As the presidential candidates battle for that all-important momentum in the final eight-day stretch before the Iowa Caucus, Elizabeth Warren will have at least 40 more Iowa activists helping her persuade their neighbors.

Coming off the major endorsement of the Des Moines Register editorial board, Warren has several dozen new endorsements from local elected officials and Democratic activists. Included among them is Ames State Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, adding to Warren’s long list of state legislative backers.

A large group putting their support behind Warren is from Johnson County, where she’ll be in a tight battle with Bernie Sanders and possibly Pete Buttigieg for the state’s most-Democratic county. Johnson County supervisors Royceann Porter and Janelle Rettig are endorsing Warren, along with Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness, Iowa City Councilwoman Mazahir Salih and Coralville City Councilwoman Meghann Foster.

“When you sit down with Elizabeth Warren, you realize something right away: she listens and she cares,” Johnson County Supervisor Royceann Porter said. “She’s real. She knows who she is, where she comes from and who she’s fighting for — and she’s fighting for all of us. I’m proud to endorse her, and I’ll be proud to call her our next president.”

Warren has also won over most of the Cedar Rapids City Council. Council members Ashley Vanorny, Dale Todd and Tyler Olson are all endorsing the senator.

Like many of her last rounds of endorsements, there’s quite a few Iowans who are coming over to Warren after their previous candidate dropped out of the race. Porter, Todd and Salih were with Cory Booker, while Foster had backed Kamala Harris.

Another important get for Warren is Tri-County Democrats Chair Kurt Meyer, who organizes a large group of activists in several rural counties along the Minnesota border and has hosted many of the candidates at his house.

“I have not endorsed in previous races, but this time is different,” Meyer said. “In a field that ranges from good to better, and ultimately best, Elizabeth Warren stands out. After much reflection, I will caucus for Elizabeth with great conviction, and I urge my friends to do likewise.”

For Warren, who hasn’t led an Iowa poll for several months, her best bet on winning or doing well on caucus night is to win over many of the still-wavering Iowans who haven’t been able to make up their minds. A significant portion of caucus-goers continue to be open to changing their choice, so caucus night itself could be particularly fluid.

Warren seems well-positioned to have an advantage among late-breaking undecideds, given her high favorable ratings among Democrats and messaging/organizing approach that appeals to a broad swath of the party.

Here’s the full, new list of Warren endorsers:

Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, Iowa state representative, Ames

Royceann Porter, Johnson County supervisor, Iowa City

Janelle Rettig, Johnson County supervisor, Iowa City

Deb Leksell, Hamilton County treasurer, Webster City

Janet Lyness, Johnson County attorney, Iowa City

Jim Throgmorton, Former Iowa City mayor, Iowa City

Mazahir Salih, Iowa City city councilwoman, Iowa City

Tyler Olson, Cedar Rapids city councilman, Cedar Rapids

Ashley Vanorny, Cedar Rapids city councilwoman, Cedar Rapids

Dale Todd, Cedar Rapids City councilman, Cedar Rapids

Meghann Foster, Coralville city councilwoman, Coralville

Pat Peacock, Davenport alderman, Davenport

Darvin Graham, Toledo city councilman, Toledo

Jake Tornholm, Williamsburg city councilman, Williamsburg

Megan Suhr, Knoxville city councilwoman, Knoxville

Elizabeth Leo, Manning city councilwoman, Manning

Devon Dade, Keokuk city councilman, Keokuk

Kate Parks, Dubuque School Board member, Dubuque

Lisa Williams, Iowa City Community School Board member, Iowa City

Jan McGinnis, Marshalltown School Board member, Marshalltown

Donna Cook, child advocate, Newton

Shawn Harmsen, Iowa Demcratic Party State Central Committee member, Iowa City

Kurt Meyer, Tri-County Dems chairman, Saint Ansgar

Lori Egan, Allamakee County Dems co-chairwoman, Waukon

Donna Duvall, Jackson County Dems co-chairwoman, Spragueville

Dave Hearn, Former Webster County Dems chairman,

Cody Eliff, Scott County Dems Affirmative Action chairman, Davenport

Kyla Paterson, IDP Stonewall Caucus chairperson, Iowa City

Lindsey Ellickson, IDP Progressive Caucus chairwoman, Cedar Rapids

Nick Klinefledt, former U.S. Attorney, Waukee

James Reynolds, former U.S. Attorney, Dubuque

Paul Johnson, former head of Iowa DNR, Decorah

Dennis Harbaugh, former director or Iowa Senate Democratic Caucus, Waterloo

Rogers Kirk Jr., faith leader, Davenport

Shayla & John McCormally, community activists, Des Moines

Katie Routh, community activist, Norwalk

Joy Newcom, community activist, Forest City

Nicholas Scherre, community activist, Des Moines

Robin Butler, community activist, Iowa City

Jenn Wolff, community activist, Waverly

Juanita Williams, nurse and health care activist, Waterloo

Heather Strachan, mental health advocate, Des Moines

Fred Kirschenmann, conservation advocate, Ames

Lyle Evans, retired produce farmer, Webster City

by Pat Rynard

Posted 1/26/20