Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders sought to boost his Michigan credentials Sunday, securing an endorsement from Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib at a Detroit rally after spending time in her district.

The Vermont senator - who won Michigan’s 2016 Democratic presidential primary - spent much of a rally in front of 4,737 people at Cass Technical High School Sunday evening touting his plans for fighting climate change, tackling income inequality and addressing rising costs of health care.

But he started the night with a tribute to former Congressman John Conyers, Jr., who passed away Sunday afternoon at 90 - then thanking his successor for her endorsement of his candidacy.

Sanders told the crowd Conyers was a dear friend whose life was an “enormous achievement," and said when he was first elected to Congress he sought out Conyers for his progressive leadership.

He said Conyers is the one most responsible for having a national holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr. and praised his longtime support of single payer health care.

“Long before it was popular, John Conyers understood that healthcare is a human right,” Sanders said.

Sanders then praised Tlaib for her work on fighting for decent jobs, affordable housing and clean water, calling her a “fantastic Congresswoman” who has become a national figure in standing up against Trump and has taken on, “in a very forceful way, the greed and corruption of the economic establishment.”

“I will look to her for her leadership in Congress under a Sanders presidency,” he said.

Sanders earned cheers from the crowd for his calls for federal marijuana legalization and criminal records expungement, as well as working to reduce gun violence in the country.

He said his main objective is to create a society where all people have the opportunity to live long, happy lives.

“Our job is to restore hope in America,” Sanders said

Sanders got an additional boost at the rally from Detroit native Jack White, who energized the crowd with hits like “Seven Nation Army,” “Icky Thump” and “We’re Going to Be Friends.”

Sanders, White said, “is telling the truth and is someone I can trust.”

Republicans were quick to criticize Sanders’ presence in the state.

A group of Trump supporters protested the rally outside the venue, and Republican National Committee spokesperson Ellie Hockenbury said in a statement Tlaib’s endorsement showed how out of touch Sanders’ campaign is with the rest of the country.

“President Trump has made it clear: America will never be a socialist country,” she said.

On social media, Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox quipped: “Birds of Socialist Feathers flock together.”

But rally attendees said Sanders’ consistent message resonated with them.

Momina Amin of Flat Rock said she’d been considering supporting a few Democratic candidates ahead of the rally, but came away leaning strongly towards Sanders.

“It was very inspiring,” Amin said. “It’s the policies, definitely but it’s also just the ability to trust him. He has such a good track record of actually pushing for civil rights.”

David Perrin and Beverly Blaze of Detroit are longtime Sanders supporters. They said they feel he’s the right choice because his message has remained consistent since 2016, noting many of the 2020 candidates are following his footsteps.

“Bernie is the only candidate we really trust,” Perrin said. “He’s the only candidate that I think really means what he says.”

Related links:

Michigan-born musician Jack White says Bernie Sanders ‘is telling the truth’ at Detroit rally

Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib endorses Bernie Sanders for presidency

Rashida Tlaib, Bernie Sanders pay tribute to John Conyers at Detroit rally

Pro-Trump protesters gather outside of Detroit Bernie Sanders rally