Rosen picks up Culinary endorsement in CD3 primary

By Megan Messerly

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 | 9:45 a.m.

The Culinary Union has endorsed Jacky Rosen in her Democratic primary battle in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District.

Rosen in a statement today called the endorsement a “special honor,” noting that she was a member of the union during summers in college when she waited tables in Las Vegas. Rosen, a local synagogue leader, is a first-time candidate for political office but has been endorsed by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, the pro-choice group EMILY’s List and a handful of other unions.

The Culinary Union is one of Nevada’s largest and most politically powerful unions, with 57,000 members working in hotels on the Strip and across the state. It also has endorsed state Sen. Ruben Kihuen in his Democratic primary for Nevada’s 4th Congressional District.

“The Culinary Union has been a tireless force for raising wages, improving workplace conditions and ensuring a secure retirement for seniors here in Southern Nevada,” Rosen said. “This community deserves a representative who will take on Tea Party Republicans and champion the rights of unions and workers.”

The biggest challenge Rosen could face in the primary is from Henderson attorney Jesse Sbaih, a trial lawyer who has loaned his campaign $500,000.

The Republican nominee for the district is up in the air, too, with businessman Danny Tarkanian and state Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson emerging as the top two competitors in that primary.

The eventual Democratic and Republican nominees will go on to fight in November to replace Republican Rep. Joe Heck, who is running to take Reid’s seat when he retires at the end of the term.