National Nurses United (NNU) Endorses "Progressive Champion" Jamie Raskin for Congress

Press Release

Today National Nurses United (NNU) endorsed Jamie Raskin's campaign for Congress in Maryland's 8th District.

"Jamie Raskin has demonstrated a rare ability to be both a principled progressive and an effective lawmaker while serving in the Maryland Senate," said Kendra Ziegler, RN, a resident of Silver Spring and a member of National Nurses United. "We know that in Congress Jamie will work with registered nurses to win guaranteed healthcare for all, real action on climate change, a Robin Hood Tax on Wall Street, and other vital issues of economic and social justice."

Founded in 2009, NNU has 185,000 members across the country and is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in U.S. history. NNU members are renown as leading advocates of guaranteed healthcare by expanding and improving Medicare to cover all Americans, for negotiating many of the best collective bargaining contracts for RNs in the nation, and for sponsorship of innovative legislation and regulatory protections for patients and nurses.

"What an amazing endorsement. I am thrilled to have NNU's strong backing and am eager to work with the many thousands of registered nurses who live in, and serve the people of, the 8th Congressional District," said Senator Raskin. "Nurses and doctors saved my life when I had cancer six years ago, and they have a lifelong friend and fan in me because I know how hard they work and how indispensable they are to all of us. I can't wait to go to Congress to work with NNU's members to organize for quality and accessible healthcare for all Americans."

The NNU joins UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO, the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Education Association, UFCW Local 400, the Machinists and Aerospace Workers and OPEIU Local 2 as early union supporters. The Raskin campaign has also earned the support of the Sierra Club, the 72-member Congressional Progressive Caucus, the African-American Democratic Club of Montgomery County, the Latino Democratic Club of Montgomery County, the Coalition of Asian Pacific American Democrats of Maryland, and more than 60 Democratic elected officials, including the state's top Democrat, Attorney General Brian Frosh, Congressman John Sarbanes from the neighboring district, Congressman John Conyers who is the longest serving member of the US House and the co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, State Senators Rich Madaleno, Susan Lee, Karen Montgomery and Ron Young, Delegate Karen Lewis Young, and dozens of other state and local officials.

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