Pritzker receives Bloomington labor endorsement

Posted on August 31, 2017
J.B. Pritzker is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. (Photo Facebook/JB Pritzker for Governor)

By Sam Wood

BLOOMINGTON – Democratic gubernatorial candidate JB Pritzker secured a key labor endorsement Thursday morning in Bloomington.

Midwest Region of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Vice President John Penn offered the enthusiastic endorsement in front of 150 guests at the Laborers Local 363 Union Hall in Bloomington.

Pritzker, a billionaire businessman and an heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, told WJBC that despite declining union membership, labor endorsements are more important than ever.

“I’m proud to have all these members here excited about taking on Bruce Rauner and beating him,” Pritzker said after the announcement.

The endorsement gives Pritzker the support of 28 downstate unions and the 18,000 members that make up LiUNA. Pritzker also locked up an endorsement from Illinois’ top labor group in June when the AFL-CIO announced their backing of the Chicago Democrat.

Sam Wood can be reached at [email protected].

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