CBC chairman endorses Clinton

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, on Thursday endorsed Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

{mosads}Butterfield penned an op-ed for The Grio, an African-American news site, saying the Democratic front-runner is the best candidate to improve the lives of African-Americans and arguing she understands the needs of the black community.

“The black community matters, and black votes matter, which is why I publicly and proudly support Hillary Clinton for president,” Butterfield wrote. “She has the record, foresight, and passion to improve the lives of millions of African-Americans. This was not a hard decision.”

Butterfield touted Clinton’s past work and specifically highlighted her push to help juvenile offenders while serving as a lawyer and U.S. senator.

“Clinton has long fought for justice. As a young lawyer in Arkansas, she worked with juvenile offenders in the Children’s Defense Fund and at a legal aid clinic at the University of Arkansas. As a Senator, she introduced a ‘second chance program’ to rehabilitate troubled minors,” he wrote.

He also praised the former secretary of State’s proposals on criminal justice reform and her call for Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act.

“From fixing the criminal justice system and reforming the voting process to creating jobs and promoting a diverse workplace, Clinton’s ambitions match our own,” Butterfield writes. “Of all the candidates, she is best positioned to better African-American lives.”

Butterfield’s support is critical as Clinton and her chief Democratic rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), compete for the African-American vote. Both candidates have made a pointed effort to address the civil rights movement and have met with organizers from the Black Lives Matter movement.

But the former secretary of State holds a bigger lead over Sanders when it comes to support from black Democratic voters.

Clinton has secured the vast majority of congressional endorsements in her quest for the Democratic nod. Sanders has landed two endorsements while former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has received one.