With little more than three weeks to go before the Aug. 10 primary, Democrat Dan Malloy is racking up the union endorsements. His latest comes from the politically active 55,000 members of the Service Employees International Union.

The union of mostly healthcare workers voted on Malloy’s endorsement Friday. They also endorsed his running mate Nancy Wyman. 

Prior to Friday’s meeting of SEIU’s state council delegates, Malloy had earned the backing of members from four of its affiliated unions.

“Dan and Nancy are committed to real retirement security for all seniors,” said Donna McElduff, a retired registered nurse. “Instead of targeting public employees’ benefits, they’re asking why more private sectors workers have lost theirs. That’s why Dan and Nancy are the kind of leaders Connecticut deserves.”

In a phone interview Monday afternoon Malloy said state employee unions and retirees have a lot riding on this election. However, he cautioned that he doesn’t change his message based on the audience. He said his message that everyone has to be part of the solution is consistent.

He said it’s his leadership skills that will help the state wipe out the more than $3.5 billion deficit the next governor faces. In all honesty Malloy said even if he laid off every state employee, which is not what he intends to do, it wouldn’t solve the budget deficit.

The endorsement of SEIU District 1199 and 32BJ was based in large part on Malloy’s 14-year record as mayor of Stamford. “Malloy’s demonstration of consistent support for working families helped him edge out his last remaining rival for the Democratic Party’s primary nomination, and put him far ahead of all the candidates seeking support among GOP voters,” union leaders said in a statement.

In addition to the SEIU and 32BJ endorsement Malloy has received the support of the Hartford, Waterbury, and New London police unions, along with the Carpenters Local 210. CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 and CEUI/SEIU Local 511 both announced last week their active and retired state, municipal and schools employees had also chosen Malloy, along with Communication Workers of America Local 1298.

Malloy’s opponent, Ned Lamont, has received the support of the Connecticut Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union; the United Food and Commercial Workers Union; the United Auto Workers; the sheetmetal workers; the iron workers,