Santos, D’Arrigo secure union backing in 3rd CD race

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Santos, D’Arrigo secure union backing  in 3rd CD race
(l to r) George Santos and Melanie D'Arrigo. (Photos courtesy of the candidates)

Two candidates for New York’s 3rd Congressional District have secured union endorsements ahead of the August primaries. 

The Transport Workers Union Local 252 endorsed Republican George Santos, while the United Auto Workers threw its support behind Democrat Melanie D’Arrigo.

The TWU represents workers in mass transportation, airline, railroad, utility, municipalities, service and allied industries with over 4,300 members. 

“We value your support of the labor industry, particularly those of us belonging to unions. Your acknowledgment of the need to support legislation to improve our local infrastructure is of great importance to us,” the union said in a statement. “We are confident that you will make every effort for improvement while you serve your constituents.”

Santos vowed to improve local infrastructure when elected.

“I am proud to have the endorsement of the Transport Workers Union Local 252. When I am elected to Congress, I will fight to improve that quality of the life of workers across New York’s 3rd Congressional District,” Santos said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside the Transport Workers Union Local 252 to better serve my constituents when elected.”

The UAW represents workers in auto, aircraft and agricultural implement manufacturing and other industries in the United States, Canada and Puerto.

“UAW is proud to endorse Melanie D’Arrigo for Congress,” said Beverly Brakeman, regional director. “She is a fearless champion for workers and an unbought leader who will fight for fair working conditions, a just economy, and the right to organize.”

D’Arrigo pledged to help rebuild the middle class if elected.

“I grew up in a union household, am a former union member, and I am honored to receive the UAW endorsement and continue fighting for our unions,” said D’Arrigo in a statement. “Working people across the country are rising up to demand fair wages, the right to collective bargaining, and the workplace they deserve—and I am proud to stand with them in our fight to rebuild the middle class.”

Santos and D’Arrigo are running for the seat currently held by Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who is coming off a failed run in the gubernatorial primary, losing to Gov. Kathy Hochul in late June, and will not be running to retain his seat in Congress.

Santos is the lone Republican primary candidate. 

Others running on the Democratic line for the seat include former North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan, Oyster Bay’s Reema Rasool and former Democratic National Committee member Robert Zimmerman.

New district maps were submitted earlier this year by a court-appointed special master and have been viewed as more neutral compared to ones that were rejected by the state Appeals Court several weeks ago.

While the 3rd Congressional District under the new proposal does not extend as far west as the Bronx or Westchester, it does stretch to more southern parts of Nassau County such as Hicksville and Massapequa. The new lines do exclude the parts of the district that now stretch into Suffolk County, mainly Huntington and Smithtown.

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