Representative Bruce Braley’s campaign for U.S. Senate rolled out its largest batch of endorsements today: 71 state legislators. All 26 Iowa Senate Democrats plus 45 of the 47 Iowa House Democrats are named in the press release I’ve posted after the jump. For some reason, Iowa House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and former Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy are not in this group. Murphy is running for the first Congressional district seat Braley is vacating.

Earlier this week, Braley’s campaign announced that it raised more than $1 million during the first quarter. That is a solid number, and I’ll be interested to see how the numbers break own (contributions from individuals vs PACs, for instance). Bleeding Heartland will publish a detailed roundup of Iowa Congressional fundraising after all the candidates have filed their reports with the Federal Election Commission. Those reports are due April 15.

April 3 press release from Braley for Iowa (emphasis in original):

71 Iowa Legislators Endorse Braley for Senate

DES MOINES, IA – 71 Democratic members of the Iowa legislature have announced their formal endorsement of Bruce Braley for Senate.  45 Iowa House Democrats are endorsing Braley today, as are all 26 Iowa Senate Democrats, including Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal and President Pam Jochum.

Braley announced in February that he had formed a committee to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Harkin.

Sen. Michael Gronstal (D-Pottawattamie) said, “I’m proud to endorse Bruce Braley today.  Iowans are fortunate to have Bruce in their corner fighting for them in Congress, and he’ll do even more in the Senate.  From passing polices that strengthen the middle class to helping small businesses, Bruce works so hard to get things done for Iowa because he’s never forgotten where he’s come from.”

Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D-Linn) said, “Today is a great day for Iowa. I proudly stand with many of my colleagues and endorse Bruce Braley. Bruce has a proven track record of fighting for the middle class, standing up for veterans and working to make college affordable. He is one of us and Iowa needs him in the US Senate.”

Braley said, “I’m honored by this outpouring of support.  I’ve launched this campaign because Iowans deserve a Senator who will work hard every day to rebuild the middle class, create economic opportunity, and use taxpayer money more wisely.  The endorsements of 71 Iowa legislators today is a big boost to our campaign and I’ll rely on all of them to help build our growing grassroots organization in the months ahead.”

In recent weeks, momentum has continued to build behind Braley’s Senate campaign.  On Monday, Braley announced that he has raised $1 million for his Senate campaign since Harkin announced his retirement.  In February, Rep. Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and former Rep. Leonard Boswell endorsed Braley for Senate.  Last week, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced their endorsement.  And eight labor organizations have endorsed Braley: State Association of Letter Carriers, the Iowa Postal Workers Union, the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3 Iowa Union, UAW Region 4, SEIU Iowa – Local 199, AFSCME Iowa Council 61, the Iowa State Council of Machinists, and the Great Plains Laborers’ District Council.  

A full list of the legislators announcing their endorsement today can be found below:

HOUSE

Name County  

Deb Berry Black Hawk

Anesa Kajtazovic Black Hawk

Bob Kressig Black Hawk

Sharon Steckman Cerro Gordo

Patti Ruff Clayton

Roger Thomas Clayton

Mary Wolfe Clinton

Daniel Muhlbauer Crawford

Dennis Cohoon Des Moines

Nancy Dunkel Dubuque

Charles Isenhart Dubuque

Bruce Bearinger Fayette

Todd Prichard Floyd

Daniel Kelley Jasper

Curtis Hanson Jefferson

Dave Jacoby Johnson

Vicki Lensing Johnson

Mary Mascher Johnson

Sally Stutsman Johnson

Jerry Kearns Lee

Art Stead Linn

Daniel Lundby Linn

Tyler Olson Linn

Kirsten Running-Marquardt Linn

Todd Taylor Linn

Mark Smith Marshall

Ako Abdul-Samad Polk

Marti Anderson Polk

Bruce Hunter Polk

John Forbes Polk

Ruth Ann Gaines Polk

Jo Oldson Polk

Rick Olson Polk

Joe Riding Polk

Jim Lykam Scott

Phyllis Thede Scott

Cindy Winckler Scott

Frank Wood Scott

Lisa Heddens Story

Beth Wessel-Kroeschell Story

Mary Gaskill Wapello

Scott Ourth Warren

Helen Miller Webster

Dave Dawson Woodbury

Chris Hall Woodbury

SENATE

Name County

Jeff Danielson Black Hawk

Bill Dotzler Black Hawk

Amanda Ragan Cerro Gordo

Rita Hart Clinton

Tom Courtney Des Moines

Pam Jochum Dubuque

Brian Schoenjahn Fayette

Rich Taylor Henry

Mary Jo Wilhelm Howard

Tod Bowman Jackson

Dennis Black Jasper

Joe Bolkcom Johnson

Bob Dvorsky Johnson

Robert Hogg Linn  

Wally Horn Linn

Liz Mathis Linn

Steve Sodders Marshall

Chris Brase Muscatine

Dick Dearden Polk

Jack Hatch   Polk

Matt McCoy Polk

Janet Petersen Polk

Michael Gronstal Pottawattamie

Joe Seng Scott

Herman Quirmbach Story

Daryl Beall Webster