Who’s Big Labor Betting On This Election?
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
The Worcester Police Union announced its endorsement of Brown back in June.
A look at contributions to the Senate race in July saw 21 different union PACs make donations to Warren's campaign in the second quarter of the year.
To date, Warren has received a total of $211,800 from labor groups compared to Brown's $15,650 from similar interests, according to data compiled by the website OpenSecrets.org.
"Elizabeth enjoys a wide and deep base of support among labor groups and working families because she is on the side of the middle class, while Scott Brown chooses to stand with the national Republican Party instead of Massachusetts families," said Matt House, spokesman for the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
Meanwhile, the Mass GOP issued a press release on Labor Day calling on Warren to apologize to asbestos victims from her time representing Traveler's Insurance, even as the Democratic candidate spoke at an AFL-CIO event.
Both Brown and Warren were scheduled to march in the Marlborough Labor Day Parade.
Central Mass AFL-CIO Top Donor
In addition to endorsing Warren and inviting her to speak at its 41st annual Labor Day Breakfast, the Central Massachusetts AFL-CIO has contributed a total of $1,500 to candidates for state office in the Worcester area.
Several other labor unions and organizations made donations to multiple candiates totaling $1,000, but none exceeded the AFL-CIO's contributions.
State Senate Donations
State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton), who has served the Middlesex & Worcester district on Beacon Hill since 2009, received $3,050 from union groups this year, according to a pre-primary report filed with the state's Office of Campaign and Political Finance.
Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury) joined the state Senate at the same time as Eldridge and represents the Second Worcester District. His campaign tallied up $2,600 from labor organizations this year.
State Rep. Candidates See More Cash
Unions and labor groups seem to see more at stake in the State House of Representatives than in the State Senate, judging by contributions to the Democratic candidates in this year's election.
West Boylston's James O'Day has held the 14th Worcester District's seat on Beacon Hill since 2007.
Union organizations have give $8,450 to his campaign this year to make sure he stays there.
Down the road in Worcester's 15th District, where Democrats are battling it out in a five-way primary, City Councilor Kate Toomey pulled in $550 of union cash, and School Committee member Dianna Biancheria collected $750.
However, it was political newcomer Mary Keefe, a founding member of the Worcester Labor Coalition, who received the biggest boost from the unions in the 15th.
The $5,550 in donations from labor groups has gone a long way toward securing the candidate's fundraising advantage over her opponents.
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