Caucus Endorses Candidates for Governor, State Senate & House

The Justice Caucus has added several candidates to its list of endorsements for 2010 elections. Candidates for Governor, State Senate and State House were endorsed, joining Jocelyn Benson previously endorsed for Secretary of State.

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero was endorsed for Governor. A strong candidate with a history of fighting for Michigan workers, Bernero has already begun the fight for Michigan with his advocacy for the auto industry and working people. He previously served as county commissioner, State Rep. and State Senator.

Representative Mary Valentine was endorsed for State Senate District 34. An alumni of Camp Millie, Mary attended the very first Camp Millie. She used the skills she learned there to turn her House District blue. A powerful advocate for education, she has also worked on behalf of Michigan families and workers and to hold drug companies accountable.

Representative Rebekah Warren was endorsed for State Senate District 18. Rebekah has reached across the aisle to negotiate the bipartisan passage of landmark water protection legislation, worked with key stakeholders to retain and attract industry to Michigan. Prior to her election to the State House, Rebekah was chief of staff to Democratic State Representatives Mary Schroer (D-Ann Arbor) and Hubert Price (D-Pontiac) from 1993 to 1999, and then Executive Director of MARAL Pro-Choice Michigan, the state’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-choice organization.

Representative Dian Slavens was endorsed for a second term in House District 21. In 2008, she worked tirelessly to turn her House District blue. In the House, she has been a strong advocate for healthcare, against elder abuse and for advanced battery production bringing new industry and jobs to Michigan. Dian is demanding the legislature be held accountable -- docking their pay if they fail to deliver a timely budget or miss sessions (not to mention a 10% pay cut).

Each of these Democrats deserve our support because they have shown time and again their support for progressive values.