YAKIMA, Wash.-Civil rights icon and National Medal of Freedom recipient Dolores Huerta, has endorsed 14th Legislative District Democratic Senate candidate Maria Beltran.
New Direction PAC announced the endorsement by Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union along with Cesar Chavez on Oct. 28.
“I endorse Maria Beltran for Washington State Senate because the hard-working people of the Yakima Valley, Pasco and the Yakama Nation need a new voice in Olympia,” Dolores Huerta said. “Maria is a dedicated member of our community, and she has demonstrated her commitment to fighting for all working people. She will fight for better jobs with better pay and securing the funding our schools need.
Beltran, a Yakima native was the first in her family to graduate from high school and college before working in government at both the local and state levels.
Beltran is running against incumbent Sen. Curtis King (R) for the State Senate in Washington’s 14th District, which represents the south central portion of the state.
Sen. King is also from Yakima and was elected to the State Senate in 2007. He serves on the Senate Transportation Committee and is the ranking minority member of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, as well as serving on the rules committee, according to his official biography.
Sen. King has been endorsed by Mainstream Republicans of Washington, the National Rifle Association and the Association of Washington Businesses, according to votesmart.