Union Members Jazzed in Crucial Special Congressional Elections

by Seth Michaels, Mar 7, 2008

Momentum is building in the key special congressional elections set for coming days in Indiana and Illinois.

In the open seat in Indiana’s 7th House District, AFL-CIO–endorsed Democrat André Carson is working alongside labor to win this key race. Indianapolis-area union members have made more than 14,000 phone calls, knocked on more than 1,200 doors and are getting the message out via newsletters, worksite fliers and messages from labor leaders.

Carson is the grandson of the late Rep. Julia Carson, who represented the 7th District from 1997 to her passing last year. Julia Carson was a UAW member, and André Carson points to his labor roots as a reason why he’s committed to pro-working family policies like improving health care, protecting Social Security and passing the Employee Free Choice Act.

Ken Zeller, President of the Indiana AFL-CIO, says the mobilization campaign will continue in the closing days before the March 11 special election. Every day from here to the election, union members will take part in phone banks and worksite visits. Union activists also will provide rides to the polls.

Lettie Oliver, president of the Central Indiana Central Labor Council, says she’s enthusiastic about Carson’s chances and about his commitment to working families.

A unified labor movement has been working long hours to send André Carson to Washington, D.C. André Carson came from labor, and we know he will be with us on all our issues when he is elected to represent Indiana CD 7 on March 11th. And we are going to be working day and night over the next 5 days to make sure that happens.

Meanwhile, in Illinois’ 14th House District, tomorrow is the big day for Bill Foster, the Illinois AFL-CIO’s choice to fill the seat of departing Rep. Dennis Hastert, whose tenure as House speaker ended after the 2006 elections. Recent polls have shown Foster, a Democrat, doing well in this traditionally Republican district. The stage is set for an upset win by Foster over reactionary perennial candidate, Jim Oberweis, who has dumped millions of his own dollars into yet another race. Illinois’ unions have provided Foster the support he needs to turn over this seat.

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Paid for by the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Political Contributions Committee, www.aflcio.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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