U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday endorsed progressive Democrat state Rep. Aaron Regunberg’s bid for Rhode Island lieutenant governor four days before the Democratic primary.



"Aaron Regunberg has shown himself to be a real fighter for all Rhode Islanders during his time in the legislature and, in my view, would make an excellent lieutenant governor,” Sanders said in a statement released by his office in Burlington, Vermont.



Incumbent Democrat Dan McKee, 67, a former Cumberland mayor who was first elected lieutenant governor in 2014, is running for a second term. McKee has received from support from establishment Democrats including Gov. Gina Raimondo, who faces her own battle in the Wednesday, Sept. 12, primary against progressive challenger Matt Brown.



Progressive candidates across the country have mounted campaigns as the party has shifted left since the 2016 presidential election. Sanders lost the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton who went on to lose the general election to President Donald Trump.



Regunberg, 28, is the Democratic state representative for House District 4, representing Providence's Summit, Mount Hope and Blackstone neighborhoods.



He has won the support of unions including Service Employees International Union 1199 New England, United Nurses and Allied Professionals, Teamsters Local 251, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2323, Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Healthcare Professionals, Rhode Island State Association of Firefighters, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 618, New England Regional Council of Carpenters Local 330, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328, National Education Association Rhode Island (NEARI) and others.



“At this important political moment, we need state leaders like Aaron who are willing to take on entrenched corporate interests,” Sanders stated.



“He successfully championed paid sick leave for 100,000 Rhode Islanders, and he supports a Medicare-for-all national health care system,” Sanders added.





So grateful to have @BernieSanders support. We're up against hundreds of thousands in Super PAC spending from corporate interests - but our grassroots donors are making it possible to take on the billionaires and win. Will you join us? https://t.co/hMqY3MO7AB https://t.co/JxeoCU7HuJ

— Aaron Regunberg (@AaronRegunberg) September 8, 2018// // //