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Lone Star Labor: Our Slate of Statewide Endorsements

Texas AFL-CIO
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This week, the Texas AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE) announced our 2026 primary election endorsements following delegates voting at the 2026 COPE Convention in Georgetown, Texas.

Throughout the endorsement process in Central Labor Councils, Area Labor Federations, and to our statewide leadership — it was clear that our endorsement is more meaningful and powerful than ever!

These candidates have proven to us that they have the backs of working people, and the Texas labor movement will have their backs in the March primary:

Statewide Endorsements

  • U.S. Senate: No Action
  • Governor: Gina Hinojosa (D),Member of TSEU (CWA 6186)
  • Lieutenant Governor: Marcos Isaias Vélez (D), Assistant Director of USW District 13
  • Attorney General: Nathan Johnson (D)
  • Comptroller of Public Accounts: Sarah Eckhardt (D), Member of TSEU (CWA 6186)
  • Commissioner of General Land Office: Jose Loya (D), Staff representative for USW District 13, Veterans of Steel Coordinator
  • Agriculture Commissioner: Clayton Tucker (D)
  • Railroad Commissioner: Jon Rosenthal (D)
  • Texas Supreme Court, Place 1: Maggie Ellis (D), Member of AFSCME 1624 and TSEU (CWA 6186)
  • Texas Supreme Court, Place 2: Chari Kelly (D), Member of AFSCME 1624
  • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9: Holly Taylor (D), Member of AFSCME Texas Retiree Chapter 12
  • 15th Court of Appeals, Place 3: Marc Meyer (D), Retired member of IAFF 341

Early voting for the 2026 primary election runs Feb. 17-27 and Election Day is Mar. 3. But first, we have to elect our union brother Taylor Rehmet to Texas Senate District 9 this Saturday! Let’s get to work!

Stay tuned for more content from our COPE Convention! You can watch the U.S. Senate Debate here. 

AS GOES TEXAS LABOR...

TEXAS SENATE DISTRICT 9 COVERAGE:

Featuring International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Texas State Council President Taylor Rehmet

ACROSS THE STATE:

Austin: Austin council item establishes consultation agreement between city management, city workers’ union — KXAN, featuring American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1624 President Brydan Summers

Austin: Austin RNs hold vigil for Minnesota nurse Alex Pretti, describe him as 'one of our own' — KUT News, featuring National Nurses United member Kristine Kittelson

Fort Worth: 85% Of Eligible Fort Worth Report Employees Seek Union Recognition For Job Protections — The Dallas Express, featuring the newly-formed Fort Worth Reporters Guild

San Antonio: In rare move, labor group opposes Democratic incumbents in San Antonio primaries — San Antonio Report featuring San Antonio AFL-CIO President Alejandra Lopez

STATEWIDE:

NEWS TO USE

AFL-CIO, AFGE mourn killing of Minneapolis union member amid ICE protests — Labor Tribune, featuring AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President Everett Kelley

‘Shameful’: Trump’s EPA accused of prioritizing big business over public health — The Guardian, featuring Justin Chen, president of AFGE Council 238

‘The Biggest Act of Union-Busting in U.S. History’: Trump’s War on Federal Workers — New York Times

Administration’s Move to Gut FEMA Staffing Violates Agency’s Independence and Mission, New Lawsuit Asserts — AFGE, AFSCME, SEIU, and others

TEXAS LABOR FAMILY NEWS

🏃 LABOR ON THE MOVE

NEW ORGANIZING ✊ Journalists and staff at the Fort Worth Reporthave formed the Fort Worth Reporters Guild, part of the Media Guild of the West and The NewsGuild-CWA.

Congratulations to Travis Ray, who recently retired from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 72 (Waco).

Congratulations to UA Local 211 (Deer Park) brother David Guttowsky,who retired after more than 45 years of service.

Congratulations to Bill Tondre, who recently received his 65-year membership certificate and pin from United Association (UA) Local 142 (San Antonio).

💐 IN MEMORY

Alma Nails, member of UAW Local 276 in Grand Prairie, passed away on Jan. 14 at the age of 86.

Jeremy Don Mayo passed away on Jan. 25. Jeremy was the son of Donny Mayo, business representative for IBEW Local 66 (Houston).

Our hearts go out to their friends and family.

SOLIDARITY CORNER: EVENTS & ACTIONS

🚨 TAKE ACTION

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Hearst: Keep Texas news written by Texans!
Hearst Media has bought up dozens of local newspapers across the state and now owns the four largest newspapers in Texas. We need to make sure that our local news and journalists’ jobs are protected! Take action here.

📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK

TODAY virtually: Union Text Bank: CD-18 Special Election Runoff in Houston
Join the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation for a virtual text bank to GOTV to union members for Christian Menefee for the CD-18 Special Election on Jan. 31. Details here.

TODAY virtually: Temporary Protected Status Under Threat: What It Means for Organized Labor
Join AFL-CIO constituency groups for this webinar on TPS. Details here.

TODAY in Corpus Christi: NNU Candlelight Vigil for Alex Pretti
Join National Nurses United (NNU) members to honor AFGE member Alex Pretti and all who have been murdered by ICE, and to demand that Congress vote to immediately abolish ICE. Details here.

Saturday, Jan. 31: Election Day
Election Day for Special Election Runoffs, including Texas Senate District 9 and Congressional District 18. Details here.

Saturday, Jan. 31 virtually: Union Text Bank: CD-18 Special Election Runoff in Houston
Join the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation for a virtual text bank to GOTV to union members for Christian Menefee for the CD-18 Special Election on 1/31. Details here.

Monday, Feb. 2: Last Day to Register to Vote for Primary Election
This is the last day you can register to vote for the March 3 primary election. Details here.

📆 PLAN AHEAD

Feb. 21 in Cedar Creek: The Bigger Broader Bolder Bash
Join the Texas AFL-CIO for our inaugural Texas AFL-CIO Bigger Broader Bolder Bash to celebrate retired President Rick Levy’s years of commitment to the Texas labor movement! Details here.

See all upcoming Texas labor events here.

📝 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS

DUE THIS SATURDAY, Jan. 31: 2026 Texas AFL-CIO High School Scholarship applicationsEach year, the Texas AFL-CIO awards dozens of scholarships to Texas high school seniors, as well as to members or children of members of affiliated local unions. Learn more and apply here.

The newly formed North Texas Area Labor Federation (NTxALF) is hiring its first Executive Director! This key leadership role will build regional labor power among 40,000 union members and support affiliates across 11 counties. Details here.

📸 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

On Wednesday, hundreds of union and community members from across industries joined with Austin NNU members for a candlelit vigil to honor the memory of AFGE member and VA nurse Alex Pretti.

Framed photo of Alex Pretti at the Austin vigil

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