Maryland State Wire

Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has garnered official support from a trio of labor coalitions that ordinarily lean toward Democratic candidates, having recently picked up a third entity within the state’s labor sector.

Commending both Hogan’s availability to firefighters and his performance record in protecting their retirement benefits, representatives from the International Association of Firefighters recently endorsed Hogan, echoing two additional organizations.

On behalf of 10,000 current and retired Old Line State firefighters, a spokesperson for the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland (PFFMD) spoke highly of the governor, according to The Washington Post.

“We know that Gov. Larry Hogan has our back,” Mike Rund said. Prior to the PFFMD’s statement, both the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters and the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance also announced their support of Hogan in the race.

The approval reverses the direction displayed in Maryland’s previous gubernatorial election four years ago, when that union backed Democrat Anthony Brown who was lieutenant governor at the time. In fact, Rund said he did not recollect a specific time the group chose to endorse a Republican candidate for an elected position at the state level, according to the Post.

Rund represents IAFF Local 2000 and serves as a lieutenant with the Howard County Department of Fire & Rescue Services in central Maryland.