In a major blow to Rep. Charles Rangel, a powerful union that helped him get re-elected in a tight race two years ago says it may not do so again this year.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do. I really don’t. There are three really good candidates in the race,” said Kevin Finnegan, political director of the 200,000 member health care workers’ union, SEIU 1199.
Finnegan was referring to Rangel’s two likely Democratic primary opponents — state Sen. Adriano Espaillat and Harlem preacher Michael Walrond, an ally of Rev. Al Sharpton.
Rangel, 83, beat back a strong primary challenge from Espaillait in 2012, who is certain to run again.
Walrond, a pastor at First Corinthian Baptist Church in central Harlem, is also a director of ministries at Shaprton’s National Action Network and has already won backing from Sharpton allies.
Meanwhile, Council Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito, whose East Harlem district is part of Rangel’s congressional turf, also told The Post she hasn’t made up her mind about her endorsement.
“I’m not ready to talk about that,” Mark-Viverito told The Post when asked if she was backing Rangel.
Mark-Viverito endorsed Rangel two years ago and he won East Harlem.
Sources in the labor and political worlds expressed surprise that Rangel is running again, saying privately they thought 2012 would be his last hurrah after 22 terms in Congress.
Perhaps sensing hesitancy from some of his longtime supporters, Rangel has flatly declared this will be his last campaign.
The Democratic primary election is June 24.
Rangel is a decorated Korean War veteran and former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee who has represented Harlem since 1971 and is dean of the state’s congressional delegation.
His legacy was stained when Congress censured him in 2010 for a slew of ethics violations, including using a rent-stabilized apartment as his campaign office and failing to pay taxes on his Dominican Republic villa.
Amid the speculation, Rangel campaign spokesman James Freedland stated: “As someone who has been in tough fights his whole life, Congressman Rangel takes nothing for granted and will work hard for every vote this year. He looks forward to earning the support of all the hard-working men and women on the 13th Congressional District once again because he is the clear choice to keep delivering the progressive results we need.”