MOORE’S SUMMARY: The Illinois AFL-CIO, one of the state’s largest labor organizations, released its list of endorsed candidates for the November general election on Monday. It comes just over a month after the organization announced it was holding off, citing “widespread frustration” with the lack of advancement of key priorities during the spring session.

WHY IT MATTERS: Organized labor is one of the indispensable forces animating the state’s Democratic power structure. On the campaign side, unions bankroll and provide foot soldiers for candidates running in state legislative and statewide races. In the Capitol, they are collectively one of the most powerful interests, often flexing their muscle to push through priority bills and kill those deemed hostile to their interests. A long-term fissure could have weakened the supermajority party’s ability to move legislation and its advantage on the campaign trail.

MESSAGE RECEIVED: “Last month, we sent a message that lawmakers must address labor’s unfinished priorities in the upcoming veto, lame-duck, and spring sessions and that the legislative process itself has fallen short of what working people deserve,” AFL-CIO President Tim Drea said in a statement. “It is clear from recent conversations with state leadership that the message has been received, and that we can look forward to a more collaborative process in the months to come. Union members are now ready to get to work for our endorsed candidates.”

In a follow-up interview, Drea confirmed to me that he had face-to-face meetings with both Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, in the last month. And he also spoke on the phone with Gov. JB Pritzker. He said state lawmakers also had conversations with union members in their districts.

“There was no quid pro quo or anything like that when were talking to leadership or legislators,” Drea said. “But it was just like ‘I hear you, I understand.’ And we heard them too.”

Among the priority issues that stalled for labor in the spring were a measure to allow school employees like bus drivers and cafeteria workers to receive unemployment benefits during the offseason and one that’d allow striking workers to qualify for unemployment benefits. An effort to reform Tier 2 pensions also went nowhere. And Pritzker paused a tax credit for data centers despite their construction being a key source of jobs in the trades.

WHO’S ENDORSED? Pritzker and all Democrats on the statewide ticket received the organization’s endorsement. So did all Democratic candidates for U.S. Congress. In the state legislature, it was mostly Democrats, but the party didn’t record a clean sweep.

Sen. Seth Lewis, R-Bartlett, received the nod over Democratic challenger Ben McAdams. Lewis is considered one of the most vulnerable Senate GOP incumbents this cycle.

In the House, Rep. Kevin Schmidt, R-Millstadt, and Rep. Brandun Schweizer, R-Danville, were endorsed over their Democratic opponents. Both represent “tier one” competitive districts. Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield; Rep. Nicole La Ha, R-Downers Grove; Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro, R-Hanover Park; Rep. Patrick Sheehan, R-Mokena; and Rep. Brad Stephens, R-Rosemont, who are unopposed in the general election, were also endorsed.

The only incumbent Democrat who failed to secure the group’s endorsement was appointed state Rep. Margaret De La Rosa, D-Glen Ellyn.

PRITZKER: “Since day one, I have made labor a key part of my administration, and I have been proud to stand with union members and working families across Illinois by raising the minimum wage, securing paid leave, and passing a constitutional amendment protecting the right to organize,” Pritzker said in a statement. “I am honored to receive Illinois AFL-CIO’s endorsement, and I look forward to continuing the fight to make Illinois the most pro-worker state in the nation.”