Political

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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 2022

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. We will be posting a timeline for elections in 2022 soon.

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.

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. Click this link for a copy of the 2018-2019 Voting Record.

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.