Thursday was contrarian day in the race for the 17th Congressional District: GOP incumbent Bobby Schilling was endorsed by a usually pro-Democratic union, while his Democratic opponent, Cheri Bustos, won the approval of a Republican politician.

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 is backing the Colona congressman because of his “strong support for the working and middle class and his independent voting record,” James M. Sweeney, the union’s president and business manager, said in a news release.

Former Peoria Mayor Lowell “Bud” Grieves, a Republican, says Bustos is the woman for the job.