The New Jersey AFL-CIO will not take sides in the hotly contested race for Congress in New Jersey’s 7th district between Republican incumbent Tom Kean, Jr. and Democrat Sue Altman.
That means national Democrats head into one of the races that could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives without the backing of the state’s largest labor union.
Altman was likely a casualty of her past disputes with the South Jersey Democratic machine and with the New Jersey AFL-CIO president, Charles Wowkanech. The New Jersey Globe has learned that leaders of the building trades unions had pushed for no endorsement in the race.
“Organized labor is a cornerstone of this campaign and will be key to our winning coalition,” Altman said last week after the New Jersey State Council of Machinists announced their support of her campaign to unseat Kean.
While individual unions are free to make their own endorsements in the 7th district, neither candidate’s name will appear on campaign materials circulated by the AFL-CIO, including GOTV labor walks in the fall.
Altman has received endorsements from eleven labor unions, including the Communications Workers of America, the New Jersey Education Association, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, 32BJ Service Employees International Union, Health Professionals and Allied Employees, and the Amalgamated Transit Union NJ State Council. The Hotel & Gaming Trades Council, SEIU NJ State Council, Rutgers AAUP-AFT, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers have also endorsed Altman.
“The GOP is poised to destroy organized labor as we know it, especially if they win the Presidency and control the House,” stated Altman. “I am proud of the labor endorsements we’ve earned so far, and I will continue to work with any union that wants to help flip NJ-07 and build the labor coalition we need to win this race. No matter what, I will fight like hell to protect working people when elected to Congress.”
In 2022, the AFL-CIO and the New Jersey Building & Construction Trades Council endorsed incumbent Tom Malinowski for re-election. Kean ousted Malinowski in that election.
The AFL-CIO endorsed Republican Christopher Smith (R-Manchester) for re-election in New Jersey’s 4th district. Smith has been a longtime recipient of labor endorsements.
President Joe Biden, U.S. Senate candidate Andy Kim, and seven incumbent Democratic House members from New Jersey also received AFL-CIO endorsements. They endorsed Democrat Herb Conaway, Jr. for Kim’s open House seat in the 3rd district.
The union also chose not to endorse Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis), who is seeking his fourth term in Congress, in the 2nd district. The Democratic primary between Joe Salerno and Tim Alexander is still too close to call.
The union also endorsed a player to be named later, backing the “eventual Democratic nominee” in the 10th district.