National Nurses United, the nation's largest organization of registered nurses, has endorsed Vermont senator and presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, according to Politico.
Here are five things to know about the endorsement.
1. The NNU, which represents about 185,000 nurses across the country, announced its pick during an event at union headquarters in Oakland, Calif. attended by Sen. Sanders (I-Vt.), who is Hillary Clinton's chief rival for the Democratic nomination.
2. During the Oakland event, which was broadcast live to nurses in a number of other U.S. cities, National Nurses United Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro cited Sen. Sanders' track record on supporting Medicare for all, fighting income inequality, working to end systemic racism and "the same issues that animate nurses," according to the union. "What Bernie Sanders' campaign represents is an opportunity to not just speak truth to power, but to join movements together to change our country," Ms. DeMoro emphasized.
3. The union's leadership made the final decision to endorse Sen. Sanders, but did poll its membership on the issues and candidates, according to Politico.
4. The endorsement was the first for Sen. Sanders from a national labor group. Last month, the American Federation of Teachers announced its support for Ms. Clinton.
5. The endorsement comes two weeks after Ms. Clinton, Sen. Sanders and other Democratic candidates courted labor at the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations' executive council meeting. According to The Washington Post, it is unclear whether AFL-CIO will endorse Ms. Clinton or Sen. Sanders.
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