Reps. Rob Menendez (D-Jersey City) and Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), both of whom are facing Democratic primary challenges this year from local mayors in their districts, each picked up a notable new labor endorsement this morning.
The endorsement for Menendez, who is going up against Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla in the 8th congressional district, comes from the Teamsters Joint Council 73, representing 55,000 union members in New Jersey.
“Rob has worked with our affiliate locals on key issues and has helped keep work in New Jersey,” Joint Council 73 President Alphonse Rispoli Jr. said in a statement. “We will be engaging our brothers and sisters to vote for Rob!”
Pascrell, meanwhile, got the backing of the Passaic, Bergen, and Hudson County Central Labor Councils, three overarching organizations representing union members in the counties that make up Pascrell’s 9th congressional district.
“There are few leaders anywhere more dedicated to organized labor and the rights of working Americans than Bill Pascrell,” Passaic CLC President Thomas Kelly, Bergen CLC President Mike Schneider, and Hudson CLC President Barry Kushnir said in a joint statement. “No matter what the votes and no matter what the stakes, Bill Pascrell has always been there for working men and women. There is no question our members will be there for Bill and we endorse his campaign without reservation or objection.”
Pascrell’s race against Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah is not expected to be especially close, and the congressman has won near-unanimous local backing for his re-election bid. Menendez, though, could be in more trouble against Bhalla, who has raised more than $1.6 million to deny him another term.