Raja Endorsed by Transport Workers Union

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) today endorsed U.S. House Democratic candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi for the 8th District of Illinois that includes the northwest Chicago suburbs.

“TWU is proud to endorse Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress in Illinois’ 8th District because Raja is the best-qualified, most reliable candidate for organized labor and working families,” said Gwen York, Political Representative for TWU. “Raja is a lifelong progressive and in Congress, he will be a strong advocate for policies that benefit American workers, including strengthening Social Security and Medicare, raising the minimum wage and standing up to unfair trade deals. Raja has committed to an open door policy with TWU and we look forward to a collaborative relationship.”

TWU is dedicated to improving the lives of working families and works to safeguard, protect and improve working conditions and living standards of all workers. The nearly 140,000 transportation workers that are TWU members make airplanes fly, railroads run, and buses, subways and bikes move.

“I am proud to have the support of the hardworking men and women of the TWU,” Raja said. “Receiving 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.”

The TWU endorsement follows key recent labor union support of Raja from the Amalgamated Transit Union, the United Steelworkers, the Ironworkers, Machinists, and Airline Pilots unions, along with the endorsement by the National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare. In addition to these groups backing Raja for Congress, Krishnamoorthi has received the endorsements of Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois; David Axelrod, former Senior Advisor to President Obama; House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi; House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.

The son of immigrants, Raja grew up in Illinois. After college and law school, he became policy director for Barack Obama’s successful U.S. Senate campaign. He also served as a founding prosecutor in Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s anti-corruption unit.

A small businessman, Raja Krishnamoorthi currently serves as president of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc., small businesses that sell products in the national security and renewable energy industries. He is a co-founder of InSPIRE, a non-profit organization that provides training to Illinois students and veterans in solar technology, and was formerly Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Innovation Council, whose mission is to promote innovative technologies that support economic growth and job creation in Illinois. Raja resides in Schaumburg with his wife, Priya, and their two sons.