Peter Franchot endorsed U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.
“Thrilled to let everyone know that I am supporting Senator Amy Klobuchar for president,” Franchot said.
“In a field with several capable and accomplished candidates, I believe that she stands apart.”
Klobuchar’s surprise third-place finish in the New Hampshire Democratic primary was bolstered by her strong debate performance at St. Anselm’s College in Manchester. She announced Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that her presidential campaign raised roughly $12 million online in the last nine days.
A self-described fiscal moderate and social progressive, Franchot shares with Klobuchar a moderate-leaning appeal among their collective voting bases.
Klobuchar and Franchot are both known to tout their crossover appeal to moderates, centrist-leaning Democrats, and even some Republicans.
Franchot’s Facebook endorsement calls Klobuchar “a leader with common sense.”
“She is focusing considerable attention on many of the issues I personally care a great deal about and have supported here in Maryland,” Franchot said.
“Such as rebuilding our country’s failing network of highways, bridges, levees, ports and transit lines. Making it easier for kids from working-class families to attend community college and achieve that first step to good-paying, family-supporting careers.”
U.S. Rep. John K. Delaney (D-Md.) bowed out of the presidential contest on Jan. 31 after a series of national polls showed him egistering only one or two percent among Democratic primary voters.
Mr. Franchot and Mr. Delaney reside in Montgomery County.
Most Marylanders see Franchot and Delany as politically moderate or centrist-leaning Democrats.
A day prior to the comptroller’s public endorsement of Klobuchar’s presidential bid, Len Foxwell, Franchot’s chief of staff, posted to his personal Facebook page that he contributed to Klobuchar’s presidential campaign.
Earlier on in the presidential contest, Franchot had flirted with endorsing U.S. Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-CA). Harris ended her presidential campaign on Dec. 3 after months of failing to lift her candidacy from the bottom of the field.
On Klobuchar, Franchot says that he’s looking for the candidate who is best suited to beat Donald Trump, and for a president who will work hard to achieve our national priorities in a sensible, results-driven manner.”
“I believe Senator Klobuchar is that candidate,” Franchot wrote, “and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and helping Amy win the Maryland presidential primary on April 28.”
Maryland’s 2020 primary is April 28.
