ALBANY—Representative Jerry Nadler, the “progressive champion” whose district spans the West Side and Brooklyn, endorsed Kirsten Gillibrand’s election bid.
“From protecting a woman’s right to choose and standing up for issues of pressing concern to the LGBT community, to fighting for a robust public health insurance option and protecting our environment by working to reduce harmful emissions, Kirsten Gillibrand has been a great partner on many progressive causes,” Nadler said in a statement put out by the Gillibrand campaign. “We have worked closely together to provide our 9/11 heroes and affected community members with the health care and compensation they deserve, and on a variety of other issues facing our State and the Nation. New Yorkers want and need Kirsten on their side and I’m proud to endorse her for U.S. Senate.”
Nadler is the 17th member of the New York delegation to publicly back Gillibrand, but as Liz notes, his support is particularly crucial because of his liberal bona fides and Gillibrand’s previous life as a Blue Dog.
The endorsement does come after two serious potential challengers publicly opted not to run against Gillibrand. Jon Cooper, the majority leader of the Suffolk County legislature, is “strongly leaning” toward a run and labor activist Jonathan Tasini is raising money for a primary.
