Secretary of the State Denise Merrill is backing Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president.

Merrill said a number of Democrats running in 2020 would present a strong alternative to Republican President Donald Trump. "But I feel very strongly that Elizabeth Warren is our best candidate,'' Merrill said. "She has experience and she has big ideas and she cares about the things I care about and a lot of Americans care about.''

Merrill is the second constitutional officer to make an endorsement in the presidential race: earlier this year, Gov. Ned Lamont announced his support for former Vice President Joe Biden.

Warren’s pledge to forsake large donations and her willingness to criticize the Democratic establishment’s donor class also won praise from Merrill.

Warren "is strongly opposed” to the influence of big money in politics, Merrill said, "and she’ll make it a priority to do something about it.'' As a member of the legisalture, Merrill championed the state’s public campaign finance law.