PETALUMA – Mark Leno's campaign for State Senate today announced Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), who is serving her eighth term as the U.S. Representative for the 6^th Congressional District, encompassing all of Marin and most of Sonoma County, has endorsed his candidacy, citing Leno's commitment to the issues that matter most in the North Bay. 

"Mark Leno has built a strong record on behalf of the issues the people of my district care deeply about.  I am proud to announce my support for him today," said Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey.  "We can count on Mark to go to Sacramento and provide progressive leadership on the issues we all care about—a cleaner and more sustainable environment, universal, single-payer health care, better schools and access to affordable higher education." 

"Congresswoman Woolsey's unwavering, progressive principles and steadfast leadership in Congress have proven invaluable to the families of Marin and Sonoma Counties," declared Assemblyman Mark Leno.  "I am deeply honored by the faith and trust Congresswoman Woolsey has in me to represent the progressive democratic values of the North Bay in the State Senate.  I look forward to partnering with her and working together on the challenging issues we face."

Assemblyman Mark Leno has authored landmark measures on the environment, solar energy, safer schools, foster youth education, health care, and civil rights.  Leno has worked tirelessly to make higher education affordable and accessible, as well as provide much-needed funding for important infrastructure projects.  Much like Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Leno has been an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq and has worked to bring attention to the President's failed war policy.    

In the 3^rd Senate District democratic primary, Leno faces incumbent Carole Migden and former Assemblyman Joe Nation.  The district includes all of Marin County, southern Sonoma County, and the eastern portion of San Francisco.  Congresswoman Woolsey previously endorsed incumbent Senator Migden for re-election, and she is maintaining that previous commitment. 

"I tell my colleagues in Washington that I have the greatest district in the country.  Marin and Sonoma Counties are home to some of the warmest, most passionate people that I know, who care deeply about bringing bold progressive change to our communities, our state, and our country," Woolsey said.  "We need a State Senator who shares our progressive values and will work hard to continue the record of legislative achievements and activism that our district has been known for," concluded Woolsey. 

Congresswoman Woolsey is Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairwoman of the Committee on Education and Labor's Workforce Protections Subcommittee, and a Senior Member of the House Committee on Science and Technology. 

Woolsey's endorsement adds more momentum to Leno's campaign that has received the recently-announced endorsements of organizations such as the California Professional Firefighters (CPF), California Teachers Association (CTA), California Federation of Teachers (CFT), California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA), Democracy For America (DFA), Progressive Democrats of Sonoma County, as well as the United Auto Workers Region 5. 

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