Roll Call
CQ Roll Call May 21, 2013

Examining Bill Clinton's Endorsement Record

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo

He was dead wrong. Clinton did not merely endorse, but he also made a personal appearance in the district.

Texas' 16th: May 30
Loss
Endorsed Candidate: Rep. Silvestre Reyes
Ties to Clinton: Endorsed Clinton during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary

A double-shot endorsement from both Clinton and Obama could not save Reyes from his primary challenger, former El Paso City Councilman Beto O'Rourke.  

Clinton personally went to the El Paso district to campaign on behalf of Reyes and the incumbent still came up short.

Pennsylvania's 12th: April 24
Win
Endorsed Candidate: Rep. Mark Critz
Ties to Clinton: Critz's predecessor and former boss, the late Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), was a Clinton supporter in 2008.

The 2008 presidential campaign had a lot to do with Clinton's decision to weigh in on the Member-vs.-Member primary between Democratic Reps. Jason Altmire and Critz. Altmire stayed neutral, despite much courting from Clinton. Critz benefited from the fact that his old boss, Murtha, had endorsed Clinton in that race.

Clinton has a history of playing well in Pennsylvania, and his nod was critical to Critz's victory.

Maryland's 6th: April 3
Win
Candidate: John Delaney
Ties to Clinton: Fundraiser for Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign

When Maryland released its redistricting map, Delaney was not the establishment favorite.

State mapmakers drew new Maryland lines with a state legislator in mind.

And then the Maryland political world was stunned when Clinton endorsed unknown millionaire businessman Delaney. Overnight, Delaney gained instant credibility, and the race became his to lose.

His rival, state Senate Majority Leader Rob Garagiola countered with an endorsement from Gov. Martin O'Malley, but the momentum was set and the damage was done.

California's 30th
Winner: To be decided in the fall
Candidate Supported: Rep. Brad Sherman
Ties to Clinton: Endorsed Clinton during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary

This is the lone outstanding race where Clinton has endorsed. After emerging from California's jungle primary as the top two, Sherman and Rep. Howard Berman are running against each other for a second time, with the winner of the Nov. 6 contest set to return to Congress next year.

Clinton has not exactly endorsed Sherman, but he wrote Sherman a "letter of support" more than a year ago.

For now, Sherman has the edge, and Bill Clinton's image has been squarely on his website for months.

Sherman backed Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2008.

Kyle Trygstad contributed to this report.

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