Today, in the wake of his strongest fundraising quarter as a member of Congress, and multiple endorsements from New Jersey labor organizations, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced the endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO.

“This November, voters will have a clear choice; you can stand with corporate PACs and their big money influence, or you can stand with working people. I’m proud to stand with New Jersey teachers, and proud that AFT New Jersey is standing with me,” said Kim. “I am committed to supporting education and labor, and I will always work to strengthen our schools and communities. We know that the same money that’s used to attack me is used to attack working class people, and that’s why I’m committed to fighting back together for good jobs and good wages.”

The AFT endorsement adds to other Kim backers, including Ironworkers Local 399, UA Local 322, Plumbers, Pipefitters and HVAC Service Technicians, Teamsters Joint Council 53 and Local 676, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers of New Jersey, the Communication Workers of America Local 1036 and Local 1032, The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW).

“AFTNJ appreciates Andy’s dedication to education, labor and making life better in New Jersey for all our communities,” said AFTNJ President Donna Chiera. “In the past two years, he has demonstrated his commitment to working families by supporting legislation that strengthens our schools, our economy,  and safeguards our environment. His voice and votes represent the values of residents of his district and New Jersey as a whole. With our endorsement is a commitment from our members to work on Andy‘s campaign and raise our collective voices to call for fairness.”

In addition to formal endorsements, Kim has the support of the American Postal Workers Union, the National Treasury Employees Union, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, and the Air Line Pilots Association, among others.

Without taking support from corporate PACs, Kim raised $900,000 in Q4 and has more than $2.2 million cash-on-hand, putting him in a strong position to win what the Cook Political Report has labeled a ‘toss-up’ race. Of individual donations to Kim’s campaign, 90 percent were $100 or less, demonstrating continued grassroots support that helped him win in 2018.

Congressman Kim has been listed as part of the DCCC’s Frontline program and has been endorsed by government reform groups like End Citizens United PAC; national security and veterans groups like VoteVets, Serve American PAC and Foreign Policy for America; and progressive groups like the League of Conservation Voters and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, among other organizations.

Kim grew up in Marlton and lives in the district with his wife, Kammy, and two young children. He previously served as the Director for Iraq and the Counter-ISIS fight at the White House National Security Council and as a strategic adviser to top generals in Afghanistan.