SEIU members in Massachusetts voted overwhelmingly on February 4 to support Elizabeth Warren’s candidacy for in the November election for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Scott Brown.

1199SEIU members, together with their sisters and brothers from Locals 509, 888, 615 and the Committee of Interns and Residents held a forum where Warren, along with another U.S. Senate hopeful, Marisa DeFranco, answered questions ranging from immigration to the right to unionize to taxing the rich to holding corporations accountable. Warren consistently received high marks from the union members, who filled out scorecards ranking each of the candidates.

Warren has firmly established herself as a champion for working people. She’s credited with creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the federal department that holds accountable trillion-dollar financial institutions and protects working people from financial loopholes hidden in mortgages, credit cards, and financial products. TIME Magazine called her the “New Sheriff of Wall Street” and included her on its list of America’s most 100 influential people.

“America’s working families are getting hammered. They have been getting hammered for a generation now and we need to fix it. I’m in this race because the people in Washington don’t get it,” said Warren at the forum, who commented that the working class has been “shaken to its foundation.”

“If you think Wall Street needs more help, vote for Scott Brown. But me, I want to work on what I’ve worked on all my life and that is working families,” she said.

Last year, all candidates for the Senate seat were asked to fill out a questionnaire gauging them on their issues. Warren and DiFranco were the only candidates who filled out the questionnaire. Scott Brown declined.

“Today was a great success…I’m looking forward to seeing what the outcome will be,” said Mary Tod, an 1199SEIU member at Carney Hospital of the forum.

After the forum, 1199SEIU members submitted their recommendation to the 1199SEIU Massachusetts Executive Council, the governing body for 1199SEIU members. The council voted to support Warren and announced the endorsement on February 8.

SEIU also voted to endorse Joseph Kennedy III for Congress. Kennedy, a former prosecutor for the Middlesex County District Attorney’s office, is running in the fourth congressional district in Massachusetts, currently the district of Congressman Barney Frank, who is retiring. Kennedy gave a brief, but impassioned speech at the February Senate forum about his viability for the seat and his dedication to working people. Kennedy is the great-nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy and the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy.

“You are what this country represents at its finest,” Kennedy told the crowd of SEIU members attending the forum. “That is what this election, I believe, is supposed to be all about.” Kennedy emphasized to SEIU members his deep appreciation for the work they do and vowed that he would be a strong voice for them in Washington.

“While middle-class families suffer, Washington continues to give unfair tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. Joe Kennedy promises to build a stable future for the Commonwealth,” said Lizete Rosa, a Fall River personal care attendant who attended the forum. “Kennedy shares our commitment to supporting Massachusetts families and the members of SEIU are proud to endorse his candidacy.”

If you would like more information or would like to help in the upcoming election, contact the 1199SEIU Massachusetts Political Action Department at 877.409.1199.