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The three Democratic candidates for the 24th Congressional District seat are, from left, Steve Williams, Eric Kingson and Colleen Deacon. A progressive group endorsed Kingson on Friday, May 6, 2016. The Democratic primary is June 28.

(Provided photos)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A group representing the progressive wing of the Democratic Party on Friday endorsed Eric Kingson in the Syracuse-area's three-person primary for Congress.

Democracy for America said it would mobilize its grassroots supporters for Kingson, whom the group chose over Democratic rivals Colleen Deacon, of Syracuse, and Steve Williams, of Baldwinsville, in the 24th Congressional District primary.

Kingson, a Syracuse University professor from Manlius, has picked up considerable support from progressive bloggers and other members of that wing of the party.

Charles Chamberlain, executive director of Democracy for America, said the group will mobilize its 111,750 members in New York and 1 million members nationwide to support Kingson's campaign.

"As a national leader in the fight to expand Social Security benefits for struggling seniors, Eric Kingson is the true progressive in this race and the only candidate ready to address America's growing retirement security crisis from day one," Chamberlain said in a statement.

The group, a political action committee, will likely give Kingson a fundraising boost. DFA has raised $36 million to support candidates since 2004.

DFA was founded by former Vermont governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The group endorsed Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic presidential primary over Hillary Clinton.

DFA says it focuses its efforts on issues that include income inequality, money in politics and structural racism.

The Democratic primary in the 24th Congressional District will be June 28. The winner will take on U.S. Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, in the November election. The district covers all of Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne counties, and the western half of Oswego County including the cities of Fulton and Oswego.

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