Sen. Morgan Carroll, left, with then-Sen. Angela Giron after Carroll became the first woman president of the Colorado Senate in January 2013. (Denver Post file photo)
Morgan Carroll is set to pick up a significant but not surprising endorsement Wednesday, when the AFL-CIO labor union throws its support behind the Democratic state senator from Aurora in her bid next year to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman.
“Morgan is exactly the kind of leader we need to represent Colorado’s 6th District in Washington, and we are proud to give her our full support,” said Colorado AFL-CIO President Jason Wardrip. “We look forward to mobilizing working families to bring her to victory next year.”
The organization represents more than 170 local unions across the state. The AFL-CIO cited Carroll’s state Senate record on “good-paying jobs, affordable higher education and a secure retirement for all workers.” The labor organization also pointed to Carroll’s legislative efforts to raise Colorado’s minimum wage, deal with pay parity for women and ensure workplace safety.
Labor unions traditionally support Democratic candidates, including Coffman’s unsuccessful challengers last year and in 2012.
“Working people are done with Mike Coffman’s inability to represent their interests, whether he’s voting in support of bad trade deals or voting against wages that allow workers to sustain their families,” Wardrip said.
Carroll said in a statement, “I am proud and humbled to receive the endorsement of the Colorado AFL-CIO. We share a strong commitment to protecting the rights of Colorado’s working people and their families, and I look forward to representing hard-working Coloradans in Washington.”
I’ve asked Coffman’s camp if he would like to respond. This blog will be updated at the top and retweeted if I hear back.
