Building & Construction Trades union group endorses Kean in NJ-7 – New Jersey Globe

Citing his willingness to create “good union jobs,” New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council has endorsed Republican Tom Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) for re-election to a second term in the 7th district.

The endorsement follows the New Jersey AFL-CIO’s decision not to take sides in the race between Kean and Democrat Sue Altman, which is widely viewed as one of the most competitive House races in the nation and one that could determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives next year.  The building trades played a major role in stopping Altman from receiving that endorsement.

In 2022, the building trades and the AFL-CIO endorsed Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) for re-election against Kean.

The building trades will also not get involved in the July 17 special Democratic primary for Congress in the 10th district, where twelve candidates want to fill the unexpired term of Donald Payne, Jr. (D-Newark), who died in April.

The umbrella group for the state’s building trades unions is backing Democrat Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) for the U.S. Senate. Kim is running against Republican Curtis Bashaw and incumbent Bob Menendez, who is seeking re-election as an independent.

In addition to Kean, the labor group is supporting nine incumbents seeking re-election: Democrats Donald Norcross (D-Camden), Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), Frank Pallone, Jr.  (D-Long Branch), Robert J. Menendez (D-Jersey City), Bill Pascrell, Jr.  (D-Paterson), Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing) ; and two Republicans, Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) and Christopher Smith (R-Manchester).

For Kim’s open 3rd district House seat, the building trades group is supporting Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr. (D-Delran), a Democrat.

“This year the election campaigns of U.S. Senate and Congressional candidates promise to be like few others our country have ever experienced, and the outcomes may never be more consequential,” said Mullen.  “But, despite the enormous political and ideological divides that are infecting our country, this year also presents a unique opportunity to begin the process of restoring the sense of unity our country seems to have lost.”

Mullen said that building trades unions “can play a pivotal role in encouraging a return to normalcy by helping to elect men and women to high office who will reject blind partisanship and seek cooperation and compromise within our national dialogue.”

He pledged to work in a “unified manner” to register his members to vote and “deliver victories to all its endorsed candidates.”