NORTH CAROLINA — Biden for President has released the names of more than 20 current and former elected officials and community leaders from across the state who have now endorsed the former vice president.

The list includes mayors, state lawmakers, city and county officials, candidates for office, and local activists. 

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin said in a statement, “Joe puts states like North Carolina in play, not just for himself but for candidates up and down the ballot. The Tar Heel State is all too aware of the profound impact congressional, Senate, gubernatorial and state General Assembly races can have on our day-to-day lives and our state’s reputation."

North Carolina is considered a critical Super Tuesday state, and will play a crucial role in the upcoming 2020 presidential election.

The newly announced endorsements include:

  • Melvin "Skip" Alston, Guilford County Commissioner 
  • Erskine Bowles, Former White House Chief of Staff and Former President of the University of North Carolina
  • Ya Liu Cary, Cary Councilwoman
  • Mitch Colvin, Mayor of Fayetteville
  • Nervhana Crew, Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor
  • Rufus Edmisten, Former North Carolina Secretary of State and Former Attorney General
  • Kathleen Ferguson, Hillsborough Commissioner 
  • Dr. Gracie Galloway, North Carolina Democractic Party AAPI Caucus Chair
  • Terry Garrison, State Representative, District 32 (Granville, Vance and Warren) 
  • Ed Hallyburton, Candidate for State House District 112 (Burke and Rutherfordton)
  • Don Hardy, Mayor of Kinston
  • Tom Hendrickson, Former North Carolina Democratic Party Chair
  • Jessica Holmes, Wake County Commissioner
  • Matt Hughes, Hillsborough Commissioner 
  • Robert C Hunter, Former State Representative, District 49 (Wake)  
  • Steve Rao, Morrisville Councilman
  • Sam Searcy, State Senator, District 17 (Wake) 
  • David Wheeler, Candidate for State Senate District 47 (Madison, McDowell,  Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford and Yancey) 
  • Joyce Whichard-Brown, Mayor of Williamston
  • Mike Woodard, State Senator, District 22 (Durham, Granville and Person)
  • David Young, Former North Carolina Democratic Party Chair

The campaign says these new endorsements join both of North Carolina’s Congressional Black Caucus members, Congressman G. K. Butterfield and Congresswoman Alma Adams, and Chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus, Paul Lowe, in supporting Biden. 

Nationally, Biden for President says the former VP has gained more than 1,100 endorsements from national, state and local leaders, including current and former U.S. senators and representatives, governors, state elected officials, and community leaders.