Bernie Sanders endorses Jess King in Lancaster congressional race

[Donkees]

SAM JANESCH | Staff Writer


Democratic congressional candidate Jess King secured a high-profile endorsement Friday from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“I am proud to endorse Jess King for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District,” Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, said in a statement. “Too often, working people in South Central Pennsylvania have been left behind by the political establishment. Jess King’s vision of an America that works for all of us, not just the wealthy and well-connected, is what we need to take back the House of Representatives and the Senate this November.”

Sanders went on to laud King’s support for a Medicare-for-all health care system, regulations on Wall Street, small businesses and breaking up “corporate monopolies” — all frequent talking points during Sanders’ 2016 presidential run as a Democrat.

King, who does not face any opponents in the May 15 primary, is running to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/politics/bernie-sanders-endorses-jess-king-in-lancaster-congressional-race/article_33fd693e-4a52-11e8-bc87-f3c43786f323.html

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. That's good.

[Hortensis]

3. That's good. :) She's a Democrat now supported by her local party

in her race against the incumbent Republican. Jess King apparently positioned herself as a capital-P Progressive to run against a favored Democratic candidate with experience, but that candidate is now apparently running in another district.

I read that the 11th was narrowly picked up several years ago by her Republican opponent after years of being safely Democrat, but it's one of those PA's supreme court redistricted in 2018, and it now includes some rural conservative areas. So it's going to be a bit tougher for a Democratic candidate. Sanders comes from outside to join a healthy group of local endorsements, and hopefully his support will help inspire more local voters.

"Jess King’s vision of an America that works for all of us, not just the wealthy and well-connected, is what we need to take back the House of Representatives and the Senate this November.”

Yes. That's 230-year-old Democratic Party principle after all.

“I never saw myself running for office,” King told me this week. But the more she brooded about Trump’s success, she thought, “He’s using a language that people in my neck of the woods are responding to. As Democrats, we need to own the issues for working families. We need to address the challenges in those districts that are Trump Country … that are struggling with the loss of jobs with automation, with off-shoring.” Last June, King announced her candidacy for Congress.

Good luck, Jess.