Washington: Rick Larsen Backs Suzan DelBene

Rep. Rick Larsen is endorsing a candidate for Washington's vacant 1st district seat, parts of which he currently represents. (Tom Williams/CQ Rolll Call File Photo)

Rep. Rick Larsen (D) is endorsing former Microsoft executive Suzan DelBene in Washington state’s open and redrawn 1st district, a large portion of which Larsen currently represents.

This is the second major endorsement for DelBene in the past two days in her bid to succeed former Rep. Jay Inslee (D), who resigned to run for governor. Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) backed DelBene on Monday. Full story

John Boehner Fully Backs Mitt Romney

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Speaker John Boehner broke his silence on the GOP presidential nomination today and endorsed presumptive nominee Mitt Romney.

At a press conference, the Ohio Republican said, “I’ve not taken a position on his presidential campaign because, as chairman of the convention, I wanted to make sure that all candidates had a fair process and fair opportunity.”

But now with Romney’s ascent to the GOP nod all but certain, Boehner offered his full backing of the former Massachusetts governor.

“I think Mitt Romney has a set of economic policies that can put Americans back to work and frankly contrast sharply with the failed economic policies of President [Barack] Obama,” Boehner said. “And I will be proud to support Mitt Romney and do everything I can to help him.”

Boehner had declined to back anyone in the GOP field, reiterating to reporters that he remains focused on his work in the House and promising that he would back whomever primary voters selected to run against Obama. Other GOP House leaders, notably Majority Leader Eric Cantor (Va.) and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), as well as Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (Wis.), endorsed Romney earlier in the cycle.

Pennsylvania: LCV Drops $230K to Defeat Tim Holden

The pile-on for Rep. Tim Holden (D-Pa.) continued today when the League of Conservation Voters announced a $230,000 television advertisement buy aimed at the Blue Dog Democrat in his upcoming primary and MoveOn.org endorsed Holden’s opponent, attorney Matt Cartwright.

Holden is now the underdog in the April 24 primary against Cartwright, Roll Call reported from the ground in the 17th district last week.

About 80 percent of the redrawn district includes new turf for Holden, who’s also losing the spending war in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Cartwright infused almost $400,000 of his own cash into his campaign, plus the Campaign for Primary Accountability vowed to spend $200,000 against Holden.

Now the environmental group joins the spending spree against Holden with its own buy. This spot will run on broadcast and cable stations in the Scranton media market, according to LCV.

Minnesota: District Parties Back Preferred Candidates

Rep. Michele Bachmann easily earned the Minnesota Republican Party's endorsement in her re-election bid. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Minnesota’s Democrats and Republicans endorsed candidates for the fall over the weekend at district-level party conventions.

GOP Reps. Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen easily picked up their party’s endorsements for their re-elections. Full story

Washington: Gregoire Endorses Suzan DelBene in 1st District

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Gov. Christine Gregoire endorsed former Microsoft executive Suzan DelBene (D) in the wide open 1st district race to succeed former Rep. Jay Inslee (D), who resigned to run for governor. Full story

New York: EMILY’s List Endorses Louise Slaughter, Kathy Hochul

EMILY's List has endorsed Rep. Louise Slaughter, who faces a serious re-election challenge in New York. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

EMILY’s List gave its official endorsement to two vulnerable Congresswomen from New York today, backing Democratic Reps. Louise Slaughter and Kathy Hochul. Full story

Pennsylvania: Bill Clinton Endorses Mark Critz

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Bubba waded into da ‘burg’s most competitive House primary today.

Bill Clinton, who remains one of the most popular Democrats in western Pennsylvania, threw his support behind Rep. Mark Critz over fellow Rep. Jason Altmire in the primary for a House district north of Pittsburgh.

“I am proud to endorse Mark Critz for Congress,” Clinton said in a statement provided by the Critz campaign. “I know that Mark will continue his work to create jobs, strengthen the middle class, to protect Social Security and Medicare, and do what is right for western Pennsylvania and our nation.” Full story

Anti-Abortion Groups Rally Behind Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney will likely pick up two endorsements from national abortion-rights opponent groups today, two days after former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) ended his presidential bid.

The Susan B. Anthony List, which previously endorsed Santorum and had been campaigning for him, announced in a statement this morning that it is backing the former Massachusetts governor. National Right to Life is announcing its presidential endorsement at a press conference this morning at the National Press Club, and it is presumed the group will back Romney. Full story

Pennsylvania: Pat Toomey Endorses Mitt Romney

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) endorsed Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign today, becoming the 98th Member of Congress and the 20th Senator to do so.

“With his extensive private sector experience, his knowledge of economic issues, and his gubernatorial track record, Governor Romney is exactly the kind of leader our country needs to solve our fiscal crisis and restore American prosperity,” he said in a statement.

Toomey also praised former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who dropped out of the race this afternoon.

“I also congratulate Senator Santorum on a hard fought primary race,” he said. “He put up a valiant fight and deserves to be commended for his spirited effort.”

Toomey had a complicated history with Santorum. In 2004, Santorum endorsed then-Sen. Arlen Specter in a GOP primary race against Toomey.

In a Feb. 23 tweet, Toomey said that was “ancient history” and praised Romney’s “pro-growth tax reform plan,” but he had said he would not endorse in the presidential campaign.

Romney’s Chief Whip Roy Blunt Has a Good Week

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

By all accounts, the end of March and the beginning of April have been kind to Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the leader of Mitt Romney’s effort to secure Member endorsements.

In recent days, the former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential frontrunner has been endorsed by a group of much sought after tea party stalwarts, including GOP Sens. Ron Johnson (Wis.), Mike Lee (Utah) and Marco Rubio (Fla.). Also endorsing on the cusp of Tuesday’s key Badger State presidential primary was House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

But in an interview with Roll Call last week, during which Blunt discussed his plans to use his leadership position as Senate GOP Conference vice chairman to improve coordination between House and Senate Republicans, the Missourian reflected on an endorsement whip operation that functioned much differently than when he did the same thing in 2000 for George W. Bush, the Texas governor who would go on to be elected president. Full story

Paul Ryan Endorses Mitt Romney

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) became the 93rd Member to endorse Mitt Romney this morning.

In an interview with “Fox & Friends,” Ryan stressed Romney’s capacity to serve as president and his electability.

“I believe he’s the right person for the job, and I think this primary has been productive. I think it’s been constructive up till now,” he said. “I think it’s made the candidates better, but I think we’re entering a phase where it could become counter-productive if this drags on much longer.” Full story

Conservative Senators Pick Sides in Texas, Missouri and Maine Primaries

Sen. Tom Coburn endorsed Senate candidates in Texas and Missouri today. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

There were Senate endorsements galore in GOP circles today, with a few of the highest profile conservative Senators coming out in support of candidates locked in tough GOP primaries. Here’s a quick rundown of what happened:

• Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz picked up an endorsement from Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). Alluding to one of the most intense rivalries in college football (between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma), Coburn wrote in a statement, “Oklahoma and Texas may have our friendly rivalry, but when it comes to fighting for limited government, I’m proud to endorse my neighbor across the Red River.”

• Along with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Coburn also gave his nod to businessman John Brunner, one of three contenders for the GOP nomination in the Missouri Senate race. ”John Brunner will be a force for fiscal conservatism in the U.S. Senate, and I am proud to endorse his candidacy,” Coburn said in a statement released by the Brunner campaign. Earlier this year, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) endorsed former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, another GOP contender hoping to take on vulnerable Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in November.

• Finally, Lee backed Maine Treasurer Bruce Poliquin in the Pine Tree State’s GOP Senate primary. A source in the Poliquin camp told Roll Call that a statement is forthcoming.

California: Jay Chen Hopes to Put Race on the Map

Small-business man Jay Chen (D-Calif.) today will announce a slew of endorsements from Members of Congress, local officials and labor unions in his uphill challenge to Rep. Ed Royce (R).

This race is not among the top-tier races in the state at this point, but Chen is hoping to change that. According to a source close to the campaign, Chen, who entered the race in late January, will report at the end of the first quarter that he raised about $250,000 in just eight weeks. Full story

Rubio: Convention Fight ‘Recipe for Disaster’

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Marco Rubio said all of the things you’d expect in a TV interview explaining his decision to back Mitt Romney for president.

The Florida Republican said Romney offers “such a stark contrast” to President Barack Obama’s record, adding that “I have zero doubt in my mind that Mitt Romney will govern as a conservative.”

But it’s what else Rubio said during the interview on Fox’s “Hannity” that caught my attention. Rubio appeared to set about very purposely to shoot down the notion — currently being promoted by former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) and ex-Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) — that a contested or brokered nominating convention would be good for the Republican Party’s chances of defeating Obama on Nov. 6.

Full story

Marco Rubio Endorses Mitt Romney

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Nearly two months after the Florida primary, Sen. Marco Rubio endorsed Mitt Romney for president.

In an appearance on Sean Hannity’s show on Fox, the first-term Florida Republican said Romney had “earned this nomination” and criticized talk of an open convention.

“I think that’s a recipe for delivering four more years of Barack Obama,” he said.

As a Hispanic lawmaker from a key swing state, Rubio has been discussed as a vice presidential candidate since he won election to the Senate in 2010. Full story