Ahead of next week’s Democratic caucus in Iowa, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is endorsing Joe Biden for president.
At a press event Thursday, Stoney said he is a fan of the former vice president’s record on voting rights. Stoney met with Biden at an event for Black mayors of Southern cities in late November. He said he was convinced in that meeting that the former vice president would be the best candidate to win over Black and Latino voters.
“I can’t handle another year of 45, I just can’t, and I don’t think the people of Richmond can handle another four years of that either,” Stoney said. “Let’s go into November with the best candidate possible and that is Vice President Joe Biden.”
Recent polling shows Biden virtually tied with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in Iowa. Despite surging support for more progressive candidates, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Stoney said he believed Biden could unite the different factions of the Democratic Party.
“It’s my hope that there are a number of different elected leaders and community leaders all across this country that will come together, align alongside my friend Vice President Joe Biden because we all want the same thing,” he said.
Stoney also committed Thursday to participate in phone banking and other get out the vote efforts for Biden ahead of Virginia’s presidential primary on March 3.