The AFL-CIO endorses Keith Ellison for DNC chairman. The union federation is the nation’s largest, representing 12.5 million workers. Here’s the federation’s statement:
The Executive Council of the 12.5 million member AFL-CIO has voted overwhelmingly to endorse Representative Keith Ellison to lead the Democratic National Committee. Over the last few weeks, several candidates have sought the endorsement of the AFL-CIO and met personally with members of the Political Committee, which ultimately recommended the endorsement.
“Representative Ellison meets the high standard working people expect from leaders of our political parties,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “He is a proven leader who will focus on year-round grassroots organizing to deliver for working families across America. Under his leadership, the Democratic Party will embody the values that our members stand for every day.”
"The AFL-CIO knows the challenges facing America’s working families and how to speak to working Americans of all colors, genders, and backgrounds,” said Ellison. “I am proud to be on their side and I am even prouder that the AFL-CIO is on mine. Workers will be central to the Democratic Party.”
Representative Ellison was grateful for the endorsement:
"There simply is no stronger voice for working people than the AFL-CIO, which represents 12 million workers in every section of our country. [...] I am proud to have their endorsement for DNC Chair. For decades, they have organized and won higher wages, safer working conditions and the right to a seat at the table to bargain collectively. They believe, as I do, that America’s workers do best when they get organized. The right-wing knows this too. That’s why it's spent years rolling back labor protections, lowering wages, and making it harder to join a union. The AFL-CIO knows the challenges facing America’s working families and how to speak to working Americans of all colors, genders, and backgrounds. I am proud to be on their side and I am even prouder that the AFL-CIO is on mine. Workers will be central to the Democratic Party.”
Here’s a list of union endorsements for Ellison:
- AFL-CIO
- Lee Saunders, DNC Member/President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
- Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers
- J. David Cox Sr., President of the American Federation of Government Employees
- Chris Shelton, President of Communications Workers of America
- Lawrence Hanley, President, Amalgamated Transit Union
- Mark Dimondstein, President, American Postal Workers Union
- RoseAnn DeMoro, Executive Director of National Nurses United
- Tim Paulson, Executive Director of the San Francisco Labor Council
- United Steelworkers
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
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At Daily Kos on this date in 2004—New factions in DNC fight:
In behind-the-scenes positioning, key congressional lawmakers are seeking to prevent the national party from lapsing into another four-year presidential gestation cycle, where the DNC serves as nothing more than an incubator for the party's ambitions to capture the White House, say leadership aides.
That congressional strategy to deemphasize the presidential race is being paralleled at the state level, where party chairmen are withholding their endorsements and plan to swing their 112 votes in one bloc for a single candidate.
Those party leaders will seek to extract concrete assurances from the eight potential candidates for DNC chairperson who have been invited to address the Association of State Democratic Chairmen (ASDC) on Dec. 11 in Orlando.
Mark Brewer, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party and of the ASDC, said that his group, with its 112 members, "represents at least a fourth" of the 447 total votes, "or even a third, if some of the other committee members don't show."
"What we'd like to see is much more focus on the state and local parties in every state," Brewer said.
On today’s Kagro in the Morning show: More Trump cabinet picks and contenders. Conflicts of interest are here to stay. A #GunFAIL roundup, including concealed carriers as a protected class. The double standard and embedded bias against the left. More thoughts on January 3 and High Noon.
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