The gubernatorial campaign of House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, got a charge today from the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers Minnesota chapter as the 15,500 member union endorsed her bid.

She's also been endorsed by MAPE (white collar state workers), AFSCME Council 65 (a small union of outstate local government workers), the 49ers (operating engineers.)

Union endorsements have been scattered among the DFL candidates so far. Former Sen. Mark Dayton has the biggest state workers union (AFSCME Council 5); state Rep. Paul Thissen has the nurses union, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has the teamsters local 120; Rep. Tom Rukavina has several local steelworkers unions, state Sen. Tom Bakk has the carpenters and building trades.

Still out: the teachers union and the service workers union.

Here's what the electrical workers had to say about Kelliher today:


MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Minnesota State Council announced today that Speaker of the House, Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Minneapolis) has earned their endorsement for Governor of Minnesota. This is Kelliher's fourth union endorsement, adding to a broad and growing grassroots coalition of working Minnesotans from every corner of the state.

"Our members, from Rochester to the Twin Cities to Moorhead to Duluth and the Iron Range, need a governor who will get electricians off the bench and back on the job," said Tom Koehler, President of the IBEW Minnesota State Council. "Minnesota needs a peoples-leader and we believe that person, that peoples-leader is Margaret Anderson Kelliher."

IBEW of Minnesota is over 15,500 members-strong working in the building construction trades, energy and manufacturing sectors across the state. "Our members have heard before that this is the most important election in their life and this one is no exception. That's because things keep getting worse, problems compound and real people suffer." Koehler went on to say "Margaret has always stood up for us. She has fought for our jobs, our families, and our future. The men and women of the IBEW are excited about the momentum behind Margaret's campaign and we are proud to be a part of the team."

All ten declared DFL candidates for governor participated in IBEW's comprehensive interview and screening process. But in the end, Kelliher's proven leadership stood out above the rest.

"Serious times call for serious leadership," Koehler said. "When it comes to job creation, Margaret has worked tirelessly to build a better tomorrow for a better Minnesota. The IBEW will work just as hard to elect Margaret the next Governor of Minnesota."

The IBEW Minnesota State Council is made up of 13 local unions representing over 15,500 members living throughout Minnesota.