We endorse @BernieSanders for #POTUS2016. #YourPartyYourVote #FeelTheBern #Bernie2016 pic.twitter.com/GWGovXpuwQ
— WorkingFamiliesParty (@WorkingFamilies) December 8, 2015
The Working Families Party officially gave presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders on Tuesday their first national endorsement. Sanders came in first place with 87 percent.
“The super-rich have used their economic muscle to buy political muscle, and unless you’re one of them, what you think government should do basically doesn’t count,” said Working Families Party National Director Dan Cantor in a statement. “That’s why we’re standing with Bernie Sanders to build the political revolution and make our nation into one where every family can thrive.”
Hillary Clinton received 11 percent of support from the voting party members, with Martin O’Malley netting just 1 percent. The party promised Sanders “support of the party’s activist base and skilled operatives,” a group that spans ten states. Cantor told VTDigger that party members from all 50 states took place in the online vote.
“We’re committed to helping Senator Sanders win and to building this movement,” Cantor said. “That means activating our members to get involved, reaching out to people online, at workplaces and in their communities and urging our members to get out and have conversations with their neighbors, friends, and family across the country.”
Over the last week, 87% of WFP Members voted to endorse @BernieSanders from all over the country. #YourPartyYourVote pic.twitter.com/472QOF7XJU
— WorkingFamiliesParty (@WorkingFamilies) December 8, 2015
The party pointed to a number of political successes in recent months, including organizing work in Chicago to mount a serious fight against Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a run-off election with Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.
Following the endorsement by the Working Families Party, political activist and Vermont native Zephyr Teachout released a piece on Huffington Post endorsing Sanders.
I am proud to join the @WorkingFamilies in their powerful endorsement of Bernie Sanders for President.
— Zephyr Teachout (@ZephyrTeachout) December 8, 2015
Campaign manager Jeff Weaver praised the WFP endorsement in a short statement Tuesday, saying Sanders was “gratified by the support of the Working Families Party.”
“Together they will work to take on the billionaire class and change the the rigged economy that is being held up by a corrupt political system,” he said.
