Published: June 18, 2010

After initially taking a pass on endorsing Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat for the 31st SD seat Sen. Eric Schneiderman is vacating to run for AG, the Working Families Party has announced its support of the Manhattan Democrat.

    “Adriano has a consistent legislative record of results on the issues that matter to working families in our community,” said WFP Executive Director Dan Cantor.

    “Whether it is making sure our schools get their fair share of funding, our seniors get the services they need or workers have the right to join a union, denouncing immigration abuse. Adriano Espaillat has always been there for working families when it counts.”

The labor-backed party didn’t make a decision on the 31st SD race when it held its state convention in Buffalo a few weeks back, in part because a number of its affiliates were divided between Espaillat and one of his primary opponents, District Leader Mark Levine.

Espaillat recently landed the support of SEIU 32BJ, one of the WFP’s bigger affiliates, which no doubt helped push him over the edge to land sufficient support to clinch the endorsement.

Schneiderman has the backing of most of the party’s big affiliates, too, but that wasn’t enough to overcome pressure from AG Andrew Cuomo, who successfully pushed the WFP to endorse a placeholder in the AG’s race as well as the governor and LG contests.