Sen. Bernie Sanders came out with a full slate of endorsements for Democratic candidates for Vermont office Thursday, including gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter.
Sanders also endorsed TJ Donovan's bid for attorney general, as well as the re-election campaigns of his congressional colleagues Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Peter Welch.
Incumbents Treasurer Beth Pearce, Auditor Doug Hoffer and Secretary of State Jim Condos also received Sanders' support.
The endorsements come after Vermont's Democratic Party had expressed some worry that Sanders, who has been stumping for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, had on his home state colleagues.
In a release, Sanders praised Minter's platform on education.
鈥淪ue Minter understands that the key for Vermont's economic future is opening up higher education to all Vermonters, regardless of income,鈥� Sanders said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why, if elected governor, she will work to make community colleges and Vermont Tech tuition free."
. understands that the key for Vermont's economic future is opening up higher education to all Vermonters, regardless of income.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders)
On Thursday afternoon, Minter told VPR she and Sanders share the same economic goals.
"I definitely look forward to hitting the campaign trail with Bernie and discussing how we can really help Vermonters,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e want to raise the minimum wage, we want to create more livable wage jobs and help get more young people through college to get access to those jobs. We're definitely feeling the Bern today."
On the candidacy of TJ Donovan, Sanders wrote: 鈥淭.J. Donovan understands that criminal justice is about more than just sending people to jail. As attorney general he will help create a Vermont criminal justice system that focuses on preventing crime through early intervention, job training and educational opportunities for at-risk Vermonters."
Sanders has previously endorsed the candidacy of David Zuckerman, a Progressive-Democrat who is running for lieutenant governor.
Sanders will be campaigning with Vermont's statewide candidates in the "near future," according to the release.
Update 5:25 p.m. This post has been updated to include a comment from Sue Minter.
