Two freshman House Republicans in close races in New York have picked up endorsements from prominent labor unions.
Transport Workers Union President John Samuelson endorsed Reps. Mike Lawler and Marc Molinaro, whose races in districts just north of New York City could decide which party controls the House.
“It speaks to the fact that the rank and file is moving further to the right and that Democrats have taken union support for granted for years,” Mr. Lawler told The Washington Times. “The policies they’ve enacted are not serving working people and, in fact, are killing good paying union jobs.”
These endorsements in New York are the latest in a series of union breakups with Democrats, including two major unions deciding not to back Vice President Kamala Harris.
Mr. Lawler has 37 labor endorsements, including law enforcement, firefighters and construction and trades unions.
Mr. Molinaro has garnered many of the same endorsements. He’s in a rematch against Democrat Josh Riley. Some unions that supported Mr. Riley in 2022 have switched sides this year, like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
“We don’t care if you’ve got an R or a D or an I in front of your name. If you support labor and labor’s issues, we’re going to do everything we can to support you. And if you don’t, we’ll do everything we can to unseat you,” said Al Marzullo, an IBEW official.
Mr. Samuelson, who serves on the AFL-CIO Leadership Council, also broke with the New York State AFL-CIO, which endorsed Democrats in all of the competitive House races in the state.
He said he supports Republicans and Democrats who support the union members, who include baggage handlers, train operators, mechanics, car cleaners, ramp agents and flight attendants.
“Democrats have to earn an endorsement. They don’t have an entitlement to a TWU endorsement,” Mr. Samuelsen told The New York Post.
New York GOP Communications Director David Laska said Democrats lost union support because they are “out of touch” with America’s working men and women.
“Our growing support from labor demonstrates that the Republican Party is a big tent that represents all Americans, including hard-working men and women. Workers are tired of empty promises from the Biden-Harris administration, and it’s clear that Kamala Harris has turned her back on their values and concerns,” he told The Washington Times.
The New York Democratic Party did not respond to a request for comment.
Democrats still rack up plenty of union endorsements.
Former Rep. Mondaire Jones, Mr. Lawler’s Democratic opponent, has the endorsement of more than a dozen unions, including the powerful teachers and health care worker unions.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.