ILWU endorses Kim in her bid for the U.S. House

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has endorsed state Senate President Donna Mercado Kim’s bid for Congress.

The ILWU Local 142 represents 18,000 members and is the largest private-sector union in Hawaii. It represents longshore workers, truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, housekeepers and others.

Union officials said Kim’s background — growing up in a working-class neighborhood — means she shares many of the same life experiences and values as many of its members.

Kim is running for the 1st Congressional District (urban Hono­lulu) seat being vacated by incumbent U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa, who is running for U.S. Senate. Others in the Demo­cratic primary are Hono­lulu City Council members Ikaika Anderson, Stanley Chang and Joey Mana­han; state Sen. Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point); state Rep. Mark Takai (D, Halawa-Newton-Aiea); and social activist Kathryn Xian.

Kim is midway through a four-year state Senate term and does not need to give up her seat to run for Congress.