Raja Endorsed by Sierra Club
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., (February 9, 2016) — Sierra Club, the nation’s largest grassroots environmental group, today endorsed U.S. House Democratic candidate and small businessman Raja Krishnamoorthi for the 8th District of Illinois seat that includes the northwest Chicago suburbs.
“Sierra Club is proud to endorse Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress in Illinois’ 8th District because Raja is the best-qualified, most reliable candidate to protect the environment and advance renewable energy technology in Congress,” said Barbara Hill, Illinois Sierra Club Political Chair. “Raja has worked hard as a small business leader to boost the number of Illinois jobs directly related to solar technology and clean energy. Raja’s deep experience in the public and private sectors will give him the right tools to make America the global leader in clean energy technology and combat climate change as a member of Congress.”
The backing from the Sierra Club follows recent endorsements from two leading good government groups: Citizen Action/Illinois and the Independent Voters of Illinois Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO). These endorsements position Krishnamoorthi as the leading progressive candidate to replace Rep.Tammy Duckworth to represent the 8th District in Congress.
“For more than a century, the Sierra Club has worked to put the environment at the top of the priority list for Congress,” Krishnamoorthi said. “The Sierra Club’s successes on Capitol Hill include the passage of legislation protecting millions of acres of wilderness, including the Clear Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. As a small businessman working in the clean energy sector, I know we must all do more to combat climate change and create jobs in the clean energy economy that can help grow and strengthen the middle class.”
Raja has also received the backing from the following labor unions: Amalgamated Transit Union, the United Steelworkers, the Ironworkers, Machinists, and Airline Pilots unions. In addition, the National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare, as well as Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois; David Axelrod, former Senior Advisor to President Obama; Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9); House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer have all endorsed Raja for Congress.
The son of immigrants, Raja grew up in Illinois. After college and law school, he became policy director for Barack Obama’s successful U.S. Senate campaign. He also served as a founding prosecutor in Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s anti-corruption unit.