The Teamsters and United Auto Workers are backing Jim Mowrer for Congress in Iowa’s third district, the Mowrer campaign announced this morning. I enclose the full statement below, which notes that the Teamsters “represent over 12,000 Iowa working men and women in both the private and public sector” and the UAW “represents over 16,000 members throughout Iowa.” Campaign officials were not able to provide membership numbers for either union in the sixteen counties that make up IA-03. I assume most Iowans belonging to those unions live in the first or second Congressional districts.
In December, Mowrer picked up the endorsement of the SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation) Union – Transportation Division. I do not have district membership numbers for that union either. The Sheet Metal Workers International Association and the United Transportation Union PAC each contributed $2,500 to Mowrer’s campaign late last year.
To my knowledge, no other Democratic candidate in IA-03 has received any labor union endorsements or campaign contributions this cycle. Former Governor Chet Culver has been considering the race but seems unlikely to run at this point, and even if he did, his relationship with organized labor is complicated. In addition to financial support, labor unions can help with direct mail, phone-banking or other GOTV, which in a low-turnout primary could become important.
Mowrer has the lion’s share of the endorsements from prominent Iowa Democrats who have taken a public stand on this race. He has also raised the most money among first-term Representative David Young’s three declared challengers, though rival Democratic candidate Mike Sherzan has almost as much cash on hand as Mowrer after loaning his campaign $200,000.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named IA-03 an “emerging district” last week, but in contrast to the first district, where Washington Democrats are explicitly backing Monica Vernon, the DCCC appears likely to wait until after the June primary to promote a specific challenger to Young.
Any comments about this race are welcome in this thread.
Mowrer for Congress February 18 press release:
Major Labor Groups Endorse Jim Mowrer’s Congressional Campaign
Both the Teamsters and United Auto Workers have endorsed Jim Mowrer as support continues to line up behind the Mowrer campaign. The SMART union was the first to endorse the Mowrer campaign in December. Jim Mowrer has dedicated his entire career to service and local Democrats throughout Iowa have responded to his campaign with overwhelming support.
“Jim understands the struggles of Iowa’s families and will be a strong advocate for workers when he’s elected to Congress” Jesse Case, Teamsters State Political Director. The Teamsters represent over 12,000 Iowa working men and women in both the private and public sector.
“Jim Mowrer has dedicated his career to service to Iowa and our nation and he is the best candidate for middle class and working families” said Brad Schwanda, UAW Iowa Legislative Coordinator and Iowa State Community Action Program President. The UAW represents over 16,000 members throughout Iowa.
The support of these two major unions shows the increasing level of support for Jim Mowrer’s campaign and leave little doubt that he is best positioned to beat David Young in November.
“I look forward to working with the Teamsters and UAW this year to advocate for working families and strengthen Iowa’s middle class.” Said Jim Mowrer. Jim has shown himself to be the candidate for the middle class and working people and will continue to advocate for an economy that works for everyone not Wall Street bankers and CEO’s.
Jim Mowrer is running for congress in the 3rd district against David Young. Young has never held a job outside of Congress and during his first two years in office has consistently voted with the Tea Party even voting against the bipartisan highway bill. It is time for a representative who understands what it means to serve Iowans rather than Washington Insiders.
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Jim is an Iraq War veteran, serving as an Intelligence Analyst, it was Jim’s job to help locate IED’s or roadside bombs so they could be removed before causing harm. Jim’s unit served the longest deployment of any unit in the Iraq War – 23 months. He will take his commitment to serve with him to Congress and will fight every day for the men and women of the 3rd District.