(New York City) - The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club—the citywide progressive LGBT club—endorsed Green Party Governor candidate Howie Hawkins at their Sunday endorsement meeting.

It is the first time in the activist club's ten-year history that it has endorsed a non-Democrat for office. The club was the first Democratic club to endorse Zephyr Teachout in the primary and was credited by Teachout in her concession speech for  "jump starting her campaign."

"I am honored to receive the Jim Owles endorsement, and proud to stand shoulder to shoulder for LGBT rights with the club," said Howie Hawkins, Green Party candidate for Governor. "The members of the club clearly see that I'm the only candidate who will fight for economic justice, a $15 minimum wage, universal healthcare, 100% clean energy and a fracking ban. I am the only progressive running for Governor."

"These two historic endorsements, from two of New York City's leading progressive Democratic clubs, are proof that my run for office continues to gain momentum as more attention is paid to it and progressives disaffected with Governor Cuomo and Albany corruption are finding a home in my campaign and my platform," said Hawkins.

The Jim Owles club endorsement was the second major Democratic club to endorse Howie Hawkins over the weekend. On Friday the venerable Village Independent Democrats reform club endorsed Hawkins for Governor.

Hawkins is at 9% in the polls, and has been picking up endorsements from teacher and education groups, in addition to these progressive Democratic clubs.

"The polls show that this has become a three way race. People want change, better jobs, higher pay, more support for local schools. They are tired of being told that they can only choose between two parties that favor the very wealthy over working families," noted Hawkins.

"In our ten year history we have never endorsed a non-Democrat candidate for public office. But we will not endorse someone just because they are registered in the party when they do not uphold the ideals and progressive principles of the party," said Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club. "On economic and equity issues Governor Cuomo acts more like a Republican than a Democrat. For those of us who believe in economic justice we thought it would be unconscionable to endorse Andrew Cuomo."

"Howie Hawkins is the kind of true progressive that we can stand behind, and feel proud to endorse. Between the Moreland Commission, his unwillingness to debate in the primary, his refusal to outlaw fracking, and that he is the first Governor in decades not to utilize his powers of clemency, which we find cold-hearted and unjust, we simply do not believe Cuomo deserves the votes of liberal Democrats. Howie Hawkins is the logical alternative."