Former Vice President Joe Biden, a top-tier Democratic presidential candidate for the 2020 race, released on Monday his first list of endorsements from the Volunteer State.

Among the list of former Democratic politicians are current freshman state Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Nashville; his father Bill Freeman, a prominent Democratic fundraiser in Nashville who previously ran for mayor; and former U.S. Sen. Jim Sasser, who also served as U.S. ambassador to China.

"Each and every one of these leaders are trusted voices in their communities and I am proud to have earned their support,” Biden said in a statement, going on to say that he would stand alongside those endorsing him to focus on "rebuilding the backbone of our country — the middle class — and unifying America."

Biden's first round of endorsements in Tennessee include:

Jim Sasser, Former U.S. Senator and Former U.S. Ambassador to China

Rosetta Miller Perry, The Tennessee Tribune Publisher

Bob Freeman, State Representative

Warren Gooch, Mayor of Oak Ridge

Bill Freeman, Former Mayoral Candidate and businessman

Chip Forrester, Former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman

Doug Horne, Former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman

Lincoln Davis, Former United States Representative

Rev. Jerry Maynard, Former Metro Councilman-At-Large

Elisa Parke, Former Tennessee Democratic Party Vice Chair

Bob Thomas, Former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman

Bob Tuke, Former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman

Gray Sasser, Former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman

Sylvia Woods, Tennessee Democratic Party Executive Committee

Mike Turner, Former State Representative

Bill Owen, Former State Senator and member of the Democratic National Committee

Biden was the second of four Democratic presidential candidates to visit Nashville in recent months, coming to Music City in May when Bob Freeman held a fundraiser ranging from $1,000 to $2,800 per person.

Earlier this month, Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who is also a Democrat running for president, received the endorsement of state Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville.

Yarbro and Buttigieg, fellow Harvard University alumni, have known each other for nearly two decades.

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former U.S. Rep Beto O'Rourke have also visited Nashville in recent months.

The Democratic and Republican presidential primaries in Tennessee will take place March 3.

Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.

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