AFSCME members hit the streets and help deliver wins for pro-worker candidates

The results of Tuesday’s elections send a clear message, in Illinois and throughout the nation: Working people are fed up with falling behind.

“On Tuesday, working people sent a powerful message that the status quo isn’t working for us and our families,” said Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch. “The national policies that are driving up the cost of living while giving handouts to the ultra-rich are leaving us behind. America voted for change, and that’s what we expect to see.”

The mandate delivered by voters means fixing our rigged economy to make life affordable for working people and retirees. It means fully funding public services and restoring cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and other services made by the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” And it means strengthening and expanding workers’ rights to ensure everyone has the freedom to join a union and collectively bargain for fair pay, good benefits and safe working conditions.

AFSCME members knew how much was at stake in this election. Our jobs, health care, retirement security, and our freedom to join a union have all been under attack over the last two years. 

So we did what we do best: We organized and hit the streets.

Hundreds of AFSCME members and retirees volunteered for pro-worker, pro-union candidates throughout Illinois and in crucial elections in our neighboring states of Iowa and Michigan. We knocked on doors, made phone calls and sent postcards to voters. Those efforts helped deliver big wins for candidates who will put working people first. 

And thousands more AFSCME members across the country volunteered their energy and effort to drive people to the polls in support of pro-worker candidates in New Mexico, Ohio, Nevada, Texas, Arizona and many other states, delivering huge wins for pro-worker candidates up and down the ballot.