Rep. Elissa Slotkin endorses Biden in Michigan primary

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat who flipped what had been a Republican congressional district two years ago, endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday.

The endorsement came several hours after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Biden and five days before Michigan's Democratic presidential primary to help decide who faces President Donald Trump in November.

Slotkin, D-Holly, sent out a statement saying she had filled out her absentee ballot for Biden, with whom she served in the White House. Slotkin is a former CIA officer and acting assistant Defense Department secretary.

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"“Today, I filled out my absentee ballot for Joe Biden," Slotkin said. "I did so for a host of reasons, but most importantly because I hear from my constituents every day that they want an end to the all-or-nothing politics that have so polarized our country."

Slotkin went on to say that Michigan has "a rich tradition of hard work, decency and passionate pragmatism. That is what is expected of us in our lives, and that is what I believe we need from our elected leaders. That is why I support Joe Biden.”

Biden and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont are in what has become a virtual two-man race in Michigan, with the departure of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg from the race this week after Biden racked up wins on Super Tuesday in 10 of 14 states.

Slotkin represents a district outside Detroit running west through northern Oakland County through Livingston and Ingham counties. In 2018, she beat former U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, flipping one of two congressional districts to move from Republican to Democrat that year.

Contact Todd Spangler attspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler. Read more onMichigan politics and sign up for ourelections newsletter.