Albany, N.Y.--The 2.5 million-member New York State AFL-CIO is out with this year's highest-profiled endorsements following their convention at the Desmond Hotel in Albany. They're backing Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand for re-election and AG Andrew Cuomo for governor, as well as a slate of candidates for Congress, the state Senate and the Assembly. The umbrella union has already endorsed incumbent state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.
Interestingly enough, Harry Bronson, the Democratic candidate for the Assembly in the 131 District,who is presently the Minority Leader in the Monroe County Legislature, was the only local Assembly candidate who received the AFL-CIO endorsement.
On the State Senate side, the AFL-CIO endorsed 17 Republicans, 24 Democrats, held three endorsements until after Primary Day and chose not to endorse anyone in 17 out of the 62 districts.
Interestingly enough, Harry Bronson, the Democratic candidate for the Assembly in the 131 District,who is presently the Minority Leader in the Monroe County Legislature, was the only local Assembly candidate who received the AFL-CIO endorsement.
On the State Senate side, the AFL-CIO endorsed 17 Republicans, 24 Democrats, held three endorsements until after Primary Day and chose not to endorse anyone in 17 out of the 62 districts.
"New York's organized labor movement has long enjoyed a close working relationship with Andrew Cuomo" said NYS AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes. He added, "As Attorney General, he fought for the middle class and against the financial interests of Wall Street. We look forward to those principles following him to the Governor's Mansion. Most important, the New York State AFL-CIO looks forward to the opportunity for an open, honest and substantive dialogue with a Cuomo administration on the issues of shared concern to all New Yorkers."
So far, CSEA and NYSUT will chose to remain neutral in the governor's race.
“Today’s endorsement is a major step forward in building our broad coalition to bring change and reform to state government," Cuomo said in a statement. "I deeply appreciate the support of the hard working union members of the state of New York. We share the goal of creating good jobs in all regions of the state and across a diverse range of fields. While NYSUT declined to endorse based on my positions with respect to a property tax cap and state spending issues, we will agree to disagree on those issues.”
To read a full list of federal and state legislature endorsements, you can go here.
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