Abby Finkenauer Nabs Important Laborers Endorsement

By Pat Rynard

September 21, 2017

State Representative Abby Finkenauer added another key group to her list of supporters in Democrats’ 1st District primary this week. The Great Plains Laborers have endorsed Finkenauer, making them the seventh labor union to support her in her bid to take on Republican Congressman Rod Blum.

“Having grown up in a union home, Abby knows that building a fair and thriving economy means defending the rights of workers,” said Danny Hemminger, business manager and secretary-treasurer of LIUNA Local 43. “From day one in the state house, Abby has stood up to corporate special interests and fought for hard-working Iowa families. We’re proud to support her as she takes that fight to Washington.”

The Laborers have about 500 members in the 1st District and are one of the most politically active unions in Iowa. Finkenauer is the only candidate so far in that primary to get a labor union’s support. She’s already got the backing of AFSCME 61, the Dubuque Building and Construction Trades, Ironworkers 89, Plumbers and Pipefitters 125, SMART Local 91 and the Iowa Teamsters.

Finkenauer’s votes and speeches during her two terms in the Iowa House helped establish her credibility on working class issues, and she’s built her candidacy around a blue collar upbringing story.

While Democrats’ crowded primary in the 3rd District has seen few major endorsements in the relatively early stages of the race, Finkenauer has received the lion’s share of support from key Democratic allies and elected officials in the 1st District primary. She’s also seen national support from EMILY’s List, NARAL and Congressman Eric Swalwell, who visits Iowa frequently and heads up a group of younger Democrats in Congress.

The 1st District will be one of Democrats’ top targets in the country in 2018, even though Blum has proven himself rather resilient in his two runs. The once-blue district saw a big shift to Republicans in 2016 over past elections, with Donald Trump winning it by four points. Much of that shift came from blue collar towns that used to be reliably Democratic.

“I’m proud to stand with the Iowa construction workers and laborers who make up the Great Plains Laborers,” Finkenauer said in a press release. “Year after year, politicians like Rod Blum in Washington have voted against the interests of hard-working Iowans and their families. It’s time for a change. I will be an advocate for those Iowans – not a shill for whoever can write the biggest check. I’ll fight for working families’ bottom line, whether that means creating good paying jobs, supporting skills and training programs, better wages and benefits, or putting money back in their pockets.”

Finkenauer first faces Thomas Heckroth, Courtney Rowe and George Ramsey III in a primary field that appears to be set at this point.

 

by Pat Rynard
Posted 9/21/17

  • Pat Rynard

    Pat Rynard founded Iowa Starting Line in 2015. He is now Courier Newsroom's National Political Editor, where he oversees political reporters across the country. He still keeps a close eye on Iowa politics, his dog's name is Frank, and football season is his favorite time of year.

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