Mike Obermueller, who is challenging Rep. John Kline (R) to represent the Second Congressional District this year, nabbed a political endorsement from Minnesota's largest labor federation on Thursday.

The Minnesota AFL-CIO announced Thursday that it is endorsing Obermueller, a Democrat and former state representative from Eagan. Obermueller was just one of Democratic candidates to be named in the AFL-CIO's first round of endorsements. Additional endorsements will be announced in the coming weeks as the endorsement process continues.

"The candidates that carry the Minnesota AFL-CIO endorsement are people we believe will put working families first," Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson wrote in a press release. "Minnesota’s 300,000 union members are committed to building a strong economy that works for everyone and are proud to stand for leaders who share middle class values and priorities."

Several other local Democrats, including former Sen. Kevin Dahle, former Rep. David Bly and Senate District 58 candidate Andrew Brobston, also received endorsements on Thursday from the organization.

Dahle is running against Republican-endorsed candidate Mike Dudley and Gene Thomas Kornder, who will face off in the August primary, to represent Senate District 20, while Bly is facing off against Republican Brian Wermerskirchen to represent House District 20B and Brobston faces off against Republican incumbent Sen. Dave Thompson.

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