PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Lynch brothers - Bill and Patrick - have picked up their first Democratic city committee endorsements for their respective bids for Congress and the governor's office.

Both were endorsed by the East Providence Democratic City Committee on Monday.

Having lost the first run of city and town endorsements to state Treasurer Frank Caprio, his Democratic primary opponent in the race for governor, Patrick Lynch, who is currently the state's attorney general, said: "I am both humbled and proud to have the endorsement and support of the East Providence Democratic City Committee. It is people like these who are the driving force in winning elections for Democrats. I asked for their support as a group and individually and I am proud to have earned that support."

But it was his older brother, Bill, the former state Democratic chairman running for Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District seat, who actually announced the East Providence committee's endorsements, including its endorsement of him over his own primary foe, Providence Mayor David Cicilline.

Both hope to succeed U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, who is not running for reelection.

The Bill Lynch campaign provided a statement from East Providence Democratic City Committee Chairman John L. Faria who said: "All the Democratic candidates that came before our committee were impressive. I wish to thank the candidates for the time they took to present themselves and to answer our questions. I truly believe that the group of candidates our committee endorsed will win and successfully lead our state to economic prosperity.''

The East Providence Democrats also endorsed Ralph Mollis for reelection as secretary of state, state Rep. Peter Kilmartin, D-Pawtucket, for attorney general and Gina Raimondo for general treasurer.