Three Democratic Supreme Court candidates received a boost today.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) endorsed the candidacies of Judges Kevin Dougherty, Anne Lazarus, and David Wecht.

Dougherty and Wecht each already picked up the backing of the state party and the AFL-CIO, so arguably Lazarus is the biggest winner from this high-profile endorsement.

The SEIU PA State Council represents 80,000 health care, public service and school employees in the commonwealth.

“The campaign for Supreme Court has never been more important. This is an unprecedented opportunity to elect judges who will stand for the rights of working men and women across the Commonwealth and reestablish the dignity of the court,” said Gabe Morgan, President of the SEIU Pennsylvania State Council and Pennsylvania Director of SEIU 32BJ. “We have no doubt that Judges Dougherty, Lazarus and Wecht will add wisdom, integrity, and a passion for equal justice to the Commonwealth’s highest court.”

The response of each candidate is included below:

“I was born and raised in a union household and am immensely grateful for the experience. I learned that there is dignity in work. I came to understand that labor’s sacred principle of family-sustaining wages, good benefits, and safe working conditions is a noble aspiration for all American workers,” said Judge Dougherty. “I am deeply grateful for the support of the Pennsylvania State Council of the Service Employees International Union. With such incredible, statewide support from Pennsylvania’s proud labor community, our campaign feels extremely energized and confident as we head into the final two weeks before the May 19th Primary.”

“I’m proud to have the support of tens of thousands of SEIU’s working families in my bid for the Supreme Court,” said Judge Lazarus. “SEIU has always stood for equal justice for all citizens of this Commonwealth and I’m honored to stand with them to ensure that all people are equal under the law.”

“I am not only proud but also very grateful to have earned the support of the members of SEIU. Receiving a vote of confidence in the form of an endorsement by some of our state’s hardest working individuals is humbling and something I take very seriously. I promise the members and leadership of SEIU that I will not only work hard to win this election but I will also continue to provide fair and honest justice for all while seated on the High Court,” stated Judge David Wecht.