United Working Families
Formation2014
HeadquartersChicago, 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]

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
Candidate Ward Status Result Percentage of votes won
Leslie Hairston 5 Incumbent Won in first round 52.55%
Roderick Sawyer 6 Incumbent Won in first round 56.2%
Tara Baldridge 8 Challenger Lost in first round 15.67%
Susan Sadlowski-Garza 10 Challenger Won in run-off 50.09% (run-off); 24.09% (first round)
Toni Foulkes 16 Incumbent[nb 1] Won in run-off 50.94% (run-off); 47.65% (first round)
David Moore 17 Open seat Won in first round 52.93%
Ricardo Muñoz 22 Incumbent Won in first round 57.65%
Juanita Izirray 26 Challenger Lost in first round 33.89%
Zerlina Smith 29 Challenger Lost in first round 4.66%
Scott Waugespack 32 Incumbent Won in first round 78.95%
Tim Meegan 33 Challenger Lost in first round 34.01%
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa 35 Challenger Won in first round 67.26%
Tara Stamps 37 Challenger Lost in run-off 46.99% (run-off); 32.13% (first round)
Nicholas Sposato 38 Incumbent[nb 2] Won in first round 53.58%
John Arena 45 Incumbent Won in run-off 53.89% (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
Candidate Ward Status Early endorsement Result Percentage of votes won
Cleopatra Watson 9 Challenger No Lost in first round 25.80%
Susan Sadlowski Garza 10 Incumbent Yes Won in first round 68.82%
Tanya Patiño 14 Challenger No Lost in first round 29.40%
Rafael Yañez 15 Challenger No Lost in run-off 40.30% (run-off); 21.83% (first round)
Jeanette Taylor 20 Open seat Yes Won in run-off 59.71% (run-off); 28.78% (first round)
Michael Rodríguez 22 Open seat Yes Won in first round 63.80%
Byron Sigcho-Lopez 25 Open seat No[nb 3] Won in run-off 54.20% (run-off); 29.23% (first round)
Rossana Rodríguez Sanchez 33 Challenger Yes Won in run-off 50.06% (run-off); 42.05% (first round)
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa 35 Incumbent Yes Won in first round 59.43%
Tara Stamps 37 Challenger No Lost in first round 40.17%
Andre Vasquez 40 Challenger No[nb 4] Won in run-off 53.87% (run-off); 20.09% (first round)
John Arena 45 Incumbent No Lost in first round 36.21%
Erika Wozniak Francis 46 Challenger Yes Lost in first round 16.84%
Matt Martin 47 Open seat No Won in run-off 62.50% (run-off); 39.31% (first round)
Maria Hadden 49 Challenger Yes Won in first round 63.37%

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]

Candidate Ward Status Result
Daniel La Spata 1 Incumbent Won in general election
Khari Humphries 4 Open seat Lost in general election
Desmon Yancy 5 Open seat Won in run-off election
William Hall 6 Open seat Won in run-off election
Cleopatra Draper 9 Challenger Lost in general election
Oscar Sanchez 10 Open seat Lost in general election
Julia Ramirez 12 Open seat Won in general election
Vicko Alvarez 15 Challenger Lost in general election
Jeanette Taylor 20 Incumbent Won in general election
Jessie Fuentes 26 Challenger Won in general election
Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez 33 Incumbent Won in general election
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa 35 Incumbent Won in general election
Lori Torres Whitt 36 Challenger Lost in run-off election
Denali Dasgupta 39 Challenger Lost in general election
Angela Clay 46 Open seat Won in run-off election
Matt Martin 47 Incumbent Won in general election
Maria Hadden 49 Incumbent Won in general election
Mueze Bawany 50 Challenger Lost 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
Candidate Office Status Result
Delia Ramirez Illinois House of Representatives, 4th district Open seat Won in Democratic primary and general election[15]
Aaron Ortiz Illinois House of Representatives, 1st district Challenger Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election[16]
Brandon Johnson Cook County Board of Commissioners, 1st district Challenger Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election[17]
Alma Anaya Cook County Board of Commissioners, 7th district Open seat Won 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
Candidate Office Status Result
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 district Incumbent Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Aaron Ortiz Illinois House of Representatives, 1st district Incumbent Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Theresa Mah Illinois House of Representatives, 2nd district Incumbent Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Nidia Carranza Illinois House of Representatives, 3rd district Challenger Lost in Democratic primary
Delia Ramirez Illinois House of Representatives, 4th district Incumbent Ran unopposed in Democratic primary and general election
Lakesia Collins Illinois House of Representatives, 9th district Open seat Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Will Guzzardi Illinois House of Representatives, 39th district Incumbent 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]

Candidate Office Status Result
Delia Ramirez U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd district Open seat Won in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election
Robert Peters Illinois Senate, 13th district Incumbent Won unopposed
Celina Villanueva Illinois Senate, 11th district Incumbent Won in general election
Cristina Pacione-Zayas Illinois Senate, 20th district Incumbent Won in general election
Theresa Mah Illinois House, 24th district Incumbent Won unopposed
Lakesia Collins Illinois House, 9th district Incumbent Won unopposed
Lilian Jimenez Illinois House, 4th district Open seat Won in Democratic primary and general election
Michael Rabbitt Illinois House, 15th district Challenger Lost in Democratic primary
Will Guzzardi Illinois House, 39th district Incumbent Won unopposed
Norma Hernandez Illinois House, 77th district Challenger 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 district Incumbent Won unopposed
Alma Anaya Cook County Board of Commissioners, 7th district Incumbent Won unopposed
Anthony Joel Quezada Cook County Board of Commissioners, 8th district Challenger 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]

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.

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.
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