Published: August 5, 2010

The long, tough battle to take Andrew Cuomo's place as the New York State attorney general comes down the stretch this month for the Democratic Party. With primaries expected to be held in mid-September, each endorsement, no matter where it comes from, holds importance - but some hold more importance than others.

New York State, and in particular New York City, remains a place where unions have a majority say in political elections, The attorney general race is no different. Receiving the proverbial thumbs up from a union could be the key to a victory at the polls. So where do they stand?

At the moment, union support is scattered around a few Democratic attorney general candidates. Last month District Council 37 (DC 37), the city's largest public employees union, endorsed candidate Richard Brodsky for attorney general.

"We're proud to be part of a winning team that will make sure New York has an attorney general who will stand up for working people," said Lillian Roberts, the executive director of DC 37. "Voters expect a candidate who is honest, candid and effective."

Brodsky's candidness has provided some interesting moments during several Democratic attorney general debates. During a scheduled debate last month as the city University of New York's Graduate Center, Brodsky, along with candidates Eric Dinallo, Sean Coffey and State Sen. Eric Schneiderman, were asked what type of questions they would direct to candidate Kathleen Rice, who wasn't able to attend. While Coffey, Schneiderman and Dinallo used it as an opportunity to criticize each other, Brodsky decided to pass on his turn out of "principle" because he felt the debate had developed into name-calling.

As of press time, Brodsky also had endorsements from the like of the Communications Workers of America, which represents 75,000 public health care, media, manufacturing and telecommunications. workers statewide, and also New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Schneiderman has received endorsements from 1199 SEIU United Health Care Workers East and SEIU Local 32BJ. "1199 SEIU is extremely proud to endorse Eric Schneiderman for New York State attorney general," said George Gresham, president of 1199 SEIU United HealthCare workers East, last April. "Eric's commitment to working families and social justice are what makes him the strongest candidate in this race and we will work incredibly hard across the state to get him elected."

Mike Fishman, president of 32BJ, expressed similar thoughts this past May when they endorsed Schneiderman for attorney general. "From creating good jobs to fighting corruption, Senator Schneiderman has been a champion for working New Yorkers," said Fishman, "32BJ will work tierlessly to help elect Eric Schneiderman as our next attorney general."

Schneiderman has also received endorsements from unions like the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council and the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association, Local 831.

Not to be outdone in labor endorsements is Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice. Last June, Rice received an endorsement from the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1500, Local 1 and Local 888. The UFCW is the largest grocery workers union in New York State. "Of all the candidates running , only District Attorney Rice has the experience and the record of directing a large staff of attorneys to take on large corporations and defend the public's right to fair wages, safe working conditions and fraud-free public spending," said Bruce W. Both, president of Local 1500. "We wholeheartedly endorse District Attorney Rice for attorney general."

According to her campaign website, Rice has also received major endorsements from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, the New York State Building & Construction Trades Council, the New York City Building & Construction Trades Council and several chapters of the International Union of Operating Engineers Locals (15, 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D).

As of press time, a spokesperson for Dinallo said that there were no union or political endorsements on his behalf. According to Coffey's page, there were no union endorsements on his behalf was well, but there were [political endorsements from the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats and U.S. Senator Al Franken. Coffey's camp could not be reached by press time.

The Democratic primary for attorney general is scheduled for September 14. As of this moment, each candidate is in the gym making sure they pick the best players for their team.