Bernie Sanders endorses Pete D'Alessandro in Iowa's 3rd District race

There aren’t much bigger endorsements than this one in Democratic politics in 2018.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday endorsed Pete D’Alessandro’s in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, a move that could unleash a surge of fundraising and grassroots activism for a candidate running in a crowded Democratic primary field.

In a statement, Sanders said he was giving D’Alessandro his “strongest” endorsement:

“Pete has spent his entire career fighting for working families and as a champion of progressive values, and I'm convinced that he would be an unwavering advocate in Congress for the people of Iowa,” Sanders said in a statement released by the campaign. “Whether it’s supporting Medicare for All, a $15/hour minimum wage, or bold action to fight climate change, Pete D’Alessandro has proven that he is the right choice for people disgusted by what goes on in Washington.”

D’Alessandro, a Des Moines-based political consultant, was a top aide to Sanders during his 2016 Iowa caucuses campaign. Sanders, of course, lost the caucuses to Hillary Clinton by a fraction of a percentage point, a near-miss that set off a months-long nomination fight and established Sanders at the head of a resurgent liberal movement within (and sometimes against) the Democratic Party.

Sanders built a massive network of highly engaged activists and small-dollar political donors, which could be moved to support candidates with Sanders’ stamp of approval. D'Alessandro has also been endorsed by Our Revolution, the organization that succeeded Sanders' presidential campaign.

In addition to D’Alessandro, Sanders has endorsed two other Congressional candidates for 2018: Randy Bryce, a labor leader known as “Iron Stache” who’s challenging House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Chuy Garcia, who’s running in a contested primary for an open seat in Chicago.

D’Alessandro is one of seven Democrats vying to take on two-term incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. David Young in the 3rd District, which includes the Des Moines metro and a swath of rural southwest Iowa.

Sanders has been discussed as a possible presidential candidate for 2020, including as recently as last week, when he convened top aides to discuss his prospects. He visited Iowa twice in 2017, headlining an Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement convention and speaking in Iowa City.