The Working Families Party, a union-backed political organization that can offer volunteers in a primary and a ballot line in a general election, has endorsed Congressman John B. Larson in his fight to retain the Hartford-area 1st District congressional seat he won in 1998.

Larson, a Democrat who regularly has been cross-endorsed by the WFP in general elections, is certain of facing a primary in August. The only question is how many of this three challengers will qualify by winning at least 15% of the delegate vote at a nominating convention on May 11.

“This race is about who will fight for working people and who won’t. John Larson has consistently stood shoulder to shoulder with workers — on picket lines, in Congress and in the toughest fights,” said Sarah Ganong, state director of Connecticut Working Families Party. “Luke Bronin has sided with corporations and even tried to take away collective bargaining rights.”

Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, whose relationships with unions frayed as he negotiated concessions during a budget crisis that put the city on the verge of bankruptcy, did not seek the endorsement, Ganong said. 

The two other challengers, Rep. Jillian Gilchrest of West Hartford and Ruth Fortune, an appointed member of the Hartford school board, completed the WFP’s lengthy questionnaire and sat for interviews.

“We didn’t seek the WFP endorsement because it was clear that the WFP endorsement was pre-baked for Larson,” said Akash Kaza, Bronin’s campaign manager. “The WFP chose to endorse someone who takes millions of dollars in corporate PAC money.”

Ganong declined to say whether the WFP would use its line to keep Larson on the November ballot should he lose the primary.

“I think our organization and the congressman’s campaign has every confidence that he is going to win the primary and win handily,” Ganong said.