Mark Critz’s campaign announced today that he has received the endorsement of the United Transportation Union (UTU) in the 12th Congressional race. Critz is facing fellow incumbent Jason Altmire in the Democratic primary in the new district.
“Working men and women can count on Mark Critz to stand up for them in Washington,” Don Dunlevy, PA Legislative Director for the UTU, said. “UTU is endorsing Mark Critz because he has the strongest record on job creation and fighting for the middle class.” The UTU has more than 7,200 active and retired members in the region who work in the railroad, bus, and mass transit sectors.
In a statement announcing the endorsement, Critz said, “The endorsement of the United Transportation Union, along with the other labor unions that are supporting me, shows that I am committed to fighting to create jobs and standing up for the middle class.”
The UTU is the ninth labor union to endorse Critz over Altmire, following in the footsteps of other unions such as the United Steelworkers and the Service Employees International Union.
Altmire secured Sunday the endorsement of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee; Allegheny County represents about 40 percent of the new 12th district.
This race is certainly heating up. Altmire has a big cash advantage as of the end of 2011, and an internal poll from the Critz campaign released yesterday shows Altmire up by 10 points, 47 percent to Critz’s 37 percent. However, the poll also showed that Critz has a good favorability rating among voters who are familiar with him. Altmire currently represents about two-thirds of the district.