Mark Barrett

mbarrett@citizen-times.com

More than two-thirds of the Democrats serving in the state General Assembly, including four from Western North Carolina, have endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.

Legislators announced Tuesday afternoon in Raleigh that Clinton has the backing of 10 Senate Democrats and 32 House Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue, House Minority Leader Larry Hall and every female Democrat in the General Assembly. There are a total of 12 Democrats in the Senate and 46 Democrats in the House.

WNC legislators backing Clinton are Buncombe County's Sen. Terry Van Duyn, minority whip in the Senate, and Rep. Susan Fisher, deputy minority leader in the House. Both jobs are the second-ranking among Democratic leadership positions in their chambers.

Other WNC legislators endorsing Clinton are Rep. John Ager, D-Buncombe, and Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Haywood.

“Hillary Clinton has dedicated a lifetime to breaking down the barriers women and their families face and will level the playing field for the women of North Carolina and across our nation in the White House,” Fisher said in a statement. “Hillary will finally deliver equal pay for equal work for women, expand paid family leave, and ensure our children have access to quality education so they are able to reach their fullest potential.”

Blue said Clinton "is battle tested and ready to build the ladders of opportunity it's going to take to give the middle class the raise it needs and create jobs that provide dignity and a future."

Hall said she "will break down the barriers to make sure nothing holds North Carolinians back, not debt, discrimination, or a deck stacked for those at the top."