Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (D) announced his support for former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Democratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida Harris faces pivotal moment with Supreme Court battle MORE in the 2020 presidential election, calling him the candidate who can defeat President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE.

"Job No. 1 is to make sure Donald Trump is not president for four more years," Rawlings told The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday. "Joe Biden is the candidate I know will beat him."

“Joe Biden is anything but a buffoon,” he added.

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The two-term mayor’s endorsement brushes off the two Texans in the crowded field of more than 20 Democrats running for president — former El Paso Rep. Beto O’Rourke and former San Antonio mayor and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro.

Rawlings endorsed O’Rourke in last year’s Texas Senate race over Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP MORE (R-Texas).

"I've met a lot of the candidates and you root for the Texans," Rawlings told the Morning News. "But what Joe Biden brings is an improvement in wisdom that America needs right now.”

Biden responded to the endorsement Wednesday by celebrating Rawlings’s accomplishments in office.

"Over the last eight years, Mike Rawlings has led the city of Dallas through an unprecedented era of growth, investing in public education and working to reduce poverty,” Biden told the newspaper. "I'm honored to have received his endorsement today.”

Biden visited Texas this week for a number of events. He attended the American Federation of Teachers town hall meeting Tuesday in Houston, and on Wednesday will attend a Democratic fundraiser and join Rawlings for a public event on education. Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, also reportedly traveled to Dallas to visit Rawlings’s wife.

Rawlings added that he supports Biden’s focus on addressing inequalities across the country. He spoke with Biden multiple times before announcing his endorsement, according to the paper.

"Closing the gap between the haves and the have-nots is tops on his agenda," Rawlings told the newspaper. "That's right up my alley."

Biden, who announced his campaign late last month, has quickly established himself as the front-runner. Both O'Rourke and Castro have seen lagging polling numbers, with 3.8 and 1.2 percent, respectively, in the RealClearPolitics average of recent 2020 primary polls, while Biden has 34.8 percent in the crowded field.