Schumer endorses Eliot Engel
June 17, 2020
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer endorsed embattled Rep. Eliot Engel for reelection Wednesday.
Schumer said in a statement he has a “longtime, close friendship” with Engel and praised the New York congressman for being “a strong and effective fighter for the people of his distinct.”
“As chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot has protected our democracy from foreign attacks, and as a local leader Eliot improved mass transit and worked tirelessly with me after Hurricane Sandy,” Schumer said. “Eliot Engel gets the job done."
Schumer held off on endorsing Engel last week, saying he was focused on Senate races, even though Engel’s campaign website touted Schumer’s endorsement. Schumer’s name was removed the next day.
The Senate minority leader is the latest Democrat to endorse Engel, who faces a tough primary against Jamaal Bowman, a middle school principal who has received high profile endorsements from several progressive leaders, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
Meanwhile, Engel has gotten recent backing from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)
Schumer’s endorsement was first reported by Jewish Insider.
Engel was first elected to the House in 1989. New York will hold its primary June 23.
Source: https://www.politico.com/
