Why I'm An Activist: Kara Hutchason

I’ve been the legislative chairwoman of CWA Local 6316 for 11 years, and this is going to be one of the most difficult elections we’ve ever had in Missouri. This is the first real opportunity to turn the state blue, so it’s going to be very difficult.

I’ve got an uphill fight.

Every vote counts. Everyone needs to get out and vote. We’re telling the middle class to vote with their best interests in mind. We’re actively working with Jobs with Justice to do get-out-the vote drives in minority communities. We’re hand billing work sites and doing labor walks to get the word out. As we get closer to election time, we’ll be setting up phone banks.

Sen. Claire McCaskill is fighting to hang on to her seat against GOP Rep. Todd Akin. Every labor union is concentrating on McCaskill’s race. She’s ahead in the polls, but it’s still going to be a fight even after Akin dropped that “legitimate rape” comment.

We’re also behind Congressmen Lacy Clay and Emanuel Cleaver – they’re our rocks. They’re always with us. On every major labor bill, they’ve been rock solid.

Our focus is jobs. This election, we’re trying to keep jobs and bring jobs back home. On flyers, we’re highlighting all the jobs-killing bills Akin supported versus McCaskill’s bills to guarantee American jobs. She’s clearly the better option.

This is a major opportunity to drive some independent voters toward the Democratic ticket.