Donovan, Murphy grab AFL-CIO endorsement

In a move that many predicted, today, the members of the CT AFL-CIO endorsed the campaigns of Chris Donovan for Congress and Chris Murphy for Senate.

CTNJ:

The 250 delegates of a statewide labor coalition endorsed embattled House Speaker Chris Donovan in his bid for the 5th Congressional District Tuesday.

Gathered at the Hartford Hilton, delegates endorsed Donovan by voice vote at the same time as they endorsed U.S. Reps. John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, and Jim Himes.

The endorsement means Donovan and the current congressional delegation will receive the support of 200,000 union members from 500 unions in the state.

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The AFL-CIO is just the latest labor endorsement for Donovan, who has picked up support of a large number of unions including SEIU CT State Council, Connecticut State Police Union, AFSCME Council 4, Connecticut Education Association, and AFT Connecticut to name a few.

Paz:

The Connecticut AFL-CIO's political convention formally voted Tuesday to endorse Democrats Chris Murphy for U.S. Senate and Chris Donovan for Congress, giving them a boost from labor heading into the Aug. 14 primary.

The ratification of a recommendation by the labor federation's political committee is routine in many years, but it is a timely affirmation of support for Donovan, whose campaign was rocked by an FBI investigation into illegal contributions.

Murphy, a three-term congressman from the 5th District, and Donovan, the state House speaker, are seeking open seats. Murphy is trying to succeed Sen. Joseph I. Lieberm and, and Donovan is trying to succeed Murphy.

Murphy is the front-runner in his primary race with Susan Bysiewicz, the former secretary of the state. Donovan is competing in his primary with former state Rep. Elizabeth Esty and Dan Roberti.

After the endorsement, Donovan and Murphy released the following statements.

Donovan:

"It is a great honor to receive the support and endorsement of the hard-working men and women of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. The AFL-CIO recognizes that working people are the engine that runs the American economy, and they are at the front of the fight to ensure that every worker and every family is treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.

"Together we will work to protect Medicare and Social Security from cynical political attacks, to bring good jobs with strong benefits back home to Connecticut, and to enact laws that guarantee equal pay for equal work."

Murphy:

"I'm thrilled to have the endorsement of the AFL-CIO.  I've stood shoulder to shoulder with working men and women in Connecticut in my work for universal health care, pay equity for women, and stronger Buy American laws.  I'm going to be vastly outspent in this campaign, so I'm going to have to win by having more boots on the ground spreading our message.  That's what the AFL is all about."