The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce has endorsed L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar’s re-election bid against challenger Gloria Molina, Huizar’s campaign announced Thursday.

Huizar, who has held the downtown and eastside seat since 2005, is facing off against Molina, a former county supervisor, in what promises to be the most expensive and bitterly contested election on March’s city primary ballot.

“Councilmember Jose Huizar has shown vision, leadership and tenacity in driving critical residential and commercial economic development and job creation throughout his entire district,” chamber Chief Executive Gary Toebben said in issuing the endorsement.

Huizar also received the endorsement of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which represents more than 300 local unions.

While getting the support of both business and labor groups is usually considered a major boost to a campaign, it can sometimes backfire. Former L.A. Councilwoman and city Controller Wendy Greuel had difficulty reconciling the often opposing positions of business and labor in her failed bid for L.A. mayor last year.

Huizar had been considered a virtual lock for re-election until Molina declared her candidacy in early September. Molina was just termed out at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Prior to joining the board in 1991, Molina served a four-year term on the L.A. City Council, representing much of L.A.’s Eastside.