Businesswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D) was endorsed by the AFL-CIO Tuesday in her bid against Rep. Phil English (R).

“I am both honored and humbled by the endorsement of the AFL-CIO,” Dahlkemper said in a statement. “They represent the foundation of this great country. Our growth as an industrialized nation is due in no small part to the men and women of this great union.”

Although the local Erie-Crawford Central Labor Council endorsed English’s little-known 2006 Democratic opponent, the moderate GOP Member has often relied on his positive relationship with local unions to hold on to his competitive, largely blue- collar district.

English was re-elected to his seventh term with 54 percent of the vote in 2006.