ALBANY — Some of New York’s most powerful unions and liberal organizations are backing a Democratic challenger to Chicago Mayor and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, the Daily News has learned.
The groups are holding a reception and fund-raiser Monday in Manhattan for Jesus (Chuy) Garcia, the progressive candidate who is facing Emanuel in the April 7 runoff election.
City Teachers Union President Michael Mulgrew said the groups wanted to take a stand against hedge fund and big business money flowing to Democrats like Emanuel that they contend has led to more conservative policies. Some in the left wing of the Democratic party have used the same argument against Gov. Cuomo.
A pro-Emanuel super PAC, Chicago Forward, recently received a $500,000 donation hedgefunder Ken Griffin, a Republican, that is being used on attack ads against Garcia.
Republicans, according to the Huffington Post, have so far donated more than $2.3 million since 2013 toward Emanuel’s reelection effort.
“If hedgefunders feel they can go in and buy another candidate, we’re going to push back,” Mulgrew said. “We’re saying, enough of this garbage. We’ve had it.”
Among the unions and groups involved in the efforts are the United Federation of Teachers, the union-backed Working Families Party, the health care workers local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, and SEIU 32BJ.
Also part of the fund-raiser, which starts at $100 per plate, is the progressive group moveon.org and the Amalgamated Transit Union. It is slated to be held at UFT headquarters at 52 Broadway.
The New York groups will also send volunteers to Chicago to campaign for Garcia, Mulgrew said.
