Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is now endorsed by 27 Rhode Island lawmakers, his campaign announced Thursday.

Twenty-two new endorsements cover a large swath of moderate General Assembly Democrats and are in addition to five earlier General Assembly endorsements of the former vice president that included House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey.

“Joe’s values are rooted in a middle-class work ethic. As president of the United States, he will work to restore the American Dream for those who have been marginalized, demonized, and disenfranchised by the Trump administration," McCaffrey said in a news release from the Biden campaign.

The Rhode Island endorsements come toward the end of a disappointing week for Biden, who is believed to have finished fourth in the Iowa caucuses and seen his polling lead in other states slip.

Joining Mattiello and McCaffrey are: Senators Frank Ciccone of Providence, James Seveney of Portsmouth, Stephen Archambault of Smithfield, Frank Lombardo of Johnston, Frank Lombardi of Cranston, Mark McKenney of Warwick, Louis DiPalma of Middletown, Elizabeth Crowley of Central Falls, Ana Quezada of Providence and Sandra Cano of Pawtucket; and Representatives Jean Philippe Barros of Pawtucket, Anastasia Williams of Providence, Joe Serodio of East Providence, Julie Casimiro of North Kingstown, Stephen Casey of Woonsocket, Robert Phillips of Woonsocket, John "Jay" Edwards of Tiverton, Dennis Canario of Portsmouth, William O'Brien of North Providence, Robert Jacquard of Cranston, Mary Duffy Messier of Pawtucket, Carlos Tobon of Pawtucket, Michael Morin of Woonsocket, Grace Diaz of Providence and Gregg Amore of East Providence.

The 32 endorsements out of the 113-member General Assembly are the most of any of the Democratic primary contenders. As of last week, Elizabeth Warren had seven; many lawmakers remain undecided.

"As the first Dominican-American woman to be elected in the United States, I have learned that being at the table is not enough," Diaz said. "It is having allies in office that bring our brothers and sisters to the table who haven’t been allowed to speak or lead. Joe Biden has consistently fought for people like me."

Williams: "I have supported Joe Biden since he and President Obama brought Hope and Change. They saved the American economy from disaster, provided health care to millions of Americans including people with pre-existing conditions, and rallied the most important part of the Democratic Party: Strong Black Women."