California state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D) on Tuesday picked up another high-profile endorsement in the race to fill Rep. Ellen Tauscher’s (D) House seat.
DeSaulnier’s office announced that State Senate President Darrell Steinberg (D) is backing his candidacy.
“State Senator Mark DeSaulnier has always fought for strong progressive values coupled with responsible fiscal management and restraint,” DeSaulnier said in a statement. “I know he will ably serve the people of the Tenth Congressional District should Congresswoman Tauscher be confirmed and her seat become available.”
Tauscher has been selected for a post in the State Department but has yet to vacate her seat. When she does a special election for her 10th District seat will ensue.
DeSaulnier is considered to be the frontrunner for the seat, and has already gathered the endorsements of Tauscher and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.). Howeer, California state Assemblywoman John Buchanan (D), who some consider to be DeSaulnier’s biggest competition in the race, released an internal poll last week that showed her leading DeSaulnier by a narrow margin.