The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) New Jersey State Council, a union representing more than 8,000 NJ Transit employees and other transportation workers, today announced its endorsement of Assemblyman Dan Benson (D-Hamilton) for Mercer County Executive.
“Dan Benson will be a great county executive,” ATU New Jersey State Council chairman Orlando Riley said in a statement. “We will miss him in the State Assembly, but we know that he will be a tremendous leader for Mercer County. He has more than earned the support of our members as well as all working families throughout the county.”
Benson is challenging five-term incumbent County Executive Brian Hughes in the Democratic primary, which will probably determine the eventual winner in the deep-blue county. Both candidates have pledged to continue their campaigns even if they don’t win the organization line, meaning the race will likely go all the way to a competitive June election.
Both Hughes and Benson have already lined up substantial lists of supporters, including from labor; Hughes has the backing of nine building trades unions, while Benson has the Communications Workers of America, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, and Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 9 in his corner.
“As we all know, Trenton Makes – The World Takes,” Riley said. “Dan Benson will take all of his experience in the State House and give back to the residents of Mercer County.”