Carpenter’s union endorses Sweeney for governor

One of New Jersey’s most politically robust labor unions, the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, today endorsed Steve Sweeney for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025, giving the former Senate President early support from a union that wields a mammoth war chest and over 15,000 members.

“Steve Sweeney is the quintessential champion of union labor and working families in the State of New Jersey,” said William Sproule, the union’s executive secretary-treasurer.   “The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters is proud to stand with Steve in his campaign to be the next Governor of New Jersey. Our Union Carpenters know Steve and have witnessed his leadership firsthand while in New Jersey union halls or in the New Jersey State House.”

Sweeney, a longtime ironworkers union official, entered the gubernatorial race today.  He is expected to have significant support from building trades unions.

“New Jersey is a staunch union state, and I was proud to work with you to strengthen project labor agreements and prevailing wage laws and make the investments needed to bring jobs to New Jersey,” Sweeney said.

The carpenter’s union has long ties to South Jersey Democrats.  Frank Spencer, the general vice president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, is a former Camden County freeholder and a longtime friend of Sweeney.

In this year’s legislative election, the carpenters put over $2 million into an independent expenditure group run by South Jersey Democrats that unseated State Sen. Edward Durr (R-Logan), the truck driver who unexpectedly defeated Sweeney in his 2021 Senate re-election campaign.  Carpenter money also helped Democrats hold the politically competitive 4th district and pick up three Assembly seats in South Jersey.

“There is a tremendous opportunity for New Jersey and we need a leader in Trenton that puts good-paying jobs before partisan talking points,” Sproule stated.  “Whether it is advocating for expanding energy jobs and production through offshore wind, defending apprenticeship programs, or support responsible contractor language for public projects, Steve Sweeney will be a Governor with true union values.”

In September 2022,  The New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council passed a resolution urging former Sweeney to continue his career in public service, “most preferably as a candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 2025,” and promised to use the “full forces of our financial, promotional and manpower resources.”

Sweeney is the second Democrat to join the 2025 governor’s race: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop announced his candidacy in April.