The Illinois AFL-CIO says labor-endorsed candidates won across Illinois in Tuesday's election, from Congress to county boards, following what the union federation described as one of the largest voter engagement programs in the state.
In a release issued November 3, the organization said its statewide program reached more than 1.4 million voters. Union members knocked on doors, made phone calls and sent texts, resulting in conversations with 38,000 voters, the release said, while more than a million voters received mail and digital ads.
"Voters sent a clear message tonight: they want leaders who will stand up to the corporations rigging our economy," said Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea in the release.
Drea congratulated labor-endorsed winners including Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen.-elect Juliana Stratton, the state's congressional delegation and lawmakers the federation said will hold supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly.
"From Washington, D.C. to the county board, the labor endorsement was one of the most sought-after in this election, and it made a difference," Drea said. He credited union members who "gave up their evenings and weekends to talk with their coworkers and neighbors."
Drea said the federation looks forward to working with the newly elected leaders on an agenda that includes raising wages, creating union jobs, protecting retirement security and keeping workers safe on the job.
The Illinois AFL-CIO says it represents 900,000 union members across 1,500 affiliated unions in the state. A full list of endorsed candidates is available at www.ilaflcio.org.
Source: the original release