Rick Nolan received a key endorsement Wednesday from the United Steelworkers in his bid to unseat 8th District Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-North Branch.
Nolan received the endorsement during a campaign event Wednesday afternoon in Virginia.
"We know that Rick Nolan will fight for mining jobs and to rebuild the middle class in Congress," said Bob Ryan, a representative of the Steelworkers. "Rick has served in the Congress. He is an effective leader who will put the working men and women of northern Minnesota first. He is someone we can trust to fight for jobs and work to preserve pensions, health care benefits and Medicare."
Nolan said he was "proud and humbled" to receive the United Steelworkers' support.
"I grew up on the Cuyuna Range. My family has been here for six generations. I always have and I always will support mining because it is the backbone of our Iron Range and provides good jobs for our communities," said Nolan.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nolan pledged to serve as an industry advocate.
"I will work tirelessly to remove bureaucratic impediments to permitting our taconite expansions as well as the PolyMet and Twin Metals projects, without harming the great outdoors we all enjoy," he said. "We must reduce the amount of time it takes to get these critical projects approved. Extreme delays help no one."
But Cravaack questioned whether Nolan was truly a friend of mining in a press release issued shortly before his opponent's press conference.
"My opponent is not pro-mining, nor does he understand mining jobs. Rather, he prefers more regulation and bigger government," Cravaack said.
While Cravaack did not receive the United Steelworkers' endorsement, his campaign said the congressman has the support of many individuals in the union. A press release titled "Steelworkers endorse Cravaack" featured testimonials from three mine workers.
Earlier this summer, Cravaack received an endorsement from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, another influential union active on the Range.
