Sacramento, CA – SEIU members played a decisive role in boosting candidates committed to workers and our communities over corporate-backed politicians. SEIU members work hard to elect candidates who share our values, stick up for workers, and believe in investing in our next generation.
Statewide Races
Regarding Rob Bonta, Attorney General
“Re-electing Rob Bonta as Attorney General is a top priority for SEIU’s 700,000 California members because the office has such a wide-ranging and powerful role in enforcing California’s laws and upholding our values as Californians,” said Joseph Bryant, a Workforce Development Specialist for the City and County of San Francisco and SEIU 1021 President. “We know that Bonta will enforce the laws that protect workers and fight corporate abuses of power. He will stand up for women’s reproductive freedom, and work to achieve greater equity in our justice system.”
Regarding Malia Cohen, State Controller
“California’s controller watches out for the money that California invests in our kids, our future, and the public programs that make our communities stronger. The Controller also safeguards the retirement savings of millions of public workers,” said Steven Alari, a Business Tax Specialist, member of SEIU Local 1000, and District Labor Council 723 President. “SEIU members will work hard to elect Malia in November because she believes as we do that California’s dollars must be instruments of equity and justice; electing a Black woman in this pivotal role for the first time means California will better reflect the diversity of our state.
These SEIU-CA endorsed candidates also took leading positions going into the November general election:
- Gavin Newsom, Governor
- Alex Padilla, U.S. Senate
- Eleni Kounalakis, Lt. Governor
- Dr. Shirley Weber, Secretary of State
- Fiona Ma, State Treasurer
- Ricardo Lara, Insurance Commissioner
- Tony Thurmond, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Congress
Robert Garcia, CD 42: “Robert Garcia will fight for our communities because he has walked in our shoes,” said Datosha Williams, a Service Representative Kaiser-South Bay, and SEIU-UHW Executive Board Member. “He came to the U.S. with his mom at the age of five and he stands out as a leader who fought for immigrant children and families to stay together. Losing his mom, a health care worker, and his stepdad to COVID, Robert knows the risks frontline workers and our communities face and we know he’ll be a champion for us in the House just like he has been as Mayor.”
Assembly & Senate
“When working people stand together, we win, and we can beat the corporations and the billionaires who spend millions of dollars to influence elections. We know that the candidates pushed by drug companies, oil companies, and corporate landlords won’t represent us. That’s why we spent countless hours making phone calls, knocking on doors, and sending texts for the candidates that we as a union endorsed,” said Leilani Reed, a Care Provider, and SEIU 2015 Executive Board Member.
Some of the closely watched races in which SEIU members endorsed and fought for strong champions for working people include:
- Tim Robertson, SD 4
- Dave Jones, SD 8
- Aisha Wahab, SD 10
- Lola Smallwood Cuevas, SD 28
- Catherine Blakespear, SD 38
- Alex Lee, AD 24
- Esmerelda Soria, AD 27
- Pilar Schiavo, AD 40
- Tina McKinnor, AD 61
- Georgette Gomez, AD 80
SEIU members in California meet with the candidates and discuss key issues before making their selections on candidate endorsements.
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