Hillary Clinton picked up two key endorsements on Thursday. The U.S Women’s Chamber of Commerce endorsed her, the first time the group has backed a primary candidate, and so did Labor Secretary Tom Perez.
“I am proud to announce the endorsement of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. presidential race,” CEO of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Margot Dorfman, said in a statement. “Secretary Clinton is an experienced and accomplished leader committed to championing the economic advancement of American small businesses, women-owned businesses, workers and families.”
The USWCC aims to improve workplace issues impacting women workers by increasing fair access to capital for women-owned and small businesses, curbing healthcare costs and increasing access to federal contracts to women-owned and small busineses. They claim that Clinton’s ideas and proposals most fit their own ideals.
“The election of Hillary Clinton as president of the United States will unleash the economic power of women and forge a bold new future of potential for every woman in America,” Dorfman added. “The great march of women into political leadership, that began so many years ago, will secure a profound and impactful milestone.”
The USWCC endorsement came the same day that Labor Secretary Tom Perez, an influential figure in the Hispanic community, endorsed Clinton. He will reportedly begin campaigning for the former secretary of state in Iowa Friday.
Perez’s endorsement sends a strong message to Clinton’s chief rival Bernie Sanders, who has attempted to win over the labor vote but failed to do so as Clinton racks up the majority of labor union endorsements. In addition, by endorsing Clinton, Perez abandons his former boss, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who appointed Perez to be Maryland’s labor secretary.
