Senator, former governor waited until after primary to make choice known

With the Democratic presidential nomination contest narrowing to essentially a two-person race, Sen. Maggie Hassan on Friday endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, citing his “experience and character.”>> Download the FREE WMUR appHassan, a first-term Democrat, stayed out of her party’s presidential race ahead of the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primary.But in a statement shared first with WMUR on Friday, Hassan said:“We need a president who can bring Americans together, and I am confident that Joe Biden has the experience and character to lead our country forward.“Joe has what it takes to help expand middle class opportunity, demonstrate leadership on the world stage and ensure that our democracy includes everyone.“That's why I voted for him and that's why I believe we must work together to make Joe Biden the next President of the United States.”In the 2016 presidential cycle, Hassan, who was then governor, was an early supporter of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, backing her in September 2015.In the current cycle, she did not make a public endorsement during the primary campaign. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas have not yet made endorsements.Among the members of the state's congressional delegation, only U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster made a pre-primary endorsement, backing former Mayor Pete Buttigieg. But with Buttigieg out of the race, Kuster has now backed Biden, as WMUR first reported Thursday.A wave of endorsements across the country have gone to Biden since his win in the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29, followed by victories in 10 states on Super Tuesday earlier this week.The Hassan endorsement comes as the race for the Democratic nomination has sharpened into a contest essentially between Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who won the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primaries last month and in 2016. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also remains in the race as of Friday morning. WMUR political director Adam Sexton first reported Hassan’s endorsement on Twitter.

With the Democratic presidential nomination contest narrowing to essentially a two-person race, Sen. Maggie Hassan on Friday endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, citing his “experience and character.”

>> Download the FREE WMUR app


Hassan, a first-term Democrat, stayed out of her party’s presidential race ahead of the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primary.

But in a statement shared first with WMUR on Friday, Hassan said:

“We need a president who can bring Americans together, and I am confident that Joe Biden has the experience and character to lead our country forward.

“Joe has what it takes to help expand middle class opportunity, demonstrate leadership on the world stage and ensure that our democracy includes everyone.

“That's why I voted for him and that's why I believe we must work together to make Joe Biden the next President of the United States.”

In the 2016 presidential cycle, Hassan, who was then governor, was an early supporter of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, backing her in September 2015.

In the current cycle, she did not make a public endorsement during the primary campaign. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas have not yet made endorsements.

Among the members of the state's congressional delegation, only U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster made a pre-primary endorsement, backing former Mayor Pete Buttigieg. But with Buttigieg out of the race, Kuster has now backed Biden, as WMUR first reported Thursday.

A wave of endorsements across the country have gone to Biden since his win in the South Carolina primary on Feb. 29, followed by victories in 10 states on Super Tuesday earlier this week.

The Hassan endorsement comes as the race for the Democratic nomination has sharpened into a contest essentially between Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, who won the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primaries last month and in 2016. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also remains in the race as of Friday morning.

WMUR political director Adam Sexton first reported Hassan’s endorsement on Twitter.