Lone Star Labor: Our slate of primary runoff endorsements
Today, the Texas AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE) announced our 2026 primary runoff election endorsements.
These candidates have shown they are ready to fight for better wages, fully funding public schools, and lower health care costs. They have the backs of working people, and Texas labor will have their backs in the primary runoffs.
Statewide Endorsements
- Lieutenant Governor: Marcos Isaias Vélez (D), Assistant Director of USW District 13
- Attorney General: Nathan Johnson (D)
- State Board of Education, District 5 (Central Texas): Allison Bush (D)
Congressional Races
- U.S. House, District 1 (Tyler, Texarkana, Nacogdoches): Yolanda Prince (D)
- U.S. House, District 5 (Terrell, Palestine): Chelsey Alexandra Hockett (D)
- U.S. House, District 18 (Houston, Missouri City): Christian Menefee (D), incumbent
- U.S. House, District 24 (Grapevine, North Richland Hills): Kevin Burge (D)
- U.S. House, District 33 (Dallas, Grand Prairie): No Action
- U.S. House, District 35 (San Antonio, Seguin, Karnes City): Johnny Garcia (D)
Texas House Races
- Texas House, District 37 (San Benito): No Action
- Texas House, District 41 (Mission): No Action
- Texas House, District 49 (Austin): Montserrat Garibay (D), Former Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer; Member of Education Austin
- Texas House, District 97 (Fort Worth): Diane Symons (D)
- Texas House, District 100 (Dallas): Venton Jones (D), incumbent, Member of TSEU (CWA 6186)
- Texas House, District 125 (San Antonio): Adrian Reyna (D), Member of San Antonio Alliance (AFT) 67
- Texas House, District 131 (Houston): Lawrence Allen, Jr. (D)
- Texas House, District 149 (Houston): Darlene Breaux (D)
Early voting for the primary runoff runs May 18-22, and Election Day is May 26. We have just over a month to do all we can to make sure our pro-worker candidates win their runoffs. Let’s get to work!
Can you share texasaflcio.org/endorsements now to spread the word?
View our 2026 General Election Pro-Worker Endorsements here.
AS GOES TEXAS LABOR...
Austin: Austin rolls back part of IT consolidation plan after employee pushback — Austin American-Statesman featuring American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1624 (Austin AFSCME) President Brydan Summers and member Ben Suddaby
San Antonio: Mike Miles’ former charter school network expands its footprint in Texas — Texas Observer featuring San Antonio Alliance (AFT Local 67) President Alejandra Lopez
San Antonio: One year later: How a TEA takeover has changed South San Antonio ISD — San Antonio Express-News featuring South San Antonio American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Tom Cummins
San Antonio: Op-Ed: U.S. workers want union representation. We need political leaders who respect that. — San Antonio Current
Statewide: Does a Swirl of Vouchers and Closures Represent a Spiral for Texas Schools? — Dallas Observer
Statewide: Texas is giving data centers more than $1 billion in tax breaks each year — The Texas Tribune
South Texas: Op-Ed: Texas United Farm Workers Successes — Rio Grande Guardian featuring Texas United Farm Workers former State Director and Texas Labor Hall of Fame member Rebecca Flores
NEWS TO USE
Trump’s labor plan is a massive 401(k) greed grab for Wall Street — The Washington Post ($)
VA reverses course, restores union contracts following judge’s rebuke — Federal News Network
ProPublica’s union staged a 24-hour strike over AI, job protections — Poynter
Collective voices, healthier outcomes: the union effect in American Healthcare — npj Health Systems
AI & TECH NEWS BITE
Issue Brief: Without Robust Guardrails, AI Harms
The AFL-CIO Tech Institute recently released a policy paper that pushes back against AI hype. It warns that unchecked AI puts us at risk of invasive workplace surveillance and biased hiring systems, and makes us unsafe in high-risk fields like healthcare and transportation.
Choice, Not Inevitability, in the AI Economy
"These are all policy choices that we’re making. They’re business choices." AFL-CIO Tech Institute Executive Director Lauren McFerran challenged the corporate narrative on the future of work at the POLITICO Economy Summit.
TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS
🏃 LABOR ON THE MOVE
Congratulations to all who took part in the Texas United Association (UA) Apprenticeship Contest. Category winners were Micah Scwietzer of UA Local 68 (Houston), Taylor Blake Coe of UA Local 286 (Austin), and Angel Platas and Dawson Atkinson, both from UA Local 211 (Houston). They’ll head to New Orleans in June for the UA District 3 Apprentice Contest.
💐 IN MEMORY
Pablo Carrillo Jr., member of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local 67 (San Antonio), passed away on Apr. 3 at the age of 55.
Sergio Chamorro, member of UA 211 (Houston), passed away on Apr. 4 at the age of 71.
Robert Pennington, longtime member, welding instructor, and Executive Board member of UA Local 100 (Mesquite), passed away last week.
Our hearts go out to their friends and family.
SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS
🚨 TAKE ACTION
SHARE or DONATE to GoFundMe pages for Texas union members:
- Ironworkers Local 66 (San Antonio) brother Cornelio
Cornelio and his wife were detained by ICE while traveling to Brownsville for work. Donate here.
CALL YOUR SENATORS: Tell Your Senators: Don’t Make Voting Harder for Working People! The SAVE America Act would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. Call your senators and tell them to stop this voter suppression bill. Take action here.
ADD YOUR NAME: Tell the FCC to update its VoIP oversight for the internet age! Sign this petition to tell the FCC to reclassify VoIP as a common carrier service and ensure everyone has access to high-quality phone service. 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.
📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK
Saturday, Apr. 11 in Austin: Citizenship Clinic
After attending an information session and confirming you are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, attend the Austin Citizenship Clinic! Details here.
Saturday, Apr. 11 in San Antonio: Citizenship Clinic
After attending an information session and confirming you are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, attend the San Antonio Citizenship Clinic! Details here.
Monday, Apr. 13 in Austin: Higher Ed Powers Texas - March & Rally at the Capitol
Public universities and community colleges across Texas are being used as toys for political games. We're here to tell them: the futures of our students are not things to be played with. Join with AFT president Randi Weingarten, AAUP president Todd Wolfson, and other guest speakers for a march and rally at the Capitol. Details here.
Monday, Apr. 13 in San Antonio: The Fight for Free Speech with Tom Alter
Join TSEU and Tom Alter at the next stop on his speaking tour for a discussion on the suppression of First Amendment rights in Texas. Details here.
Monday, Apr. 13 in Houston, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and virtually: 2027-2031 TDLR Strategic Plan Public Sessions
Every two years, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) sets priorities and identifies opportunities to improve how to serve Texans. Attend an upcoming public session to provide input and help shape the future of TDLR. Details and registration here.
Tuesday, Apr. 14 virtually: USPS Finances and the Future of Our Public Postal Service
Is the Postal Service broke or is there hope? Join American Postal Workers Union (APWU) for a livestream to discuss the financial condition of the Postal Service. Details here.
Wednesday, Apr. 15 in Edinburg: The Fight for Free Speech with Dr. Tom Alter
Join Tom Alter for the next stop on his Texas tour. He will be discussing the suppression of our First Amendment rights. Details here.
📆 PLAN AHEAD
Friday, May 1, Statewide: May Day Events
We’re keeping track of May Day events happening statewide supported by Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations. View the list of events here.
Want to be on the May Day Events list? Please take a few minutes to share your council’s May Day 2026 plans, priorities, and needs. This will help us coordinate and make sure we’re aligned across the state. Fill out the form.
See all upcoming Texas labor events here.
📝 APPLICATIONS, PROGRAMS, & TRAININGS
AFL-CIO Upcoming Trainings:
- Thursday, Apr. 9: Volunteer Recruitment
- Monday, Apr. 13: Debriefing for Effective Voter Contact
Thursday, Apr. 9 through Friday, Apr. 10 in Houston: Managing with Labor's Values Workshop
Over two days, participants will learn how to be an effective manager while staying true to the values of the labor movement. Details here.
Saturday, Apr. 11 in Houston: Building Union Power Workshop
Members from over a dozen unions will come together to gain the skills and confidence to effectively demonstrate and exercise collective power. Hosted by Houston Workers Deserve Better. Details here.
Due May 1: 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. Learn more and apply here.
📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday, members of International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 432 (Wichita Falls) joined with the community and city leaders of Wichita Falls to rename South Weeks Park to Kelly Crush Memorial Park. Kelly Crush dedicated more than two decades to his community as a firefighter and spent the latter part of his life advocating for people with muscular dystrophy.
Photo via Wichita Falls Professional Firefighters
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