Congressman Dan Kildee Endorses Andy Levin in 9th Congressional Race

Congressman Dan Kildee today endorsed Andy Levin for Congress, calling him a strong, capable and smart leader.

“Andy has been in the trenches battling for working families every day, and we need the strongest possible leaders fighting alongside me in Congress,” Kildee said. “I’m proudly endorsing Andy for his ability to grasp complex issues and build winning solutions for Michigan and America.”

Kildee touched on Levin’s success with No Worker Left Behind, an initiative that put 152,000 unemployed and underemployed Michigan workers back to school to study for certificates and degrees leading to in-demand jobs in Michigan.

“Andy created and ran the most effective state job training program I believe this country has seen in recent decades,” Kildee said. “It benefited thousands of workers in Genesee, Macomb, Oakland and every other Michigan county.”

When Levin gets to Washington, he will help create better jobs by making increased living standards the center of all trade deals, raising the minimum wage, and restoring the freedom to form unions and bargain collectively.

“I am so grateful to have the support of Dan Kildee, a proven leader and advocate for Michigan’s working and middle class families,” Levin said. “It will be an honor to serve in Congress alongside Dan.”

Levin has been named a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate and has also been endorsed by Communications Workers of America, International Association of Machinists, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, National Weather Service Employees Organization, UFCW Local 951, UNITE HERE, Utility Workers Union of America, former Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer, former U.S. Rep. David Bonior, former Governor Jennifer Granholm, State Rep. Bill Sowerby and State Rep. Henry Yanez, Oakland County Water Resource Commissioner Jim Nash and retired Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh.

Full statement from Congressman Dan Kildee:

“I’m proud to announce my support for Andy Levin for Congress in Michigan’s 9th District.

Andy has been in the trenches battling for working families every day, and we need the strongest possible leaders fighting alongside me in Congress. Now more than ever, we need capable, smart leaders in Washington who will get things done for the people of Michigan.

Andy doesn’t just talk about the need to rebuild voice and power for working people and ensure dignity for all. Instead, Andy has devoted his life to it. And not just by voting the right way in a legislature, but by organizing workers, helping lead national battles for labor law reform, and putting his body on the line documenting human rights violations in China and Haiti.

When I was Genesee County Treasurer, I cheered as Andy created and ran the most effective state job training program I believe this country has seen in recent decades. It benefited thousands of workers in Genesee, Macomb, Oakland and every other Michigan county. We need something like Andy’s No Worker Left Behind program for our entire nation. We need Andy in Washington to help figure out how to get there.

As a Member of Congress, I have also watched Andy build a program to help businesses and nonprofits retrofit their buildings with clean energy throughout the state, watched him gather Republicans and Democrats, urban, suburban and rural jurisdictions, crossing all lines of what’s supposed to be possible – in pursuit of something that is pro-business, pro-worker, and pro-environment.

Carl and Sandy Levin have represented the gold standard for honesty, integrity, and a commitment to the public good for decades. I also see all of those qualities in Andy.

But I don’t endorse Andy just for his family’s legacy. I endorse Andy Levin for his own proven ability to grasp complex issues and build winning solutions for Michigan and America. I can’t wait to work with him in the next Congress.”