ELMIRA — The Tompkins County Progressive Committee, a group of more than 100 grass-roots activists, voted to endorse Ian Golden for Congress in New York’s 23rd District.

The endorsement comes on the heels of public endorsements from their sister organizations: Progressive Action Network of the Southern Finger Lakes, which includes Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties, as well as Tioga County Progressive Committee.

It also follows a top three finish in a straw poll conducted at the Geneva City Forum earlier this week and a first place finish in the straw poll held by the Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Democratic Committees at the end of 2017.

The three organizations will now send the endorsement to the state level for consideration of a national endorsement from Our Revolution, a national progressive organization that evolved out of the Bernie Sanders movement.

Of the endorsement, Golden said, “I’m honored to be endorsed by the Progressive Action Network chapters across our district. In such a deep field of primary candidates, I think this speaks to the level of engagement and grass-roots support we’ve built over the last few months.”

“Ian Golden is the clear choice to carry our progressive platform to Washington. He doesn’t just recite the progressive talking points, he is out in our local communities walking the talk,” Tompkins Progressive Committee Co-chair, Emily Adams stated. “From addressing the widening income inequality and limiting the influence of big money in our government, to pushing for Medicare for all and local green tech jobs, Ian cares about the issues that we care about” she added.

The Golden campaign is now looking toward the Tompkins County Democratic Straw Poll on Monday at the State Theatre in Ithaca.