Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand endorsed Joe Biden for president Thursday, joining a growing list of Democratic supporters for the former vice president.
“Our country needs a president who will provide steady, honest leadership, and I believe Joe has the right experience, empathy, and character to lead,” Gillibrand tweeted Thursday evening.
“I’m excited to help him defeat Donald Trump in November.”

I’m proud to endorse @JoeBiden today. Our country needs a president who will provide steady, honest leadership, and I believe Joe has the right experience, empathy, and character to lead. I’m excited to help him defeat Donald Trump in November.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) March 19, 2020

The upstate New York Democrat and one-time presidential hopeful broke the news in the Washington Post, where she described Biden as the “best candidate” to beat Trump in 2020. His demeanor amid the coronavirus pandemic also played a roll in her decision, she said.
“His ability to empathize and absorb the fears of the country right now is essential,” Gillibrand told the Washington Post. “I think we need a healer. . . . I do truly believe he is the man for this moment that we’re in here.”

The nod comes as Biden piles up a nearly 300-delegate lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and on the same day Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced she would be dropping out of the presidential race to endorse Biden.