Former President Barack Obama is coming off the sidelines and entering the fray, endorsing congressional candidates across the country including two in Texas.
In a post to his Twitter account, Obama announced his support for Adrienne Bell, who is running against GOP Congressman Randy Weber of Friendswood in TX-14, as well as Colin Allred, the Democrat challenger to Pete Sessions (R–Dallas) in TX-32.
While Weber’s seat in southeast Texas is generally considered safe in November, Democrats have been targeting Dallas County—which makes up the majority of Sessions’ congressional district— heavily ahead of the general election.
In announcing his endorsements, Obama rallied Democrats to vote against Republican candidates in order to take over the US House during the upcoming midterm election:
Today I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates – leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent. I’m confident that, together, they’ll strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity, repairing our alliances and standing in the world, and upholding our fundamental commitment to justice, fairness, responsibility, and the rule of law. But first, they need our votes.
While Obama has not personally given financial support to these candidates as of the latest campaign finance reports, Organizing for Action, a group formed out of Obama’s presidential campaign, began supporting Democrat candidates in targeted areas earlier this year.
During his presidential campaigns, Texans rejected Obama on the ballot twice, and both times by double-digit margins. Texas Democrats seeking to turn Texas blue are hoping the third time’s the charm.
