Rep. Keith Ellison has already been endorsed by Rep. Raul Grijalva, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, among others. | AP Photo Ellison adds more congressional endorsements in DNC bid

Keith Ellison received four high-profile congressional endorsements on Friday in his bid to become chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Reps. John Lewis, Luis Gutierrez and Tulsi Gabbard, a former DNC vice chair, as well as Sen. Martin Heinrich, endorsed the Minnesota congressman, Ellison's office announced.


The announcement adds to the growing list of congressional endorsements Ellison has already received. Gabbard, like Ellison, was one of the few members of Congress who backed Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential bid. Lewis, Gutierrez and Heinrich all supported Clinton in the Democratic primary.

Ellison has already been endorsed by Rep. Raul Grijalva, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, among others. On Thursday, the AFL-CIO also announced its endorsement of Ellison.

The show of support comes as Ellison fights off skepticism from rank-and-file DNC committee members that Ellison would not be able to serve as DNC chair and also as a member of Congress. On Wednesday Ellison announced that he would step down from his congressional seat if he won the race for DNC chair.

Ellison has also faced tough scrutiny for his past statements about Israel.

"Keith Ellison has been a leader, a builder, and a moral compass for other Democrats throughout his time in Congress,” Gutierrez said. “He is broadly respected and will do a great job as DNC Chair. He understands the issues facing Americans from jobs and income to civil rights and the attacks on certain communities that come from the Republican side. I trust him and support him, and know that he will rebuild our party that way it needs to be rebuilt.”

Ellison is running against South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison and New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley. Others, including Labor Secretary Tom Perez and NARAL Pro-choice America President Ilyse Hogue are also considering bids.