Hagan joins $10.10 push

Sen. Kay Hagan (N.C.), a vulnerable Democratic incumbent, plans to co-sponsor legislation raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, according to her office.

Hagan’s support will boost the number of co-sponsors to the bill introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) to 32.

{mosads}Hagan plans to highlight the issue in her reelection campaign. She has criticized North Carolina General Assembly Speaker Thom Tillis, one of several Republicans vying to oust her, for opposing a minimum wage boost.

Other vulnerable Democrats, however, have held back from co-sponsoring the bill, which Republicans say would cost jobs.

Sens. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) have not co-sponsored it. Pryor has told reporters he opposes it.

Sen. Mark Begich (D), who faces a tough race in Alaska, co-sponsored the measure in May.

Some Democrats, such as Sen. Tom Carper (Del.), prefer raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour from its current $7.25 an hour.