The Blue Dog Coalition endorsed a slate of five Democratic Congressional challengers today.

The coalition, which has faced a spate of retirements in recent months, backed state Rep. Leonard Bembry in Florida’s 2nd district, state Rep. Clark Hall in Arkansas’ 1st district, Army veteran Brendan Mullen in Indiana’s 2nd district, state Rep. Ted Vick in South Carolina’s 7th district and former U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace in Oklahoma’s 2nd district.

“The American people are tired of the gridlock in Washington that has been created by the extremes of the right and left,” Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.), the co-chairman of the Blue Dog PAC, said in a statement. “They want mature leadership capable of solving problems. That’s who the Blue Dogs are, and that’s why these candidates actively sought our endorsement. They know what the Blue Dog brand represents and wanted to share in it.”

In September, the PAC hired Andrew Whalen, a former top aide to Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), to expand its political operation.

The PAC is expected to endorse more candidates early next year.