ILA President Harold J. Daggett Announces Endorsement of Steve Sweeney for New Jersey Governor; ILA Leader Cites Sweeney’s Dedication and Commitment To New Jersey Working Families and Pledges Full ILA Support For 2025 Gubernatorial Campaign

NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (December 16, 2023) Harold J. Daggett, President, International Longshoremen’s Association announced the ILA endorsement of Steve Sweeney for Governor of New Jersey, citing the one-time New Jersey Senate President’s long-time support of issues important to the ILA and New Jersey working families.

Though the New Jersey Gubernatorial election is 23 months away, President Daggett told Sweeney his ILA union will work tirelessly to ensure his election in November 2025.

“The International Longshoremen’s Association is proud to endorse Steve Sweeney for Governor of the State of New Jersey,” President Daggett said. “The thousands of ILA members and families living and working in New Jersey are committed to supporting our union brother and outstanding New Jersey Public Servant, and work hard to get Steve Sweeney elected New Jersey Governor in November 2025.”

The ILA leader praised Steve Sweeney for his decades of support for the ILA, on issues ranging from helping to remove the Waterfront Commission from New Jersey ports to protecting ILA work jurisdiction with current Wind Turbine projects.

“As International ILA President, I have worked with our former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney for many years. His dedication and commitment to working families in New Jersey is unmatched by anyone, sharing their values and enhancing their lives. Though his leadership in the New Jersey Senate, Steve Sweeney helped make the New Jersey ports in Newark and Elizabeth the most successful in our nation. He protects and keeps jobs in New Jersey, is dedicated to education, public safety, housing and lowering the tax burden on the middle class and the ILA believes he is the best candidate to lead New Jersey as our next Governor,” President Daggett said.

The Sweeney campaign announced the ILA’s endorsement on Thursday, December 14th and issued the following statement:

Citing Steve Sweeney’s dedication and commitment to New Jersey’s working families, Harold J. Daggett, President of the International Longshoremen’s Association, today endorsed Sweeney for election as Governor in 2025.

“The International Longshoremen’s Association is proud to endorse Steve Sweeney for Governor of the State of New Jersey,” Daggett said in a statement. “The thousands of ILA members and families living and working in New Jersey are committed to supporting our union brother and outstanding New Jersey Public Servant and work hard to get Steve Sweeney elected New Jersey Governor in November 2025.

“As International ILA President, I have worked with our former New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney for many years,” Daggett said. “His dedication and commitment to working families in New Jersey is unmatched by anyone, sharing their values and enhancing their lives.

Through his leadership in the New Jersey Senate, “Steve Sweeney helped make the New Jersey ports in Newark and Elizabeth the most successful in our nation. He protects and keeps jobs in New Jersey, is dedicated to education, public safety, housing and lowering the tax burden on the middle class and the ILA believes he is the best candidate to lead New Jersey as our next Governor,” he said.

Sweeney, New Jersey’s longest-serving Senate President thanked Daggett for his endorsement.

“I am deeply honored to receive this endorsement from President Daggett on behalf of the thousands of Longshoremen.”

The ILA endorsement is the second major labor endorsement for Sweeney’s 2025 gubernatorial candidacy, following the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters.