United Working Families

Last updated
United Working Families
Formation2014
Headquarters Chicago, Illinois
Chair
 Stacy Davis Gates
Vice-Chair
Abbie Illenberger
Executive Director
Kennedy Bartley

United Working Families (UWF) is an independent political organization based in Chicago, Illinois. [1] It was formed in 2014 as a coalition between the Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana, Grassroots Illinois Action, and Action Now. [2] [3] Although it is not a formal political party, the organization recruits and trains political candidates and organizers, endorses and provides support to political candidates, and engages in community organizing. [1] Its stated goal is to "create space for independent politics" in Chicago and Illinois and to enact a "vision for a city and a state that provides for the many, not just the wealthy few." [4] The organization has been characterized as part of the progressive movement and the labor movement. [2] [3] [5]

Contents

Electoral politics

Municipal elections

2015 Chicago municipal elections

In 2015, UWF backed the candidacy of Jesus "Chuy" Garcia against incumbent mayor Rahm Emanuel. [2] [6] Garcia placed second in the first round and proceeded to the run-off election, where he lost to Emanuel.

The below table shows the candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2015 Chicago aldermanic election. [7]

Candidates endorsed by UWF in 2015 Chicago aldermanic election
CandidateWardStatusResultPercentage of votes won
Leslie Hairston 5IncumbentWon in first round52.55%
Roderick Sawyer 6IncumbentWon in first round56.2%
Tara Baldridge8ChallengerLost in first round15.67%
Susan Sadlowski-Garza 10ChallengerWon in run-off50.09% (run-off); 24.09% (first round)
Toni Foulkes 16Incumbent [nb 1] Won in run-off50.94% (run-off); 47.65% (first round)
David Moore17Open seatWon in first round52.93%
Ricardo Muñoz 22IncumbentWon in first round57.65%
Juanita Izirray26ChallengerLost in first round33.89%
Zerlina Smith29ChallengerLost in first round4.66%
Scott Waugespack 32IncumbentWon in first round78.95%
Tim Meegan33ChallengerLost in first round34.01%
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa 35ChallengerWon in first round67.26%
Tara Stamps37ChallengerLost in run-off46.99% (run-off); 32.13% (first round)
Nicholas Sposato 38Incumbent [nb 2] Won in first round53.58%
John Arena 45IncumbentWon in run-off53.89% (run-off); 45.46% (first round)

2019 Chicago municipal elections

UWF did not make an endorsement in the 2019 mayoral election, but did create a digital advertisement featuring activists who critiqued candidate Lori Lightfoot for actions during her tenure as president of the Chicago Police Board. [8] Lightfoot proceeded to win the election.

The below table shows the candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election. [9] [10] All endorsed candidates who won would later join the City Council's Progressive Reform Caucus.

Candidates endorsed by UWF in 2019 Chicago aldermanic election
CandidateWardStatusEarly endorsementResultPercentage of votes won
Cleopatra Watson9ChallengerNoLost in first round25.80%
Susan Sadlowski Garza 10IncumbentYesWon in first round68.82%
Tanya Patiño14ChallengerNoLost in first round29.40%
Rafael Yañez15ChallengerNoLost in run-off40.30% (run-off); 21.83% (first round)
Jeanette Taylor 20Open seatYesWon in run-off59.71% (run-off); 28.78% (first round)
Michael Rodríguez 22Open seatYesWon in first round63.80%
Byron Sigcho-Lopez 25Open seatNo [nb 3] Won in run-off54.20% (run-off); 29.23% (first round)
Rossana Rodríguez Sanchez 33ChallengerYesWon in run-off50.06% (run-off); 42.05% (first round)
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa 35IncumbentYesWon in first round59.43%
Tara Stamps37ChallengerNoLost in first round40.17%
Andre Vasquez 40ChallengerNo [nb 4] Won in run-off53.87% (run-off); 20.09% (first round)
John Arena 45IncumbentNoLost in first round36.21%
Erika Wozniak Francis46ChallengerYesLost in first round16.84%
Matt Martin 47Open seatNoWon in run-off62.50% (run-off); 39.31% (first round)
Maria Hadden 49ChallengerYesWon in first round63.37%

2023 Chicago municipal elections

In the 2023 Chicago mayoral election, UWF endorsed challenger Brandon Johnson, who previously served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Chuy García, who had received UWF's endorsement for Mayor in 2015, requested a delay in the endorsement process while he made his decision about whether to enter the race, but UWF proceeded with endorsing Johnson in September 2022, citing Garcia's unwillingness to provide a timeline for his decision. [11] Johnson was ultimately elected.

The below table shows candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2023 Chicago aldermanic election. [12]

CandidateWardStatusResult
Daniel La Spata 1IncumbentWon in general election
Khari Humphries4Open seatLost in general election
Desmon Yancy 5Open seatWon in run-off election
William Hall6Open seatWon in run-off election
Cleopatra Draper9ChallengerLost in general election
Oscar Sanchez10Open seatLost in general election
Julia Ramirez 12Open seatWon in general election
Vicko Alvarez15ChallengerLost in general election
Jeanette Taylor 20IncumbentWon in general election
Jessie Fuentes 26ChallengerWon in general election
Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez 33IncumbentWon in general election
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa 35IncumbentWon in general election
Lori Torres Whitt36ChallengerLost in run-off election
Denali Dasgupta39ChallengerLost in general election
Angela Clay 46Open seatWon in run-off election
Matt Martin 47IncumbentWon in general election
Maria Hadden 49IncumbentWon in general election
Mueze Bawany50ChallengerLost in general election

State and county elections

2018 Illinois and Cook County elections

UWF endorsed the following candidates in the 2018 Illinois elections: [13] [14]

Candidates endorsed by UWF in 2018 Illinois and Cook County elections
CandidateOfficeStatusResult
Delia Ramirez Illinois House of Representatives, 4th districtOpen seatWon in Democratic primary and general election [15]
Aaron Ortiz Illinois House of Representatives, 1st districtChallengerWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election [16]
Brandon Johnson Cook County Board of Commissioners, 1st districtChallengerWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election [17]
Alma AnayaCook County Board of Commissioners, 7th districtOpen seatWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election [18]

2020 Illinois and Cook County elections

The below table shows candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2020 Illinois elections. [19] [20] The organization also endorsed Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Party presidential primary election. [20]

Candidates endorsed by UWF in 2020 Illinois and Cook County elections
CandidateOfficeStatusResult
Kim Foxx Cook County State's Attorney Incumbent Won in Democratic primary and general election
Celina Villanueva Illinois Senate, 11th district [nb 5] Incumbent Ran unopposed in Democratic primary and general election
Robert Peters Illinois Senate, 13th districtIncumbent Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Aaron Ortiz Illinois House of Representatives, 1st districtIncumbent Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Theresa Mah Illinois House of Representatives, 2nd districtIncumbent Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Nidia CarranzaIllinois House of Representatives, 3rd districtChallenger Lost in Democratic primary
Delia Ramirez Illinois House of Representatives, 4th districtIncumbent Ran unopposed in Democratic primary and general election
Lakesia Collins Illinois House of Representatives, 9th districtOpen seat Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Will Guzzardi Illinois House of Representatives, 39th districtIncumbent Ran unopposed in Democratic primary and general election

2022 Illinois and Cook County elections

The below table shows candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2022 Illinois elections and 2022 Cook County elections. [21]

CandidateOfficeStatusResult
Delia Ramirez U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd districtOpen seat Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Robert Peters Illinois Senate, 13th districtIncumbent Won unopposed
Celina Villanueva Illinois Senate, 11th districtIncumbent Won in general election
Cristina Pacione-Zayas Illinois Senate, 20th districtIncumbent Won in general election
Theresa Mah Illinois House, 24th districtIncumbent Won unopposed
Lakesia Collins Illinois House, 9th districtIncumbent Won unopposed
Lilian JimenezIllinois House, 4th districtOpen seat Won in Democratic primary and general election
Michael RabbittIllinois House, 15th districtChallenger Lost in Democratic primary
Will Guzzardi Illinois House, 39th districtIncumbent Won unopposed
Norma HernandezIllinois House, 77th districtChallenger Won in Democratic primary and general election
Fritz Kaegi Cook County Assessor Incumbent Won in Democratic primary and general election
Brandon Johnson Cook County Board of Commissioners, 1st districtIncumbent Won unopposed
Alma AnayaCook County Board of Commissioners, 7th districtIncumbent Won unopposed
Anthony Joel QuezadaCook County Board of Commissioners, 8th districtChallenger Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election

Policy agenda

In May 2019, all UWF-endorsed candidates who won in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election (along with alderman Daniel La Spata) signed onto a legislative policy agenda entitled "Our 100 Day Plan to Reimagine Chicago." [22] [23] The agenda includes ordinances supporting public housing and affordable housing, a new real estate transfer tax, an increased minimum wage, a Community Benefits Agreement for the Obama Presidential Center, eliminating exemptions in Chicago's welcoming city ordinance, and reform of tax increment financing. [23]

In November 2019, aldermen affiliated with UWF hosted a series of town halls on the city budget, in support of their proposed alternatives to Mayor Lightfoot's budget. [24] The organization itself released a statement opposing the mayor's budget on the grounds that it lacked funding for affordable housing, failed to re-open closed mental health clinics, and did not contain sufficient progressive revenue measures. [25] On November 26, eight of the nine UWF-endorsed aldermen voted against Lightfoot's budget proposal, which passed by a vote of 39–11. [26]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, UWF worked with other community organizations and some local elected officials to create and endorse a "Right to Recovery" package at the city, county, and state levels. [27] [28] [29] The package would include paid emergency leave, emergency housing for those unable to self-quarantine, a moratorium on Immigration and Customs Enforcement check-ins, and weekly payments of $750 to families with children and workers facing layoffs and furloughs. [29] [30]

On September 11, 2024, three City Council committee chairs and the president of the Fraternal Order of Police called for the firing of mayoral aide Kennedy Bartley, the former executive director of United Working Families, for using the term "f---ing pigs" to describe police and talking openly about defunding or abolishing the police. [31]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Foulkes was previously the alderman of the 15th ward, but ran in the 16th ward due to redistricting.
  2. ↑ Sposato was previously the alderman of the 36th ward, but ran in the 38th ward due to redistricting.
  3. ↑ Endorsed after the first round.
  4. ↑ Endorsed after the first round.
  5. ↑ Villanueva was initially endorsed when she was the incumbent State Representative for the 13th district and running for re-election in that seat. On January 7, 2020, she was appointed to fill a vacancy in the State Senate seat for 11th district.

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References

  1. 1 2 "What We Do". United Working Families. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  2. 1 2 3 Farmer, Stephanie; Noonan, Sean (2019-11-13). "Chicago Unions Building a Left-Labor-Community Coalition, United Working Families, to Restore Working-Class Democracy". Labor Studies Journal. 44 (4): 388–395. doi:10.1177/0160449X19887244. ISSN   0160-449X. S2CID   210490217.
  3. 1 2 Uetricht, Micah (2015-04-06). "Meet Rahm Emanuel's Other Election Day Challenger". The Nation. ISSN   0027-8378 . Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  4. ↑ "2018 Convention Agenda and Resolution". United Working Families. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  5. ↑ Bartlett, Rob (2014-10-23). "Two Years after the CTU Strike: "Reform" Plague Still Spreads". solidarity-us.org. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  6. ↑ "Can the Working Families Party succeed in America?". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  7. ↑ "Endorsements | United Working Families". 2015-03-03. Archived from the original on 2015-03-03. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  8. ↑ "New Ad Targets Lightfoot For Failing To Discipline Cops While On Police Board". 2019-03-30. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  9. ↑ "Endorsements". United Working Families. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  10. ↑ United Working Families. "Very proud to announce that Byron Sigcho Lopez for 25th Ward Alderman and Andre Vasquez, 40th Ward are joining our slate of candidates running to win a Chicago #ForTheMany". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  11. ↑ Spielman, Fran (2022-09-29). "Sorry, Chuy: Chicago Teachers Union, United Working Families endorse Brandon Johnson for mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  12. ↑ "2023 Endorsements". United Working Families. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
  13. ↑ "United Working Families Announces 2018 Candidate Slate". United Working Families. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  14. ↑ "United Working Families Adds Endorsements to 2018 Candidate Slate". United Working Families. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  15. ↑ "Delia Ramirez". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  16. ↑ "Aaron Ortiz". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  17. ↑ "Brandon Johnson (Illinois)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  18. ↑ "Alma Anaya". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  19. ↑ Foxx, Kim (2019-11-22). "Thank you to @UWFIllinois for their support for my re-election for State's Attorney! We've got lots more work to do in Cook County to reform justice and make our communities safer and fairer for all residents, and I'm proud to have you as a partner in this fight once again.pic.twitter.com/q0MaxDeQ2k". @KimFoxxforSA. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  20. 1 2 "2020 Endorsements". United Working Families. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  21. ↑ "2022 Endorsements". United Working Families. Archived from the original on 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  22. ↑ "Our 100 Day Plan to Reimagine Chicago". United Working Families. 2019-05-16. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  23. 1 2 Pratt, Gregory (2019-05-15). "Incoming progressive aldermen lay out agenda for 1st 100 days of Lightfoot administration: 'It's a new day in Chicago'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
  24. ↑ Smith, Ryan (2019-11-15). "Tax revenue should go to affordable housing, not megadevelopments, aldermen say". Curbed Chicago. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  25. ↑ "UWF Statement on 2020 Chicago Budget". United Working Families. 2019-11-26. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
  26. ↑ Spielman, Fran (2019-11-26). "City Council approves Lightfoot's $11.6 billion budget — with 11 'no' votes". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  27. ↑ Hinton, Rachel (2020-03-23). "State, local lawmakers propose 'right to recovery' coronavirus relief package". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  28. ↑ Rodriguez, Rossana; Ramirez-Rosa, Carlos; Sigcho Lopez, Byron; La Spata, Daniel; Taylor, Jeanette (2020-03-16). "If we want everybody to stay home during a coronavirus crisis, we need deep change to make that possible". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  29. 1 2 United Working Families. "Recovery For All Package". actionnetwork.org. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  30. ↑ Freund, Sara (2020-03-17). "Chicago leaders ask for immediate moratorium on evictions, utility shut-offs, and housing court". Curbed Chicago. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  31. ↑ Speilman, Fran (2024-09-11). "Three City Council leaders demand ouster of top mayoral aide who called police 'f---ing pigs'". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
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