting following the 2020 Census.
WNYC Washington correspondent John O'Connor breaks down why Obama endorsed these candidates and what the endorsements could mean this November.
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