Unable to coalesce around a Democratic mayoral candidate, the labor-backed Working Families Party has decided to nominate a placeholder who will later cede the spot to the winner of the September Democratic primary. The temporary candidate is unknown to the average New Yorker but not to political insiders: Kevin Finnegan, political director of powerful health care workers’ union 1199 SEIU.

With five major Democratic candidates in the mayoral race and the contest wide open, the WFP’s member unions have split in their endorsements to date, and no candidate is even close to securing the 60% of the weighted party vote needed for the party nod. Big unions like 32BJ SEIU have not decided on a candidate yet, though petitioning to get candidates onto the ballot has already begun.

Now, the party has decided to petition to slate Mr. Finnegan for the November ballot, though ultimately he will not appear on it, a party spokesman confirmed. After the primary is decided, the plan is for the Democratic nominee to take the WFP ballot spot from Mr. Finnegan, who would be nominated for a judgeship and vacate the line. As an attorney, Mr. Finnegan would be able to receive such a nomination—and has done so before for the party in similar situations. The move will allow the Democratic and Working Families parties to have the same nominee—and not split the liberal vote—in the November face-off with the Republican nominee.

The Finnegan move could be seen as a blow to the candidacy of Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who is counting on labor support to help propel his candidacy. Still, it’s possible the WFP could endorse Mr. de Blasio or another candidate in the primary or runoff, offering up their impressive political operation, while Mr. Finnegan temporarily remains on the ballot line.

(Chris Bragg – The Insider)