HARTFORD — After reviewing written questionnaires and conducting in-person candidate interviews, members of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union have voted to endorse a first round  of candidates running for national, statewide and state legislative offices in 2022.  The following statement may be attributed to Rochelle Palache, Vice President of 32BJ SEIU and head of the union in Connecticut.

“As a union representing a majority Black, brown and immigrant workforce of janitors, security officers and other building service employees across Connecticut, we are proud to announce our first string of endorsements in the general 2022 midterm elections. Senator Blumenthal has been a champion on issues of worker, civil and immigrant rights in Washington, including sponsoring the new Good Jobs for Good Airports Act. Attorney General Tong has done a remarkable job of using his office to support struggling working people. And Sean Scanlon has demonstrated in his career as a State Representative that he understands the real life impacts of the fiscal matters he’d oversee. Likewise, the state legislative candidates we are endorsing have done more than their fair share to make Connecticut a leader in protecting the wellbeing of workers, immigrants and those struggling for a foothold in a world that favors corporate interests. Thanks to them, Connecticut now has Pandemic Pay for essential workers, an extended period of medical coverage for those stricken by COVID, and state medical coverage for undocumented immigrant children. They also have also been central movers in creating and passing the Right to Recall and Captive Audience laws, which protect workers organizing for fair pay, better jobs and a union, like the brave men and women at fast food outlets on the interstate service plazas. We are proud to offer each of these candidates our unqualified support through the fall campaign season.”

                 Candidate                             Office

• Richard Blumenthal             US Senate
• John B. Larsen                      US Congress (1st District)
• Joe Courtney                          US Congress (2nd District)
• Rosa DeLauro                        US Congress (3rd District)
• Jim Himes                              US Congress (4th District)
• Jahana Hayes                         US Congress (5th District)
• William Tong                         Attorney General
• Sean Scanlon                        Comptroller
• Julie Kushner                        State Senate
• Jorge Cabrera                       State Senate
• Saud Anwar                          State Senate
• Matt Lesser                          State Senate
• Pat Billie Miller                    State Senate
• David Michel                        CT House of Representatives
• Robyn Porter                        CT House of Representatives
• Corey Paris                           CT House of Representatives
• Pat Dillon                              CT House of Representatives
• Ed Vargas                              CT House of Representatives
• Bobby Gibson                      CT House of Representatives

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With over 175,000 members in 12 states and Washington DC, including 5,000 in Connecticut, 32BJ is the largest building service workers union in the country.