AFL-CIO makes no endorsement; Building Trades back Kelliher

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidates Mark Dayton and Margaret Anderson Kelliher along with Independence candidate Tom Horner were screened by the state’s largest labor federation. DFL candidate Matt Entenza returned the screening questionnaire but opted not to screen. Republican Tom Emmer was invited, but did not participate.

Dayton, Entenza and Kelliher are competing in the Aug. 10th DFL primary.

While the Minnesota AFL-CIO did not endorse a candidate, union members are united to defeat Emmer, the federation said.

“At every turn, Tom Emmer has opposed job creation, opposed investing in students, and opposed making health care affordable,” said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson. “Union members will work hard to elect a Governor who puts middle class families first.”

Building Trades back Kelliher
The Minnesota Building & Construction Trades Council, an organization advocating for 50,000 union construction workers across the state, announced its endorsement of Kelliher Friday at a news conference in St. Paul.

“We need a governor that has the determination to get families throughout Minnesota back to work,” said Harry Melander, president of the council. “We believe that Margaret Anderson Kelliher – our endorsed candidate for the Minnesota Building Trades Council – is that individual.”

Other unions endorsing Kelliher include the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Minnesota Nurses Association, Machinists and UNITE HERE.

Unions endorsing Dayton include AFSCME Council 5, Teamsters Joint Council 32 and the United Steelworkers.

Entenza and Emmer have no union endorsements.

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