WASHINGTON–Credit unions and their associations in two states today, as well as the national trade groups, will be watching the outcomes of voting in congressional primaries.
Voters will be going to the polls in both Florida and Arizona to select candidates for the November elections.
As Trey Hawkins, VP-political affairs with CUNA noted, Florida has an unusually high number of open seats up for grabs following a court-ordered redistricting that “scrambled the map.”
In the Tallahassee, Fla., area, CUNA and the League of Southeastern Credit Unions, as well as local CUs themselves, have thrown their support behind attorney Mary Thomas, whom Hawkins called “an avowed credit union supporter.” Credit unions have sent mailings to more than 6,000 CU member households that are also Republican. If elected, Thomas would become the first Indian-American woman to serve in Congress; while born in the U.S., her parents arrived in the U.S. from India in 1972.
In Florida, credit unions are also backing Sen. Marco Rubio, the former presidential candidate who had said he wouldn’t seek re-election before reversing course.
Hawkins said credit unions have also been involved with several races in Arizona.
In addition to the Arizona and Florida primaries, four other states will also hold primaries before the general elections in November.
Also in Washington:
- The Credit Union Advisory Council to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will hold a meeting Thursday in Washington, the first at which its eight new members will be on hand. CUNA said it will be in attendance at the meeting at which CFPB Director Richard Cordray is scheduled to speak.