From the Carl Sciortino campaign, Sept. 12: Today the co-chairmen of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, U.S. Reps. Raúl Grijalva and Keith Ellison, announced their endorsement of Carl Sciortino for Congress in the 5th Congressional District race to succeed Ed Markey. They cited his leadership and consistency on progressive issues as reasons why they got involved in the race.

“Carl Sciortino is the real thing,” Grijalva and Ellison said in a press release. “He is the consistent progressive in the race, having led the fight for the issues we progressives care about for almost 10 years in the state legislature – a higher minimum wage, closing corporate tax loopholes, protecting a woman’s right to choose, the list goes on and on. Carl Sciortino’s ability to take on these tough fights, and win them, will be an incredible asset to the Progressive Caucus in Congress.”

Sciortino said he was “thrilled” to have their endorsement. He has also been endorsed by Alan Grayson, a progressive Florida congressman.

“Congressman Grijalva and Congressman Ellison are courageously fighting for progressive policies in Washington,” he said. “I am the only one in this race who has a consistent progressive record on privacy rights, workers rights, immigration rights and protecting the environment. This election for me isn’t about climbing the political ladder, it’s about strengthening the national progressive movement.”

Carl Sciortino, a Medford Democrat, represents the 34th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House, which includes parts of Medford and Somerville.