Kroeger endorses Vernon in 1st District Iowa Democratic primary

DES MOINES - A day after dropping out of the race for the Democratic nomination in Iowa's 1st District, Gary Kroeger has endorsed Monica Vernon to be the party's candidate.

Vernon and former Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy of Dubuque are competing to be the Democratic challenger to first-term Republican Rep. Rod Blum. The nominee will be determined in the June 7 primary.

Kroger is supporting Vernon in that contest.

'Monica will make a fantastic member of Congress,” Kroeger said in his endorsement Thursday. 'Monica and I share the same progressive values - she stands up for women and children, she stands up for our seniors and our workers and she stands up for our environment.”

Vernon, a former Cedar Rapids business owner and city councilwoman, welcomed the support from Kroeger, a Cedar Valley native.

'I look forward to having Gary on the campaign trail with me, working side by side with him on the progressive issues we continue to fight for and electing new leadership to Washington and the Statehouse,” Vernon said.

Kroeger joins a long list of Democratic leaders, labor organizations and progressive organizations that have endorsed Vernon for Congress, including United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 431 and 1149, Great Plains Laborers' District Council, Teamsters Local 238 and Carpenters Local 308, among many others.

Kroeger is considering jumping into a race against State Rep. Walt Roger of Cedar Falls, a three-term Republican.

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