Rep. Anthony Brown Anthony Gregory BrownPelosi seeks to put pressure on GOP in COVID-19 relief battle Democrats demand Esper explicitly ban Confederate flag and allow Pride, Native Nations flags Trump tweets key GOP lawmaker has committed to not changing Confederate base names MORE (D-Md.) endorsed Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq A socially and environmentally just way to fight climate change MORE's 2020 White House campaign and became its first national co-chair, officials announced Thursday.

Brown, a veteran of the Iraq War, said in a statement that he is backing the former South Bend, Ind., mayor because of Buttigieg's ability to bring people together around the shared values of the country.

“Our country needs a president who can heal our divides and restore decency to our nation’s highest office,” said Brown. “Pete’s message is not defined by exclusion but welcomes everyone into the fight to tackle our nation’s greatest challenges.”

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The Maryland representative, who served three decades in the Army and Army Reserve, said he supports Buttigieg because the top priority of the president should be the “security and safety of our nation.”

Brown also served as Maryland's lieutenant governor. He belongs to the Congressional Black Caucus and is the vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

“I am honored to have Congressman Brown’s endorsement and am thrilled to have him co-chair my campaign, as we work together to heal our nation’s divides and restore decency and respect to the presidency so that we can get to work on the urgent issues facing our country,” Buttigieg said in a statement.

The former mayor recently tied with Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) and former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenCast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response Biden tells CNN town hall that he has benefited from white privilege MORE atop a poll of 2020 Democratic contenders in Iowa. Overall, RealClearPolitics ranks him fourth nationally.