NEW YORK — In a boost for her campaign for mayor, Maya Wiley landed the endorsement of a massive health care workers union, Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
The endorsement could provide help with fundraising and canvassing for Wiley, a top lawyer for Mayor Bill de Blasio and analyst for MSNBC.
The moves comes after Wiley would not receive matching funds this month from the city’s Campaign Finance Board, which deemed she had not yet met the qualifying fundraising threshold.
Wiley’s team had expected to receive $2 million in public campaign financing this month, and has provided documents to the board that may lead the cash to be released to them next month.
Wiley told NY1 that the significance of an endorsement from health care workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic is not lost on her.
“We’re talking largely about the people who take care of us, whether it’s hospitals, whether it’s in nursing homes, whether it’s home health aides,” she said.
Wiley noted that the group has been politically powerful in backing the next leaders locally and nationally.
De Blasio had the 1199 SEIU endorsement early in the 2013 race for mayor.
Asked about her struggle to break out of the crowded Democratic field this year, Wiley said her number of small-dollar donors has demonstrated “people power” and the 1199 SEIU has proven her bid has traction.
She also noted the group’s membership is largely non-white and female.
The major city labor unions, whose endorsements are still are up for grabs, include Local 32BJ, District Council 37, the Hotels Trades Council, and the United Federation of Teachers.
------
Did you know you can now watch, read and stay informed with NY1 wherever and whenever you want? Get the new Spectrum News app here.
------
Looking for an easy way to learn about the issues affecting New York City?
Listen to our "Off Topic/On Politics" podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Stitcher | RSS