* Press release…

The Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board voted today to endorse several candidates for the Democratic Primary Election in June. The endorsements are considered early, as the organization’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) meets in April to consider all primary election endorsements.

The IL AFL-CIO endorsed incumbents U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Gov. JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Treasurer Michael Frerichs, and Comptroller Susana Mendoza for the June 28 Primary.

Also endorsed today were Supreme Court candidates Elizabeth Rochford (2nd District) and Mary Kay O’Brien (3rd District).

“We feel it’s important to get a jump on some races where there will clearly be large sums of anti-union money being spent bankrolling opponents,” said Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea. “These endorsements reflect the fact that they have been there for working people. We’re going to be there for them.”

State legislation was approved last year that drew new Supreme Court districts – the first redistricting since the 1960’s. Rochford and O’Brien’s races represent union member dense areas that voter turnout will play an important part.

“As we’ve seen play out nationally and here in Illinois, a fair and impartial judiciary is vital to not only workplace rights, but our democracy,” Drea said. “We have to get it right. Mary Kay O’Brien and Elizabeth Rochford are perfectly suited for the Supreme Court.”

Rochford is up against Democrat Nancy Rotering, among others.