With U.S. Reps. Russ Carnahan and William Lacy Clay embroiled in an 1^st Congressional primary battle, it appears that Clay has begun to take the upper hand.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday that the longtime legislator received endorsements from the Missouri AFL-CIO and the Greater St. Louis Labor Council, two big labor groups in the area.

"Organized labor is standing with Congressman Clay because he has always stood with us," state AFL-CIO president Hugh McVey said in a statement in the article.

Rep. Carnahan, who currently represents the 3^rd Congressional District, filed to run in the 1^st District as his current district no longer exists under state maps. The legislative maps redrawn following the 2010 Census eliminated the 3^rd District as the state experienced a population loss.

"I am fulfilling the pledge I made to run for re-election," Carnahan said in late February. "I am going to continue to fight for the people of the St. Louis region."

The 1st District, as it is currently drawn, includes all of the city of St. Louis and some surrounding municipalities, including University City, Florissant and Hazelwood.

According to the St. Louis American, Clay has also garnered support from St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley.