SEIU 775, SEIU 925, SEIU 1199NW, Teamsters 117, and UFCW 3000 all give sole endorsements to Emily Randall for Congress
BREMERTON, WA— Today, a collection of labor unions representing tens of thousands of workers across Washington state gave their sole endorsements to State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Emily Randall in the race for the open 6th Congressional District.
The following locals announced their support for Emily Randall:
* SEIU 775 – representing long term care workers
* SEIU Local 925 – representing child care and public education workers
* SEIU Healthcare 1199NW – representing healthcare and behavioral health workers
* Teamsters Local 117 – representing workers in many industries including in warehouses, light manufacturing, public sector, drivers, and public safety
* UFCW 3000 – representing workers in grocery, health care, cannabis, retail, and processing
These unions join previous labor endorsements of Emily from IAM Machinists 751, the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE, AFSCME Council 28), UA Local 32 Plumbers and Pipefitters, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 66. These endorsing unions are some of the largest in the state, and their combined membership in Washington totals more than 200,000 workers. The combined endorsements make Emily the candidate with the largest number of labor union members backing her.
Statement from Sterling Harders, President of SEIU 775:
“A former caregiver herself, Emily Randall has been a true champion for long-term care workers, fighting to improve the quality of care for seniors and people with disabilities and create good living wage jobs for caregivers. We are excited to have Emily bring her experience and skills to Washington to fight for long-term care workers and all working families.”
Statement from Carrie Nielsen of Port Orchard, SEIU 925 member and South Kitsap School District bus driver:
“When COVID hit, Emily fought to make sure school bus drivers like me got unemployment so we could keep a roof over our heads and be ready to support kids when schools reopened. I’m proud that my union is endorsing Emily Randall for United States Congress!”
Statement from Jane Hopkins, RN, President of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW:
“Healthcare workers and the patients we care for are still reeling from a global pandemic and the corporate mismanagement that’s made delivering care even more tenuous.
“Emily Randall has been at our side, putting patients and workers at the front of our State’s work. She fought with us to enact a historic hospital staffing law, championed protecting access to reproductive health when health systems merge, drove major investments in our State’s behavioral health system and so much more.
“We are proud to endorse Emily for Congress and are ready to send a healthcare champion to the other Washington.”
Statement from Paul Dascher, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 117:
“Teamsters Local 117 represents over 17,000 people at over 200 employers across Washington – many in the 6th Congressional District. We need elected officials who understand our issues and will fight for our members in Congress. That’s why we’re backing Emily Randall. Emily Randall has fought for us in Olympia, and we know she’ll do the same in Washington, DC. She is the labor champion our communities need.”
Statement from Faye Guenther, President of UFCW 3000:
“Senator Emily Randall has stood up time and time again for workers, particularly for better patient safety and hospital staffing. She has led the fight in our state to hold hospitals accountable to providing the best community standards of care. We need to send someone to Congress who is going to take that same energy to hold corporations accountable, just as she has done here in our state.”
Emily’s labor backing continues the momentum of her campaign over the past few months, joining recent endorsements by the Pierce County Democrats, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, and Senator Patty Murray. Earlier this week she received the endorsement of Congresswoman Katie Porter of California, and last week was awarded the 2024 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction
“Like many in the 6th Congressional District, I grew up in a hardworking Union household. My mom is a paraeducator at South Kitsap High School, my dad was a shipfitter at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, my brother is a Teamster, and my wife is an apprentice carpenter. I’m so proud to receive the endorsements of SEIU 775, SEIU 925, SEIU 1199, Teamsters 117, and UFCW 3000,” said Deputy Majority Leader Emily Randall. “My Union family didn’t always have it easy. But I saw my parents and my neighbors work hard, and I learned those lessons. That’s why I’ve spent my career finding common-sense, practical solutions to the problems our communities face, fighting alongside working people and Union members to ensure we all have the tools we need to build our own futures. I am running for Congress to continue to fight for good Union jobs for working families, and I look forward to working hand in hand with labor if I am elected.”
Emily’s campaign also released a poll last month that shows Emily in a commanding double-digit lead over opponent Franz after voters learn basic information about the three candidates in the race. Read the polling memo HERE for more information.
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Deputy Majority Leader Emily Randall’s campaign for Congress has received over 300 endorsements, including Senator Patty Murray and Representatives Marilyn Strickland, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Katie Porter, Becca Balint, Robert Garcia, Linda Sanchez, Mark Takano, and Ritchie Torres, Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, Washington State Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, Washington State Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins, and 60 current and former Washington elected officials.
Randall has also received the endorsements of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), District 751, the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE), UA Local 32 Plumbers and Pipefitters, Equality PAC, Human Rights Campaign PAC, The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, South Kitsap Professional Firefighters, Bremerton Firefighters, Sheet Metal Workers Local 66, OneAmerica Votes, PODER PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC, Latino Victory Fund, and the Pierce County Democrats. She was also awarded the 2024 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction.
The 6th Congressional District spans from Tacoma to the Olympic Peninsula, and has been represented by Congressman Derek Kilmer since 2013. On November 9, 2023, Kilmer announced his retirement. If elected, Emily Randall, a third generation Washingtonian and 25 year resident of the district, would be the first LGBTQ+ Latina ever elected to the United States Congress.
