Raja Endorsed by Powerful United Food and Commercial Workers

Press Release

The United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 881, today endorsed U.S. House Democratic candidate and small businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi for the 8th District of Illinois seat that includes the northwest Chicago suburbs.

In their endorsement, Ronald Powell, President, Local 881 and UFCW International Vice President said, "Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers are proud to give Raja Krishnamoorthi our endorsement. Raja is the only candidate in the 8th District race with a working families agenda that offers a significant increase in the minimum wage, equal pay for equal work and guaranteed paid sick leave and maternity leave for workers. Raja will be a strong, progressive voice for working families, and is the best candidate for the 8th Congressional District of Illinois."

The endorsement from UFCW marks another example of Raja's campaign's increasing momentum as the March 15 Democratic primary approaches rapidly.

"I am excited to have the support of the hardworking men and women of the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 881," Raja said. "UFCW, Local 881 represents more than 34,000 members employed in retail food, drug stores and grocery stores. Winning another labor union endorsement shows that my campaign's message of helping more Americans find good jobs and help grow and strengthen the middle class is resonating with voters throughout the northwest Chicago suburbs."

Local 881 UFCW also has a professional division comprised of health and nursing home workers, barbers and cosmetologists, and workers in other retail and service industries. Local 881 is among the largest affiliates of the UFCW International Union.

UFCW adds to the long list of labor unions backing Raja in the March 15 Democratic primary, including the Amalgamated Transit Union, the United Steelworkers, the Ironworkers, the Illinois State Council of Machinists, the Air Line Pilots Association, the Transport Workers Union, the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 2, and the Office & Professional Employees International Union Local 45.

Raja is "the best candidate, hands down," wrote the Chicago Tribune in its endorsement of Raja for Congress, making it a clean sweep of Chicago area newspaper endorsements for Raja with the Daily Herald and Chicago Sun-Times also endorsing him.

Leading progressive groups such as the Sierra Club and two leading good government groups -- Citizen Action/Illinois and the Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO) -- have all endorsed Raja as the leading progressive candidate to replace Rep.Tammy Duckworth to represent the 8th District in Congress.

The barrage of endorsements ramps up the momentum of Raja's campaign for Congress, as demonstrated by a poll released earlier this month showing Raja with a double-digit lead over his nearest opponent.

A live poll of 400 likely Democratic voters taken February 9-11 by GBA Strategies asked 8th District voters which candidate they would vote for if the election were held today.

Raja had the support of 41 percent of voters with State Sen. Mike Noland at 27 percent and Villa Park President Deb Bullwinkel with 5 percent. Undecided voters accounted for 26 percent of the poll. The margin of error was +/- 4.9 percentage points.

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