Who 8 Women's Rights Champs Are Endorsing for 2016

Already, many of the high-profile 2016 presidential candidates have begun searching for endorsements. Endorsements are a key part of any campaign, but it can be hard to determine whose voice will matter the most. Which leaning will have more sway with the public: Beyoncé's or Barack Obama's? Some of the most influential figures in the country have already revealed their choices for the next president, including some pretty fantastic women's rights champions.

No matter whose celebrity or political background can inspire the most support, the current presidential hopefuls have wasted no time in seeking important endorsements. Hillary Clinton has sought endorsements from big labor unions, according to Politico. Bernie Sanders has nabbed the support of some of the activists behind Occupy Wall Street, who started a group called People for Bernie.

Republican candidates have gotten in on the endorsement season as well. Lindsey Graham netted John McCain's stamp of approval, according to Bloomberg, and Ted Cruz landed the endorsements of several New Hampshire politicians, according to Cleveland.com.

Many famous organizations and leaders are holding out their endorsements as more and more candidates enter the race. However, some pretty powerful politicians have already shared their endorsements. Here's a breakdown of who these eight women's rights leaders have supported so far. Not surprisingly, a certain former secretary of state and first lady took a lot of the endorsements.

Madeleine Albright

Clinton's secretary of state predecessor expressed her support for the female Democrat through a tweet sent April 12. The first female secretary of state is a women's rights icon and said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, "When I became secretary of state, I made women's issues central to American foreign policy. Not just because I'm a feminist, but because it's a fact that if women are politically and economically empowered, societies are more stable."

Amy Klobuchar

Klobuchar, who was sometimes mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, also supports Clinton, according to Politico. The first female Minnesota senator, she has been endorsed by Feminist Majority and has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro Choice America and Planned Parenthood, according to FeministMajority.org.

Joyce Beatty

Congresswoman Beatty supports Clinton and women in general. The Ohio representative hosted a women leaders roundtable to discuss equality. She announced her endorsement at a Super PAC event, according to The Lantern.

Gina Raimondo

Raimondo, the governor of Rhode Island, also endorsed Clinton. Raimondo is a supporter of ending the pay gap in Rhode Island, according to her website. The governor has said that electing a woman into the White House would not be simply a symbolic gesture but would also have practical benefits, according to Politico.

Kirsten Gillibrand

Supercharged women's activist and New York Senator Gillibrand has outright said in 2013 that she is on the Clinton 2016 "bandwagon," according to The Washington Post. Gillibrand is a huge voice in congress for the epidemic of sexual assault and wasn't afraid to link her name to Clinton's early on.

Judy Chu

The California member of the House of Representatives and the first Chinese-American woman to be elected into Congress has said, "We need Hillary Clinton in the White House, but how are we going to make this happen? We can only make it happen if the grassroots is activated, if the grassroots works hard in every sphere, in every corner of the United States,” according to Global Nation. Chu works hard for racial and gender equality.

Claire McCaskill

A Democratic senator and women's rights supporter in the very conservative Missouri, McCaskill said in 2013, "Now, as I look at 2016 and think about who is best to lead this country forward, I’m proud to announce that I am Ready for Hillary,” according to Politico. The senator has worked on a number of women's issues such as free contraceptive, free preventative screenings, and prevention of sexual assault in the military.

Every Other Female Democratic Senator

All 16 Democratic female senators sent a private 2013 letter to Clinton, urging her to run. Senator Kay Hagen accidentally revealed the contents of the letter, according to The New York Daily News. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who was viewed as a potential candidate, signed the letter, though she has declined to endorse Clinton now, according to ABC News.

Not many women's rights leaders in government want to support any GOP candidates, it seems. Or any candidate but Clinton. That seems like quite a coincidence.

Images: Getty Images (8), YouTube/Gina Raimondo