AFL-CIO backs Democrat in race for Florida’s US Senate seat, after unusual Crist sales pitch

Fla. AFL-CIO backs Democrat in US Senate race

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The labor union AFL-CIO has endorsed a Democrat in the race for Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat after an unusual sales pitch by the state’s governor, who’s running as an independent.

The labor union chose on Sunday to back U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek in the Senate race. Meek served seven years in the state Legislature before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002.

The decision comes two days after Gov. Charlie Crist appeared before the union’s leaders to ask for their support. Crist, a lifelong Republican until this month, had never before sought the help of the union that typically endorses Democrats.

On Saturday, the statewide teachers union issued a joint endorsement for Crist and Meek.

The two are expected to face Republican Marco Rubio in the November general election. Rubio and Meek are front-runners in their respective primary campaigns.