The Service Employees International Union New Jersey State Council has endorsed Andy Kim for the U.S. Senate and nine Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, including challenger Sue Altman in the 7th district.
The labor union is backing six incumbent Democrats for re-election: Donald Norcross (D-Camden), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Long Branch), Robert Menendez (D-Jersey City), LaMonica McIver (D-Newark), Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing).
But they skipped over another Democratic congressman, Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), and didn’t take sides in the 5th district race.
Endorsements also went to two Democrats seeking open seats: Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Delran) in the 3rd district and State Sen. Nellie Pou (D-North Haledon) in the 9th; Conaway is seeking the South Jersey House seat Kim gave up to run for Senate, and Pou was picked to replace the late Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson), who died last month.
“These candidates have demonstrated unwavering commitment to labor rights and the well-being of New Jersey working families and communities,” the union stated.
The SEIU State Council did not endorse anyone in races where two Republican congressmen, Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) and Christopher Smith (D-Manchester), are seeking re-election.
An endorsement also went to Kamala Harris for president.
The SEIU New Jersey State Council includes unions representing service employees in the health care, warehouse, laundry, and school cafeteria workers sectors, state motor vehicle inspectors, resident physicians in some New Jersey hospitals, and municipal employees in the state’s largest city, Newark.