Abby Finkenauer announced on Facebook Monday that she was “thrilled” to be endorsed by the political arm of Iowa’s largest labor union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Finkenauer is one of three Democrats running in Dubuque-based Iowa House district 99, which Pat Murphy is vacating to run for Congress. She is a former page to Murphy when he was Iowa House speaker and has most recently clerked for State Representative Todd Taylor. Former State Representative Tom Jochum is backing Finkenauer’s candidacy too.

The AFSCME Iowa Council 61 PEOPLE Committee endorsed Murphy and several other Congressional candidates Monday, but I couldn’t find anything on their website about Finkenauer’s race. AFSCME staff confirmed by telephone this morning that the PEOPLE committee is backing Finkenauer but would not provide any statement on the endorsement or any comment on whether the state’s largest labor union plans to get involved in any other Democratic primaries in legislative districts. Finkenauer commented in her Facebook post, “I know that they do not normally endorse in State House primaries, so I am beyond honored to have their support and encouragement as I continue to work to be the best Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 99 […].”

I understand taking sides in a primary when one candidate is clearly best poised to win the general election or advocate for a group’s issues. But House district 99 is a safe seat for any Democrat, and rival candidates Steve Drahozal and Greg Simpson sound equally committed to progressive values. If AFSCME isn’t even willing to issue a statement explaining its preference for Finkenauer, maybe the union would do better to stay out of primaries.

UPDATE: AFSCME provided a statement via e-mail, which I have added after the jump.

Statement provided via e-mail on July 24:

AFSCME Iowa Council 61 is proud to endorse Abby Finkenauer for Iowa House District 99. Finkenauer comes from a family of workers in the Dubuque area; her father is a union pipefitter welder and her mother is an employee with Dubuque Community Schools. Finkenauer brings an impressive resume to her campaign for State Representative. In 2007, she served as Speaker’s Page for Pat Murphy, AFSCME’s endorsed congressional candidate in the 1st District and current Representative for District 99, the seat she is running to fill. She has also recently been an assistant to Representative Todd Taylor in the Iowa House. Abby currently works as a communications assistant for the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.

“Abby represents a new generation of leaders for Iowa. She has seen the meaning of hard work every day and will take that knowledge with her to the Capitol. The middle class has a candidate that will work for them in Abby Finkenauer,” said AFSCME Iowa Council 61 President Danny Homan.

Abby’s upbringing in a working-class family combined with her knowledge of the issues and experience make her the perfect candidate for District 99.