Our strength is the sum of our parts,  GET INVOLVED TODAY! 

Illinois AFL-CIO 2022 General Election Endorsements - CLICK HERE
Early Voting Information - CLICK HERE
Illinois AFL-CIO 
2020/2021 Voting Record is here!

Click the image for a PDF copy of the 
Illinois AFL-CIO 2020 / 2021 Voting Record


Political

The Illinois AFL-CIO Political Department seeks to educate, engage and mobilize the more than two million people from union families on issues, candidates and policies. With 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 or rallies and public events, to ensure working families receive information crucial in making decisions concerning elections and laws that affect their everyday lives.

Labor 2023

The Illinois AFL-CIO supports the efforts of the local labor councils to elect local office-holders who will protect and advance the cause of working families through planning and executing education and voter contact programs on the local level. Union members are a very effective voice for working families.  Hundreds of union members hold local, state and federal offices in Illinois and special priority is placed on making sure endorsed union members are elected at all levels in Illinois.    

If you would like to help volunteer for this effort e-mail Illinois AFL-CIO Political Director, Bill Looby, at BillL@ilafl-cio.org.

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 ensures that the full diversity of the labor movement and regional diversity of Illinois is reflected in the process.  The Illinois AFL-CIO Executive Board reviews and votes on final endorsements.  Click here for a copy of the 2020-2021 Voting Record.  

Accountability
Office-holders are held accountable by the labor movement through tracking their actions on key issues that affect 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 Labor 2020.  COPE Chairs convene regional meetings to provide endorsement recommendations and carry out the state federation political program.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COPE CHAIRS

 DISTRICT 1 
Candis Castillo
SEIU
  DISTRICT 2 
Adrienne Alexander
AFSCME
 DISTRICT 3 
Lauren Lucchesi
IFT-CTU
 DISTRICT 4 
Moises Zavala
UFCW
  DISTRICT 5 
Carlos Ginard
Workers United - SEIU
 DISTRICT 6 
Jane  Russell 
IFT
  DISTRICT 7 
Lotonia Marshall
UNITE HERE
  DISTRICT 8 
Mike Cudzik, Chair
Luis Rivas, V. Chair
IBEW / NALC
  DISTRICT 9 
 John  Cusick
IFT
 DISTRICT 10 
Vacant
Vacant
 DISTRICT 13 
Joanna Webb Gauvin
Dean Webb, V. Chair
AFSCME / IAM
  DISTRICT 11 
Mark Guethle
IUPAT
 DISTRICT 14 
Vacant
Vacant
  DISTRICT 12 
Glyn Ramage
LIUNA
 DISTRICT 15 
Brad Beisner, Chair
John Miller, V. Chair
IBEW / IFT
  DISTRICT 16 
Brad Williams, Chair
Jay Ferraro, V. Chair
IBEW / AFSCME
 DISTRICT 17 
Rob Bern
UAW


For more information, contact Illinois AFL-CIO Political Director - Bill Looby at 217-492-2612