Two State AFL-CIOs Endorse in Key Senate Races

by Seth Michaels, Apr 7, 2008

Al Franken, candidate for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO and the Nebraska AFL-CIO announced endorsements last week of candidates for U.S. Senate.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO endorsed Al Franken for the Senate after an executive board meeting. Franken, a comedian, actor, author, and broadcaster, is running against incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.

In his career, Franken has been a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), the Screen Actors (SAG) and the Writers Guild of America. He has promised to be a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act and an advocate for working families.

Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron says Franken would be willing to listen to Minnesotans and address the issues that affect working families:

Al Franken is a union member who knows how to focus public attention on the issues that working people are struggling with.

Franken earlier won the endorsement of several AFL-CIO-affiliated unions in Minnesota.

Coleman, a strong supporter of the Bush agenda in the Senate, did not meet with the Minnesota AFL-CIO’s board. Franken met  with the board before it made the endorsement. 

In Nebraska, the state AFL-CIO has unanimously endorsed Scott Kleeb in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel.

Kleeb, a rancher and history teacher, has promised to strengthen the middle class through better trade policy and investment in green jobs.

Ken Mass, president of the Nebraska AFL-CIO, says Kleeb would be an advocate for working families if elected:

Middle class workers in Nebraska need a voice in Washington, D.C. Scott Kleeb is a leader families across Nebraska can count on to do the right for them and their loved ones, and we’re proud to offer our support to his campaign.

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Paid for by the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Political Contributions Committee, www.aflcio.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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