CWA Activists Help Deliver Election Victories for Working Families

Mississippi

CWA activists played a key role in the re-election of Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, and also worked with coalition partners on 10 targeted legislative races. Results that will determine which party controls the Mississippi House were too close to call as the CWA Newsletter was published.

CWA is the biggest union in Mississippi, and CWAers played an important role turning out voters Nov. 8.

Despite activists' best efforts, Mississippi voters adopted a voter ID requirement. CWA is working hard to stop voter suppression, which disproportionately is affecting college students, older Americans and people of color.

Brenda Scott, president of the Mississippi Alliance of State Employees-CWA Local 3570, crisscrossed the state to make sure members knew what was at stake.

"Under Governor Haley Barbour, state workers saw their retirement security, jobs and health care attacked," she said. "We can't separate the work we do as public employees from the politics of this state. We're proud of the work we do every day, serving the people of Mississippi, and that's why we're standing up for our jobs, our families and our communities."

Kim Sadler, president of CWA Local 3511, said activists focused on worksites in Jackson and mid-state, leafleting and getting information to members about ballot issues and candidates.

"If we're going to turn around this economy and improve conditions for working families, we have to make our voices heard loud and clear. That's why this and every election are important," Sadler said.

Kentucky

In Kentucky, CWA's Legislative-Political Action Team made all the difference, helping CWA-backed candidates sweep all statewide offices with the exception of the Agriculture Commissioner.

Democratic Governor Steve Beshear won big, and Democrat Jack Conway was elected attorney general, a race that was a big focus for CWA. LPAT leaders Barue Wilson, Local 3310, and Steve Wimsatt, IUE-CWA Local 83761, energized activists and members for months leading up to the Nov. 8 elections.

Activists distributed more than 23,000 leaflets at worksites, in addition to member mailings and nearly 22,000 robo-calls. Wilson said the team worked to visit as many worksites as possible and turned out members for neighborhood walks and get-out-the-vote activities through email blasts and other communications. "Our coalition work and our retiree support made a huge difference, along with activists from CWA Locals 4400 and 4401, who covered northern Kentucky," he said.

Wimsatt and Art Stone of IUE-CWA local 83701 focused on IUE-CWA members at the Louisville and Madisonville GE plants, with worksite leafleting and mailings a big part of the effort.

Showing just how effective CWA's political program in Kentucky is, every Democratic candidate running for statewide office came to meet with local presidents at CWA's most recent state meeting.

New Jersey

New Jersey voters elected a number of progressive Democrats, despite Governor Christie's attempt to create a blank-check legislature for the rest of his term. Democrats maintained their numbers in the state Senate and picked up an additional seat in the Assembly to strengthen their majority.

CWA New Jersey Director Hetty Rosenstein said hundreds of CWA members volunteered their time to make more than 126,000 phone calls, knock on tens of thousands of doors and pass out thousands of leaflets.

Maine

In a big victory for voting rights and democracy, voters by a wide margin rejected the GOP attempt to eliminate Maine's same-day voter registration.

Iowa

Democrat Liz Mathis won a special election for an open Senate seat, keeping Iowa's Senate in Democratic control.

Michigan

Voters recalled Republican Rep. Paul Scott, who voted to cut $1 billion from schools, tax pensions and give more tax cuts to corporations. The last time a Michigan legislator was recalled was in 1983.

Virginia

Control of the state Senate hangs on the recount of a single race. If Republicans take the seat, they will control the governor's office and both legislative chambers.