Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., endorsed two fellow liberal Democrats in crowded House primaries — state Sen. Daylin Leach in Pennsylvania’s 13th District and state Rep. Carl Sciortino in Massachusetts’ 5th District special election.

Grayson detailed his reasons in a Sunday email to supporters, writing that both candidates are against the NSA’s controversial domestic surveillance programs and would have voted for Michigan GOP Rep. Justin Amash’s amendment to scale back the NSA’s reach. Amash’s amendment failed in the House by 12 votes, despite strong bipartisan support.

“We need just 11 more House members with the courage to stand up for our rights,” wrote Grayson, an anti-domestic surveillance advocate, in the email. “I know candidates in both districts who have a realistic shot at winning these seats. Both candidates strongly oppose unconstitutional domestic surveillance, and both have said they would have voted with me in favor of ending it.”

Leach faces three other Democrats in the race to replace Democratic Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz, who is running for governor in Pennsylvania next year. One of those opponents is former Rep. Marjorie Margolies, D-Pa., who is attempting a comeback after losing her district in the 1990s.

Sciortino faces four other Democrats in the special election to replace longtime Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., who won a special election for Senate in June.

Pennsylvania’s 13th District and Massachusetts’ 5th District are rated Safe Democratic contests by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.