Holy Superdelegates Batman! Democratic Senator Bill Nelson of Florida is planning on endorsing Hillary Clinton early next week.
From the AP:
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson plans to endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton, a major gain for the Democratic presidential candidate in a state that's at odds with the national party over its primary date yet remains a swing state in November's general election.
Nelson is slated to make the endorsement on Tuesday, the same day as the primary, according to senior Democrats close to Clinton who spoke on condition of anonymity because the formal announcement was scheduled later in the week.
Word of the endorsement came on the same day that Clinton called for delegates from Florida and Michigan to be seated at the Democratic National Convention. The national party punished Florida Democrats for scheduling their primary before Feb. 5 by stripping all 210 delegates to the convention.
This endorsement adds to an impressive and growing list of members of Congress that have publicly committed to supporting Hillary Clinton for president. That list currently includes:
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.)
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.)
Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.)
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.)
Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.)
Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.)
Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.)
Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa)
Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.)
Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.)
Del. Donna Christensen (D-V.I.)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.)
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas)
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.)
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.)
Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.)
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-Texas)
Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.)
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-Ore.)
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.)
Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas)
Rep. James Langevin (D-R.I.)
Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.)
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)
Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.)
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.)
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.)
Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.)
Rep. Michael McNulty (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.)
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.)
Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.)
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.)
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.)
Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.)
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.)
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.)
Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.)
Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.)
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.)
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.)
Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.)
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.)
Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.)
Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.)
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.)
Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-Ohio)
Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.)
Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.)
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.)
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.)
Hillary also today picked up the endorsements of 50 leaders across the Feb 5th state of Minnesota. The Minnesota endorsements included:
James Metzen, State Senate President, South St. Paul
Barb Johnson, City Council President, Minneapolis
Bill Luther, former U.S. Member of Congress
Don Betzold, State Senator, Fridley
Scott Dibble, State Senator, Minneapolis
Ann Lynch, State Senator, Rochester
Linda Scheid, State Senator, Brooklyn Park
Yvonne Prettner Solon, State Senator, Duluth
Dan Sparks, State Senator, Austin
Steve Larson, Mayor of New Brighton
Tim Willson, Mayor of Brooklyn Center
Patsy Green, Robbinsdale School Board
Erin Murphy, State Represenative, St. Paul
Carolyn Laine, State Representative, Columbia Heights
Bernie Lieder, State Representative, Crookston
Bev Scalze, State Representative, Little Canada
Janice Rettman, Ramsey County Commissioner
Kathy Nelson, City Council Member, Eden Prarie
Tom Dicklich, Former State Senator, St Paul
Shelia Kiscaden, Former State Senator, Rochester
Mary Jo McQuire, Former State Representative, Falcon Hts
Alan Patton, Former State Representative, Sartell
Gene Wenstrom, Former State Representative, Elbow Lake
Rebecca Yanisch, Former State Commissioner, Minneapolis
Susan Vento, Educator and health advocate
Shannon Miller, Coach, UMN Duluth Women’s Hockey Coach
Pam Donato, NALC (Letter Carriers) Branch 9 (Mpls) President
Rod Hogetvedt, IUPAT (Painter & Allied Trades) Local 61 President
Roger McClure, NALC Branch 29 Retirees
Dirk Ostertage, Theatrical State (IATSE) Local 13
Steve Preble, AFSCME Council 65 Business Agent, Nashwauk
Perry Schmidt, NALC Branch 28 (St Paul) President
Shelley Seeberg, Area Services Director, AFSCME
Marty Strub, Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local 10
Claremont Anderson, Grant County DFL Associate Chair
Joyce Banaczek, Former SD 60 DFL Chair
Jamie Edwards, Native American activist, DFL State Executive Committee
Norma Hanson, Marshall County DFL Associate Chair
Rodney and Carolyn Hatle, Steele County DFL activists
Diane Ista, Norman County DFL Chair & former 7th CD Associate Chair
Del Jenkins, DFL State Affirmative Action Co-Chair
Ken Kelash, Former SD 63 DFL Chair
Vincent Lynch, Mower County DFL State Central Committee member
Robin Madsen, 4th CD DFL Associate Chair
Janes Miles, 2nd CD DFL Secretary
Skylark Miles, 2nd CD DFL Affirmative Action Officer, Inver Grove Hts
Mary Moen, Olmsted County DFL activist
Lillian Ortendahl, Todd County DFL Chair
Rosemary Rocco, DFL and Feminist Activist
Nancy Schumacher, 6th CD DFL Chair, Elk River
Laura Ness, First Lady of Duluth
Hillary issued this statement concerning the Minnesota endorsements:
"I am grateful for the overwhelming support I've received in Minnesota," Clinton said. "With the help of these local leaders, we'll continue to bring our message of change across the state over the next two weeks."