Lone Star Labor: Charting a new path for Texas politics

Our union-first candidates running for elected office are charting a new path for Texas politics! And it’s all because of you.

In June 2025, our union delegates passed a resolution calling for the Texas AFL-CIO to recruit, equip, and empower Texas union members to run for office. In Oct. 2025, we held our first Labor Candidate School and graduated our first class of 16 members! 

Then, just weeks ago, now-State Senator Taylor Rehmet, a veteran and the president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Texas State Council, kicked off this wave of union candidates when he became the first rank-and-file member to ever serve in the Texas Senate. Taylor is also a graduate of our Ruth Ellinger Leadership Academy!

Now, more union members are running for office than ever before, and they’re winning!

Union-first candidate wins:

• Texas Supreme Court, Place 1: Maggie Ellis, Member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) 1624 and Texas State Employees Union (TSEU), Communications Workers of America (CWA) 6186
• U.S. House, District 27 (Victoria/Austin): Tanya Lloyd, Member of Texas AFT
• Texas House, District 28 (Richmond): Sandy Ibáñez, Member of Fort Bend AFT
• Texas House, District 47 (Austin): Pooja Sethi, Member of TSEU (CWA 6186)

Union-first candidates in the May 26 runoff election: 

• Texas House, District 49 (Austin): Montserrat Garibay, Former Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer; Member of Education Austin
• Texas House, District 125 (San Antonio): Adrian Reyna, Member of San Antonio Alliance

Union-first candidates in races that haven’t been officially called: 

• Lieutenant Governor: Marcos Vélez, Assistant Director of United Steelworkers (USW) District 13
• Texas House, District 50 (Austin): Jeremy Hendricks, Assistant Business Manager, SWLDC, LIUNA
• Texas House, District 142 (Houston): Danyahel (Danny) Norris, Member of AFSCME HOPE 123

Union-first candidates automatically heading to the General Election: 

• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9: Holly Taylor, Member of AFSCME Texas Retiree Chapter 12
• U.S. House, District 19 (Lubbock): Kyle Rable, Member of TSEU (CWA 6186)
• Texas Senate, District 9 (Fort Worth): Taylor Rehmet(incumbent), President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Texas State Council
• Texas House, District 70 (Dallas): Mihaela Plesa (incumbent), Member of TSEU (CWA 6186)
• Texas House, District 146 (Houston): Lauren Ashley Simmons(incumbent), Member of TSEU (CWA 6186) & CWA 1180

Other statewide Texas AFL-CIO endorsement wins included Gina Hinojosa for Governor and Sarah Eckhardt for Comptroller of Public Accounts, both members of TSEU (CWA 6186). The Texas AFL-CIO also endorsed Nathan Johnson for Attorney General, who is projected to head to a runoff.

What comes next? 

The Texas AFL-CIO will continue its electoral work to grow union-first wins in the May 26 Primary Runoff! Stay tuned for ways to take action! 

AS GOES TEXAS LABOR...

Austin: Austin council to vote on efficiency overhaul amid budget crisis, union concerns — Austin American-Statesman featuring AFSCME Local 1624 (Austin) President Brydan Summers

Houston: Harris County’s $10.9M apprenticeship program has already helped residents land careers — CW39 featuring the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation

Sabine County: Solidarity breaks barriers: SE Texas and The Brotherhood of Timber Workers — Beaumont Enterprise ($)

Tyler: Democrat Marcos Vélez highlights affordability issues in lieutenant governor campaign — KETK featuring United Steelworkers District 13 Assistant Director Marcos Vélez

Statewide: We must stand against a president who is trying to erase Black history — San Antonio Express-News by Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) San Antonio Chapter President Mary Finger 

Statewide:USW Thanks Candidates Vélez, Loya for Texas Primary Campaigns Centered on Working People — USW

Statewide: Texas Union Leader Torches Trump's 70K Jobs Claims and Fantasy Economic Rhetoric — The Rick Smith Show featuring Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Director Ryan Pollock

NEWS TO USE

Court Leaves Trump Orders against Unions in Place as Challenges Continue — FEDweek

Treasury Department terminates union contracts for IRS and Bureau of the Fiscal Service workers — Associated Press

Kelsey Plum sees WNBA's offer as a 'win,' but CBA talks continue — ESPN

Dispatch: Letter Carriers Are Gearing Up for Another Contract Fight — LaborNotes

AI & TECH NEWS BITE

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) is requesting information on accelerating AI in health care. Instead of prioritizing frontline workers’ judgement, HHS is looking to increase profits and productivity.

The AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO Tech Institute know that responsible innovation requires collective bargaining to make sure technology complements bedside skills. While AI is framed as a tool to transform health care, it can’t compromise the quality of care for all of us.

By embedding worker-led guardrails into AI policy, we can shape the future of medicine to be human-centered, patient-focused, and supportive of workers!

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS

🏃 LABOR ON THE MOVE

Congratulations to the UA Local 142 (San Antonio) members who just reached membership milestones! Ryan Friesenhahn, Preston Sartain, Terry Camack, Scott Fraser, and Roel Garcia all reached 25 years, and Juan Flores achieved 40 years.

Solidarity with the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, Local 67, and allies who organized their Together We Thrive Summit to educate and strengthen connections within their community!

Congratulations to Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) Texas President Pauline Mims, who was celebrated by UAW Region 8 for Women’s History Month!

Congratulations to Teamsters Local 767 (Forest Hill) members Tomas Gislason and Ruth Carrera on their retirements!

💐 IN MEMORY

Juan Jose Perez Martinez, an apprentice of UA Local 286 in Austin, passed away on Feb. 22 at the age of 38. Our hearts go out to his friends and family.

SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS

🚨 TAKE ACTION

SHARE or DONATE to GoFundMe pages for Texas union members detained by ICE:

• IBEW Local 520 (Austin) brother Brian
  Brian is an asylum seeker from Colombia and a proud member of IBEW Local 520. On a recent date, he was unexpectedly detained by ICE during a routine, mandatory check-in, despite having complied fully with all legal requirements and having no criminal record. Donate here.
   
• IBEW Local 60 (San Antonio) sister Keyla
  Keyla came to the U.S. legally from Honduras, leaving behind an awful life marked by poverty, unsafe living conditions, and constant danger. She came here to work, to be safe, and to provide a better life for herself and her family. Today, that same woman, a licensed electrician and proud IBEW Local 60 member, is being held in an ICE detention center. Donate here.

ADD YOUR NAME:Tell the Fort Worth Report management to respect their employees’ newly formed union! Local journalism works best when the people who produce it have a real voice. Take action here.

DELETE THE STARBUCKS APP: Stand with Starbucks Workers United! Union baristas are calling on Starbucks customers to #DeleteTheApp to show Starbucks that you stand with baristas, not billion-dollar companies. Take action here.

📆 PLAN AHEAD

Saturday, March 14 virtually: Information Session 3 for the Mar. 28 Houston Citizenship Clinic
Attend ONE of four information sessions to learn more about the requirements to apply for U.S. citizenship and prepare for the Mar. 28 Houston Citizenship Clinic. Details here.

NEW: Labor Town Halls in Tyler and Beaumont
We’re getting back on the road for our Statewide Listening Tour to hear from union members. Join Texas AFL-CIO President-Elect Leonard Aguilar and Secretary-Treasurer-Elect Lorraine Montemayor to discuss what the future of the Texas labor movement should look like.

• Tuesday, March 17 in Tyler: RSVP here.
• Wednesday, March 18 in Beaumont: RSVP here.

Saturday, March 28 in Pasadena: Houston Citizenship Clinic
After attending an information session and confirming you are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, attend this FREE Citizenship Clinic! Details here.

See all upcoming Texas labor events here.

📝 APPLICATIONS, PROGRAMS, & TRAININGS

AFL-CIO Upcoming Trainings:

• Monday, Mar. 9: Volunteer Recruitment
• Wednesday, Mar. 11: Union Peacekeeper & Observer Training

Apply for a 2026 Texas AFL-CIO Career-Building Scholarship!Each year, the Texas AFL-CIO awards $1,500 scholarships to affiliated union members who have returned to school to advance their careers. Applications are due May 1.Learn more and apply here.

📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Texas Representative Gina Hinojosa, our Democratic nominee for Governor, spoke to Gulf Coast area union members the day after Election Day. Gina is also a member of the Texas State Employees Union (CWA Local 6186), and is ready to fight for workers on day one!

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