New York State AFL-CIO Announces Endorsements for United States Senate and Congress

ALBANY, NY (08/21/2012)(readMedia)-- Today, August 21, 2012, the 2.5 million member New York State AFL-CIO announced the endorsement of United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand as well as the endorsements of candidates running for the House of Representatives. The endorsements took place at the State Federation's 32nd Constitutional Convention.

Mario Cilento, President of the New York State AFL-CIO, said, "The Labor Movement has stood with Senator Gillibrand from the beginning and we're proud to continue to support her as she runs for reelection. She has become a leader on the issues important to our members – creating good jobs in New York State, strengthening the middle class, and ensuring access to quality education and health care."

"What happens in Washington DC has a real and tangible impact on the lives and economic wellbeing of working men and women throughout the state. Union members cannot afford to sit idly on the sidelines. The Labor Movement will engage our members at the local level to make sure hard working New Yorkers, not corporate special interests, decide who represents us in Washington," added Cilento.

Members will be contacted on the job and at home through member mailings, worksite flyers, phone bank operations and a "labor-to-neighbor" program, where union members visit other members in the area to discuss a particular race.

The following candidates were endorsed:

United States Senate

Kirsten Gillibrand

House of Representatives

Congressional District

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Candidate

Timothy Bishop (D)**
Steve Israel (D-WF-I)
Carolyn McCarthy (D)
Grace Meng (D-I)
Nydia Velazquez (D-WF)**
Hakeem Jefferies (D-WF)
Yvette Clarke (D-WF)
Jerrold Nadler (D-WF)
Carolyn Maloney (D-WF)
Charles Rangel (D-WF)**
Joe Crowley (D-WF)
Jose Serrano (D-WF)
Eliot Engel (D-WF)
Nita Lowey (D-WF)
Sean Patrick Maloney (D)**
Julian Schreibman (D-WF)
Paul Tonko (D-WF)
Bill Owens (D-WF) **
Dan Lamb (D-WF)
Nate Shinagawa (D-WF)**
Dan Maffei (D-WF)**
Louise Slaughter (D)**
Brian Higgins (D-WF-I)
Kathy Hochul (D-WF)**

** Indicates Early Endorsement

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The New York State AFL-CIO is a federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector, and building trades unions throughout the state representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families. Our State Federation, which is the largest and most diverse in the country, is committed to helping working families achieve a better life. For more information on the Labor Movement in New York, visit www.nysaflcio.org.