Political
The Illinois AFL-CIO Political Department seeks to educate, engage, and mobilize the more than two million union family members in Illinois on issues, candidates, and policies. To engage members in all areas of the state, the Illinois AFL-CIO uses person-to-person contact at the worksite or home, direct mail, social media, rallies, and other public events to ensure working families receive information crucial in making decisions concerning elections and laws that affect their everyday lives.
Labor 2024
The Illinois AFL-CIO supports the efforts of the local labor councils to elect endorsed candidates who will protect and advance the cause of working families. Our Labor program supports CLCs and affiliates in planning and executing education and voter contact programs on the local level. Union members are a very effective voice for working families. Special priority is placed on making sure endorsed union members are elected at all levels in Illinois – as a result, hundreds of union members hold local, state, and federal offices in Illinois.
If you would like to help volunteer for this effort, e-mail Illinois AFL-CIO Political Director, Bill Looby, at [email protected].
Endorsements
The Illinois AFL-CIO makes endorsements for state and federal candidates and ballot initiatives including U.S. Senate, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, U.S. Congress, State Legislature, Supreme and Appellate courts. These endorsement recommendations are voted on by the statewide Committee on Political Education (COPE), made up of representatives from all affiliated unions, statewide councils and regional AFL-CIO organizations. This process ensures the full diversity of the labor movement and regional diversity of Illinois is reflected in our endorsements. The Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board reviews and votes on final endorsements.
Our Central Labor Councils make endorsements at the local level, including mayoral and city council races.
Accountability
Officeholders are held accountable by the labor movement through tracking their actions on key issues that impact working families after they are elected. Issues that affect all working people are included in the voting record. A grade is assigned to each legislator or congressperson based on their level of support for working people.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COPE CHAIRS
Congressional District COPE Chairs (listed below) represent across the union spectrum and from all areas of the state. The political arm of the Illinois AFL-CIO is moving forward with plans for upcoming Labor programs. COPE Chairs convene regional meetings to provide endorsement recommendations and carry out the state federation political program.
DISTRICT 1
Candis Castillo
SEIU
DISTRICT 2
Open
DISTRICT 3
Lori Torres Whitt
IFT-CTU
DISTRICT 4
Moises Zavala
UFCW
DISTRICT 5
Carlos Ginard
Workers United – SEIU
DISTRICT 6
John Miller
IFT
DISTRICT 7
Lotonia Marshall
UNITE HERE
DISTRICT 8
Mike Cudzik
IBEW
DISTRICT 9
Adrienne Alexander
AFSCME
DISTRICT 10
Matt Muchowski
AFGE
DISTRICT 11
Mark Guethle
IUPAT
DISTRICT 12
Glyn Ramage
LIUNA
DISTRICT 13
Joanna Webb Gauvin
AFSCME
DISTRICT 14
Jaren Ploger
IFT
DISTRICT 15
Brad Beisner
IBEW
DISTRICT 16
Brad Williams
IBEW
DISTRICT 17
Rob Bern
UAW
For more information, contact Illinois AFL-CIO Political Director – Bill Looby at 217-492-2612