Advertisement NH Primary Source: Legislators, alderman become Sanders’ first slate of 2020 NH endorsements Campaign says backers are a sign of 'growing support' in first-primary state Share Shares Copy Link Copy

(This report is a preview of this week’s New Hampshire Primary Source column, which will be published in its entirety on WMUR.com early Thursday morning.)ENDORSING BERNIE. Eight state lawmakers and a Nashua alderman are endorsing Bernie Sanders today in the first slate of formally announced New Hampshire supporters of the Vermont senator's 2020 run for president.Two of the nine are familiar longtime Sanders backers. Reps. Tim Smith of Manchester and Mark King of Nashua were early supporters of Sanders in his 2016 run and have been involved in Sanders’ New Hampshire steering committee, which remained active between campaigns.The campaign said the other supporters are formally endorsing Sanders for the first time as elected officials. They are:--Nashua Alderman at-Large Brandon Laws, who represents all nine city wards and was elected in 2017.-- Rep. Josh Adjutant of Ashland, who represent his home community as well as Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, Enfield and Grafton. Adjutant is serving his first term in the House and is a member of the State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs committees.-- Rep. Skip Cleaver of Nashua, a second-term lawmaker who represents the city’s Ward 8 and is a member of the House Transportation Committee.-- Rep. Catherine Sofikitis of Nashua, a second-term legislator who represents the city’s Ward 7 and serves on the House Environment and Agriculture Committee.-- Rep. Ellen Read of Newmarket, who is serving her second term representing her home community and Newfields and is a member of the Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee.-- Rep. Art Ellison of Concord, who is serving his second term representing six of the city’s wards and serves on the House Education Committee.-- Rep. Cam Kenney of Durham is a freshman legislator who serves on the House Judiciary Committee.King is in his second term representing Nashua Ward 6 and serves on the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee, while Smith is in his fourth term representing Manchester Ward 10 and serves on the Legislative Administration Committee. The Sanders campaign said the endorsements, announced nearly nine months before the first-in-the-nation primary, “demonstrates growing support for Sanders’ presidential run.”State campaign director Joe Caiazzo said, “We are grateful for the support of these elected leaders from across New Hampshire. T hey will play a crucial role in our grassroots campaign in their communities and throughout the Granite State.”The New Hampshire supporters are among Sanders’ first announced endorsements in the nation. In April, the campaign announced endorsements by seven state lawmakers in South Carolina.