The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly endorsed former congressman Ed Case on Saturday in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, making it the first prominent labor union to prefer Case over U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono.

"We believe Ed Case showed a seasoned perspective of the role of public higher education and presented comprehensive solutions to challenges facing faculty," Adrienne Valdez, UHPA board president, said in a statement. "He believes the federal government should not micromanage higher education and that standards and assessment should be left to faculty members."

Many of the state’s top labor leaders have sought to build a united front for Hirono. The Hawaii State AFL-CIO, the Hawaii Government Employees Association and the Hawaii Carpenters Union are among the labor interests endorsing Hirono.

Though UHPA was at a private meeting last summer where the consensus from labor was to back Hirono, Kristeen Hanselman, the faculty union’s associate executive director, said at the time that the union would follow its own internal endorsement process.

Case has struggled in previous campaigns to win support from union leaders, appealing instead to rank-and-file workers.

"I’m deeply grateful to UHPA for its thorough endorsement process and its support," he said in an email. "I believe deeply in the role of higher education in growing our economy and bettering our country and am all in to further the accomplishments and fulfill the promise of the University of Hawaii, not only here in Hawaii but nationally, throughout the Asia-Pacific and beyond. I truly look forward to a great partnership with UH and its faculty and entire ohana over as critical a generation as any we’ve all faced."

Betsy Lin, Hirono’s campaign manager, said the congresswoman "has always and will continue to be a strong champion of higher education and an advocate for the faculty and staff who contribute to the University of Hawaii system, one of our state’s greatest resources."

UHPA, which has nearly 4,000 members, also endorsed former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the Democratic primary in the 2nd Congressional District. Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard, former Office of Hawaiian Affairs chief advocate Esther Kia‘aina, Hawaii island attorney Bob Marx and Honolulu attorney Rafael del Castillo are the other Democrats in that primary.