CHICAGO (AP) — An influential teacher’s union has endorsed Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn for re-election over Republican Bruce Rauner.

In a statement Wednesday, Illinois Education Association President Cinda Klickna says Quinn is the only candidate who will fight for public schools statewide. She says “Illinois’ students need Pat Quinn as governor.”

The IEA’s endorsement was widely expected. The group’s political action committee was among a coalition of unions that paid for ads attacking Rauner during the GOP primary.

The group notes Rauner supports school vouchers, which allow students to use public money to attend a private school. Rauner also has blasted “government union bosses” and is a big supporter of charter schools, which typically are not unionized.

The IEA’s approximately 130,000 members are teachers, staff and retirees outside Chicago.

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