And Welch told WGN last week that, while he regretted supporting Benton, “labor was a big advocate of Rep. Benton. “The Illinois AFL-CIO has no tolerance for sexual harassment, in the workplace or anywhere else,” the labor umbrella organization declared. Any suggestion that Harry Benton — or any elected official — controlled labor’s support for a candidate or caucus is false. The Tribune also quoted some Democrats close to organized labor who accurately noted that “Benton had little power to influence organized labor or its massive fundraising apparatus.” Labor did support Benton in 2024, and a big reason was that Benton’s Republican opponent was Gabby Shanahan.