Esty Gets Working Families Endorsement in the Fifth District Race

The Working Families Party announced Thursday that it is endorsing Elizabeth Esty in the Fifth District race.

The party said it met with Esty on Wednesday and discussed issues important to the party, such as "raising the minimum wage, defending Social Security and Medicare, and limiting the influence of big money on elections."

Here's the full press release issued by the party on Thursday:

After careful consideration, the state committee has voted to endorse Elizabeth Esty for congress in Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District. With the endorsement comes a spot on the Working Families Party line on the ballot in November, and the support of WFP’s activist grassroots base.

“Elizabeth Esty is in the best position to fight for working and middle class families going forward,” said Lindsay Farrell, Executive Director of the Connecticut Working Families Party. “If you want a government, and an economy, that works for middle class families in Connecticut, I encourage voters to support Elizabeth on the Working Families ballot line.”

“After meeting with Elizabeth, we’re confident that she will defend Social Security and Medicare and fight to raise the minimum wage,” said Julie Kushner, co-chair of the Connecticut Working Families Party. “That’s why we’ve endorsed her, and that’s why we’ll fight to get her elected as the next member of Congress from the fifth district.”

“I’m grateful to Chris Donovan and to the Connecticut Working Families Party for their endorsements and their support in this critical election for our families,” Esty said. “Chris has a strong and admirable record of public service as both a leader in our state and a life-long fighter for the rights of working families. I know he will continue to be a strong voice for the middle class. 

"The Connecticut Working Families Party has been essential to ensuring that democracy works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected. In the post-Citizen’s United world, with a Republican Party seeking to end Medicare's guarantee of health care coverage for seniors while protecting tax cuts for millionaires, that mission is more important than ever. 

"I’m looking forward to working together, with both Chris and the Connecticut Working Families Party, to fight for good jobs and fair wages, the right to organize, and to protect the Medicare and Social Security benefits that working and middle class families need and have earned.”

"As someone who has fought for working families my entire life, I know how much is at stake right now for people across our district,” said Chris Donovan. “That’s why I ran for Congress. Right now in Tampa, the Republicans are preparing to attack the right of working people to bargain collectively, they’re preparing to end a woman’s right to choose, and they’re preparing to get rid of the Medicare and Social Security benefits that seniors have earned. It’s critical for the working families of the 5th District that we unite as Democrats behind Elizabeth Esty for Congress. Elizabeth is committed to the fight for working families. She has a record of advocating for middle-class jobs, women’s rights, and Medicare and Social Security. I am proud to endorse her and to stand with her to fight for the values that we share as Democrats."