Sanders gaining endorsements

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders announced endorsements from 14 Colorado progressives Tuesday, including two Democratic National Committee members.

Most of the endorsers are associated in some way with the Colorado Working Families Party. Their backing of Sanders contrasts sharply with the national Working Families Party’s endorsement in September of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

“Bernie is the only proven progressive in this race, the only one who’s determined to stand up to powerful interests and fight for real results in people’s lives,” said

Mike McCorkle, the cofounder of the Colorado affiliate, in the Sanders campaign’s release.

At least two of the endorsements touted by Sanders, also a U.S. senator, weren’t new — state Rep. Emily Sirota and former Rep. Joe Salazar spoke at Sanders’ large downtown Denver rally last month.

Two Democratic National Committee members from Colorado were on Sanders’ list: Jeri Shepherd and Terry Tucker. But they won their positions in 2016 as part of a slate of three Sanders supporters put up at the state convention.

The most recent poll of likely voters in Colorado’s March 3 Democratic primary was released in August and showed Sanders narrowly leading former Vice President Joe Biden and Warren.

Among other endorsements announced by Sanders’ campaign are:

• Former state Sen. Mike Merrifield of El Paso County.

• Former Denver City Councilman Rafael Espinoza.

• Colorado Working Families Party members Sarah Morgan, Kayla Smith, Ashlyn Velasquez, Cleo Dioletis, Dana Manning and Laurie Roberts.