John Kerry is for Joe Biden. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is stumping for Bernie Sanders. And Julián Castro is for Elizabeth Warren. But whom does George Takei support? (Hint: A certain former mayor from Indiana …)
As nominating season prepares to open, we’ve gathered a snapshot of the endorsement race as it stands. Aside from garnering glittering photo opportunities, endorsements can be important because they can bring along a network of supporters and donors. And more broadly, they offer a validating effect for candidates hoping to demonstrate strength or inevitability.
This is not a comprehensive endorsement list. (Campaigns frequently send statements containing the names of dozens of local officials, activists and former office holders who have backed their candidate — far too many to include in this report.) Here’s a sense of which candidates have the largest number of endorsements from people you might have heard of, and which corners, in general, their support is coming from.
The day that former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. announced that he was beginning his presidential campaign, he was instantly endorsed by a number of prominent Democrats.
Several months later, as Iowans prepare to caucus, Mr. Biden has the largest share of endorsements from Democratic Party standard-bearers, a broad and diverse coalition that includes members of Congress, governors, big-city mayors and more.
Current and former elected officials
Unions, organizations and newspapers
Celebrities and newsmakers
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Khizr Khan, whose son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq in 2004.
Bernie Sanders: Support from the progressive left
Establishing himself as the pillar of the progressive wing, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has racked up a significant share of notable endorsements from unions and grass-roots organizations. He’s also won support from young, progressive elected officials and youth-led organizations that see him as the face of the next generation of politics, despite his age.
Current and former elected officials
Unions, organizations and newspapers
Celebrities and newsmakers
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Cardi B and Emily Ratajkowski, a model, have both released endorsements videos with Mr. Sanders’s campaign. They’re part of a long list of celebrity endorsements that includes the director Michael Moore, the actors Mark Ruffalo and Shailene Woodley and musicians like Fatimah Nyeema Warner, known as Noname.
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The stand-up comedian, mixed martial arts commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan
Elizabeth Warren: A mixed bag
Senator Elizabeth Warren has drawn support from her home state of Massachusetts, fellow members of Congress, celebrities and liberal leaning grass-roots organizations. She’s starting to gather more support from other Democrats, but struggled early on to get prominent party members to support her.
On Tuesday, her campaign distributed a list of her Iowa backers, noting that she had amassed the support of more than 550 Iowa state legislators, party leaders and members.
Current and former elected officials
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Former Housing Secretary Julián Castro — a former 2020 presidential candidate — and his brother, Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas
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Support from Massachusetts including the backing of Representatives Ayanna S. Pressley and Joe Kennedy III, Senator Ed Markey and former Gov. Michael Dukakis
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Other members of Congress such as Representatives Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, Katie Porter of California and Deb Haaland of New Mexico
Unions, organizations and newspapers
Celebrities and newsmakers
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Megan Rapinoe of the United States women’s national soccer team
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Jonathan Van Ness, a television and podcast host
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John Legend and Chrissy Teigen
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The actress and activist Ashley Judd
Pete Buttigieg: Support from cities and celebrities
A relative newcomer to the national scene, Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., hasn’t gathered as much support from federal elected officials as some of the other candidates with more experience in Washington. He has, however, managed to get more than 60 endorsements from mayors around the country as well as the backing of many celebrities who have helped him raise a considerable war chest.
Current and former elected officials
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Representatives Don Beyer of Virginia, Anthony G. Brown of Maryland, Annie Kuster of New Hampshire, Dave Loebsack of Iowa, Kathleen Rice of New York and Pete Visclosky of Indiana
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Dozens of mayors, including Steve Adler of Austin, Tex.; Nan Whaley of Dayton, Ohio; and Quentin Hart of Waterloo, Iowa
Unions, organizations and newspapers
Celebrities and newsmakers
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Actors like George Takei, Kevin Costner, Seth MacFarlane, Mandy Moore, Sharon Stone and Gwyneth Paltrow
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Anna Wintour, the artistic director of Condé Nast
Michael Bloomberg: Popular among mayors
A large share of endorsements for Michael R. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, come from other mayors of cities big and small. He has also garnered the support of a few members of Congress.
Current and former elected officials
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Representatives Harley Rouda and Scott Peters of California, Representatives Stephanie Murphy of Florida, Bobby L. Rush of Illinois, Ben McAdams of Utah and Max Rose of New York
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Mayor London Breed of San Francisco, Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose, Calif., and Mayor Michael Tubbs of Stockton, Calif., as well as Mayor Muriel E. Bowser of Washington, Mayor Daniel Horrigan of Akron, Ohio, Mayor Greg Fischer of Louisville, Ky., Mayor Jim Strickland of Memphis, Tenn., Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia, S.C., and at least a dozen other mayors of cities of varying size
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Former Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia and former Mayor Manny Diaz of Miami
Celebrities and newsmakers
Amy Klobuchar: Lots of love from her home state
Senator Amy Klobuchar often reminds voters that the people who know her best — the voters of Minnesota — keep electing her by wide margins. And indeed, an overwhelming share of Ms. Klobuchar’s most notable endorsements come from top officials in the state. She also has the support of more than a dozen Iowa state representatives and senators.
Current and former elected officials
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Former Vice President Walter Mondale
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Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota
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Representatives Angie Craig, Dean Phillips, Betty McCollum, and Collin Peterson of Minnesota
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Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota
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Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis and Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul
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More than 50 Minnesota state senators and representatives
Unions, organizations and newspapers
Andrew Yang: Endorsers as eclectic as his coalition
Andrew Yang’s campaign keeps a running list of endorsements that now tallies over 100. Most are celebrities, members of the Asian-American community, part of the tech world or all of the above. Though Mr. Yang, an entrepreneur, has received scattered support from local and state office holders, he does not appear to have endorsements from any current members of Congress or other current federal officeholders.
Current and former elected officials
Celebrities and newsmakers
Tom Steyer: Some California and climate support
Tom Steyer, a former hedge-fund executive, has relatively few notable endorsements compared with other top candidates. The handful his campaign has publicly highlighted include only state and local elected officials and a number of former officeholders.
On Wednesday, the campaign provided a list of more than 100 people who had endorsed Mr. Steyer, including more than 70 climate professionals, experts and advocates. (Other campaigns have similarly sought to highlight broad support for a candidate from experts in one policy area or people in one community.)
Still, the list did not include current federal officeholders and high-profile newsmakers.
Current and former elected officials
Jonathan Martin contributed reporting.