Photo by Julie Fleming

Iowa State Sen. Pam Jochum of Dubuque is endorsing Joe Biden for president today, adding to his tally of more than a dozen legislative endorsements.

“With so many good, solid, smart people seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination … the decision has not been easy,” Jochum said in a statement. “This moment in our history requires someone who can heal and unite the people of this country and restore our respect and relationships on the world stage. Joe Biden is the person with the experience to do that.”

Jochum’s endorsement is an important one, and she’s one of the last remaining very prominent Iowa Democrats who had yet to back someone. It’s particularly useful in giving Biden one last bit of momentum in Dubuque, an area of the state he’s traditionally been strong in. The county’s older, working-class Catholic Democrats should give him a boost there on caucus night.

If Biden is to win on caucus night, he’ll need to stack up some big delegate wins in Dubuque and other Eastern Iowa blue-collar counties.

Biden returns to Dubuque on Sunday, one of his last two major rallies currently scheduled before the caucus.

“The tragedies in his personal life have shaped his humanity and the knowledge and experience he has acquired in his public life have shaped his ability to lead,” Jochum added.

The senator has been a staunch fighter for people with disabilities in Iowa for years. Her daughter, Sarah, who died in 2018, was born with an intellectual disability.

Jochum is also the former president of the Iowa Senate, the first Democratic woman to hold that role.

Jochum is the 15th Iowa state legislator to endorse Biden. He has earned several of the endorsements within the last week, including Sioux City Sen. Jackie Smith, Waterloo Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, Cedar Falls Rep. Bob Kressig and Coralville Rep. Dave Jacoby.

The Dubuque elected official delegation is split. Rep. Lindsay James of Dubuque endorsed Elizabeth Warren for president in November. Democratic Rep. Chuck Isenhart, also of Dubuque, has not endorsed a candidate this election cycle, but noted on Facebook recently that he plans on caucusing for Tom Steyer, then joining Pete Buttigieg’s corner if Steyer is not viable.

Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, whose 1st District includes Dubuque, endorsed Biden earlier this year.

Other recent endorsements include 3rd District Congresswoman Cindy Axne and Marcia Nichols, a former political director of AFSCME Council 61. Nichols previously endorsed New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker in the 2020 Democratic presidential race, but the rest of the names mentioned above endorsed for the first time this election cycle.

Biden’s Iowa Legislature Endorsements

Sen. Pam Jochum of Dubuque

Rep. Bruce Hunter of Des Moines

Rep. Ras Smith of Waterloo

Sen. Jim Lykam of Davenport

Sen. Herman Quirmbach of Ames

Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt of Cedar Rapids

Rep. Dennis Cohoon of Burlington

Rep. Tim Kacena of Sioux City

Rep. Mary Gaskill of Ottumwa

Rep. John Forbes of Urbandale

Rep. Mark Smith of Marshalltown

Rep. Bob Kressig of Cedar Falls

Rep. David Jacoby of Coralville

Rep. Timi Brown-Powers of Waterloo

Sen. Jackie Smith of Sioux City

By Paige Godden

Posted 1/30/20