From the Katherine Clark campaign, Oct. 28: Katherine Clark has the backing of the 20,000 members of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters in her campaign for Congress. Clark, who won the Democratic nomination for the 5th Congressional District on Oct. 15, earned the endorsement because of her commitment to stand up to extremist Republicans who held the American economy hostage instead of fighting for middle-class families.

“Your commitment and work on behalf of working families in the Massachusetts legislature demonstrates a quality that is much needed in Washington, D.C.,” said Executive Secretary Treasurer Mark Erlich and Political Director Stephen Joyce in an Oct. 21 endorsement letter. “We look forward to you joining with Sen. Elizabeth Warren and the rest of the Massachusetts delegation in fighting for those who need a strong voice and a person with conviction to do the work voters expect of their legislators.”

As Congress begins to debate a long-term budget, Massachusetts needs a voice in Congress who will advocate for working families who struggle to pay for college educations, cover health care costs and save for retirement. Clark said that in Congress she will take on extremist Republicans “trying to turn back the clock on women’s rights and will fight to make sure the issues families talk about around our kitchen tables are the same issues on the table in Congress.”

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters,” Clark said. “I’ve spent my entire career standing up for working families and in Washington, I’ll work hard to get our Congress focused on helping them by increasing the minimum wage, securing pay equity for women and investing in early education.”