The Illinois AFL-CIO says labor-endorsed candidates won decisively across Illinois in Tuesday's election, from Congress to county boards, following what it called one of the largest voter engagement programs in the state.
In a release issued Nov. 3, the labor federation said its statewide program reached more than 1.4 million voters. The union said members knocked on doors, made phone calls and sent texts, resulting in conversations with 38,000 voters, and that its mail and digital ads reached more than a million voters.
"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, naming Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen.-elect Juliana Stratton, what he called the state's "pro-worker Congressional delegation," and labor-endorsed lawmakers he 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. "That's because of the union members who gave up their evenings and weekends to talk with their coworkers and neighbors."
The release said the union looks to work 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.
A full list of endorsed candidates is available at www.ilaflcio.org. The Illinois AFL-CIO says it represents 900,000 union members across 1,500 affiliated unions in the state.
Source: the original release