Bernie Sanders backs Jessica Cisneros and her promises to Texas’ working class

SAN ANTONIO — Just over 500 supporters of Jessica Cisneros flooded the Second Baptist Church in San Antonio Friday, where Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigned for the progressive upstart ahead of Tuesday’s primary runoff election.

Sanders hopes Cisneros will add to the ranks of progressive lawmakers in Washington.

“Jessica understands that if we’re going to rebuild the middle class in this country, we need to rebuild the trade union movement,” Sanders said.

The event showcased Cisneros’ strong union backing from the Texas AFL-CIO, which represents 235,000 members of the working class in Texas and focuses on “organizing change in Black and Hispanic communities.”

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The AFL-CIO kept the excitement high at the event. One supporter who introduced Cisneros said, “I’ve had two abortions and I’m proud of it.” Another reminded the crowd that Cisneros, an immigration attorney, has a heart for the working class and immigrants because her parents are working-class immigrants.  

As she approached the stage, Cisneros supporters chanted her name, and she applauded them for forcing a runoff election against incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar, whom she is challenging for the Democratic nomination for Congress this week. 

Cisneros recalled how working in Cuellar’s office as a staffer inspired her determination to seek his congressional seat. 

Democrat Jessica Cisneros, who is campaigning for a House seat, greets her opponent, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, for the first time on the campaign trail at the Citrus Parade in Mission, Texas, Jan. 25, 2020. 
(REUTERS/Veronica Cardenas)

“It took me having to be in Congressman Cuellar’s office to find out he…