The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has endorsed Rep. Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) for U.S. Senate.
The union cited Kim’s work in securing $2.8 million to fund freight rail infrastructure for New Jersey.
“Kim is a true leader, and the labor movement can always count on him,” the union said in a statement. “We look forward to working with him in the Senate.”
The oldest rail labor union in the nation is a division of the Teamsters union and represents 900 rail employees in the state.
The Republican candidate, Curtis Bashaw, smacked Kim for voting against the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. It’s already illegal for non-citizens to vote in elections.
“If you need an ID to purchase beer or get on an airplane, shouldn’t you need identification to vote?” Bashaw asked. “It’s a very simple measure that over 80% of Americans support to restore faith in our election process.”
The bill passed 216-198, with all Republicans and five Democrats voting yes.
The New Jersey delegation voted along party lines; Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson) missed the vote.
Bashaw said he believed in legal immigration.
“So many of my employees are first generation American citizens who went through the immigration process,” he said. “I’ve had the privilege of participating in naturalization ceremonies, where legal immigrants became American citizens and earned their right to vote.”