Washington, D.C.’s largest government workers union endorsed mayoral candidate Robert White, dealing a blow to Mayor Muriel Bowser. It’s the first time in over a decade the group hasn’t thrown its support behind the incumbent.
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees District Council 20 announced its support for White on Thursday, praising his work as a D.C. councilman and painting him as a “champion for our union members.” The union is made up of government employees across the district, representing more than 15,000 city workers.
“Robert White is a staunch advocate for workers,” said AFSCME Council 20 Executive Director Robert Hollingsworth. “He has a proven track record of solving problems and is committed to making our city better.”
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The city workers labor group hasn’t supported a challenger to an incumbent since 2010, when the Metropolitan Washington Labor Council backed Vincent Gray in his successful bid against then-Mayor Adrian Fenty. AFSCME members told White they believed Bowser has been too focused on hiring “loyalists” to head city agencies rather than choosing candidates based on competency.
“The members that AFSCME represents are the people seeing firsthand how the mayor’s running the city,” said Luz Martinez, White’s campaign manager, according to the Washington Post. “They want our agencies to work, and they’re feeling like she’s failed.”
White will face off against Bowser in the June mayoral primary, which typically determines who the eventual winner will be because district voters tend to vote for the Democratic nominee in the general election.
White faces an uphill battle because the incumbent currently holds 47% of support from registered Democrats and White has just 19%, splitting the vote with D.C. Councilman Trayon White, who is also running for mayor. Trayon White holds 17% support, virtually tying him with Robert White, according to the poll conducted by the outlet in February.
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Robert White has remained confident in his chances, pointing to his recent endorsement as a sign the district is ready for new leadership. “Government employees are frustrated and worry that with a third term, things get worse, not better,” he said. “They are ready for new leadership.”
Representatives for the Robert White and Bowser campaigns did not respond to requests for comment by the Washington Examiner.
