NH AFL-CIO Endorses Shea-Porter

HOOKSETT, NH — The New Hampshire AFL-CIO is endorsing Democrat Carol Shea-Porter in her bid to return to Congress representing the state's 1st Congressional District. The union's president, Glenn Brackett, said that throughout her career in public service, Shea-Porter has put the state's working families first.

"Carol understands the immediate need for local job creation and that many Granite Staters are still struggling to make ends meet," he said. "She has stood with us in opposition to policies like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which, if enacted, would have a catastrophic impact on American workers in every state. The Congresswoman has a proven record of creating local jobs and protecting our workers."

Brackett said that when she was in Congress, Shea-Porter brought construction jobs to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, helped secure crucial funding to rebuild Portsmouth’s Memorial Bridge, increased Pell grants for students, and obtained funding grants for police and firefighters in various communities, including Manchester, New Hampshire’s largest city.

In a statement, Shea-Porter said she was honored to be endorsed by the union again.

"I come from the middle class, and throughout my time in Congress, I have worked hard to create good jobs, fair wages, and better working conditions for all New Hampshire families," she said. "I was on the House Trade Working Group and was a founding member of the Make it in America Working Group. I was proud to serve on the Education and Labor Committee during my first two terms in Congress, where I worked on the challenges confronting families. I co-sponsored the Fair Minimum Wage Act; the Bring Jobs Home Act of 2013 that would reward companies for returning jobs to the United States; and the Healthy Families Act, which would provide for paid sick leave. With the support of the AFL-CIO and New Hampshire’s working families, I know we can revive the middle class and keep the American Dream alive."

Brackett added that Shea-Porter's Republican opponents would not work for the people of the state.

"Congressman Guinta has never put the people of New Hampshire before wealthy corporate interests or his own," he said. "Rich Ashooh has the backing of New Hampshire’s wealthiest corporations and businesses. No matter which candidate emerges from the extremely conservative Republican primary, both candidates have shown where their loyalties lie, and it isn’t with New Hampshire working families."