1199ers are fired up. Throughout electoral districts in 1199’s regions, Member Political Organizers (MPOs) and volunteers, including waves of Weekend Warriors, are knocking on doors, calling voters, handing out literature and joining hands with democratic and progressive allies to shake up state capitals and the U.S. Congress.

Democrats need to flip 23 Republican seats to reclaim the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. At press time at least 60 Republican-held seats were in play. The more daunting task of flipping the Senate is also considered within reach. During what’s being dubbed “the Year of the Woman” 1199 is supporting many progressive woman candidates, including community-based first timers and healthcare advocates.

“Bringing people together and helping to empower them for a good cause is what union work is all about,” says Melinda Marchetti, a CNA at Next Step NH in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Marchetti is part of a team of Bay State members who helped to produce a record turnout for the September 4 primaries. Since then, 1199 has endorsed over 30 candidates, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a champion for workers and consumers.

“I became active after joining the Union nine years ago,” says MPO and Boston PCA Kilra Hylton. “After taking a class on fighting for a fair economy, my eyes were completely opened, and I was off and running.”

Hylton and other 1199ers also have been calling voters in other states as part of the #TakeBackCongress campaign. MPOs also connect their political work to union building.

“I’m not just helping the Democratic ticket, my work is also about Together We Rise,” says Brian Johnson, a patient access rep at Boston Medical Center. “I figure out where people are and meet them there.

Engagement helps to keep me going.” In New York State, which also saw a record turnout in the September primaries, 1199ers are focusing on flipping four congressional and two key state senate seats. The senate victories would give Democrats the leadership of Albany’s upper chamber and most likely propel the first African American woman, Andrea Stewart- Cousins, to the majority leader post.

The Democratic ticket victory, led by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a staunch friend of 1199, would also give the state its first African American woman attorney general, Letitia (Tish) James, another Union ally.

1199 Magazine spoke to several New York 1199SEIU canvassers during the September primary races. Among them was first-timer, Fanny Gomez, a Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital patient transporter.

“Young people really do want to know what’s going on in politics,” she explained. “We all want a better future. But we often must choose between work and school.”

Another young member, Jose Garcia, a dietary worker at Gracie Square Hospital in Manhattan, sees political work as insurance for the future.

“Without strength and electing people who support us in this work, it will become harder for people to organize and become part of the Union,” he stressed.

Gomez, Garcia and a diverse army of 1199ers will be pounding the pavement for Congressional candidates in the general election.

In the First Congressional District (CD) on Long Island, members are working for Democratic challenger Perry Gershon, a businessman, against GOP incumbent Lee Zeldin.

In the Island’s Second CD, the Union is backing Democrat Liuba Grechen Shirley against Peter King. Grechen Shirley is a young activist who has worked for non-profits.

In the Hudson Valley’s Nineteenth Congressional District, Antonio Delgado, an African American lawyer and Rhodes scholar, is challenging arch-conservative Rep. John Faso. And in central New York’s Twenty Second CD, Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi is running against steadfast Trump supporter Rep. Claudia Tenney.

In the Hudson Valley’s Thirty-Ninth Senate District (SD), members are campaigning for Assemblyman James Skoufis against Tom Basile in a longheld Republican seat. In the Fiftieth SD, another traditionally Republican seat, the Union is supporting Democrat John Mannion, a biology teacher and healthcare advocate, against Republican Bob Antonacci.

New York activists will also be dispatched across the river to New Jersey, where the Union is targeting three Republican-held CDs. In Jersey’s Third CD, Andy Kim, a former Obama national security adviser, is challenging incumbent Tom MacArthur. In the Seventh CD Tom Malinowski, another former Obama State Department official, is challenging incumbent Leonard Lance. In the Eleventh CD Mikie Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor and Navy pilot, is facing Assemblyman Jay Webber for the seat being vacated by Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen.

“We need to elect Mikie to make sure that we move things in the right direction.” says Jerry Christensen, a CNA at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Bayville, who has canvassed for Sherill. “I’ve a Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital patient transporter.

“Young people really do want to know what’s going on in politics,” she explained. “We all want a better future. But we often must choose between work and school.”

Another young member, Jose Garcia, a dietary worker at Gracie Square Hospital in Manhattan, sees political work as insurance for the future.

“Without strength and electing people who support us in this work, it will become harder for people to organize and become part of the Union,” he stressed.

Gomez, Garcia and a diverse army of 1199ers will be pounding the pavement for Congressional candidates in the general election. In the First Congressional District (CD) on Long Island, members are working for Democratic challenger % Perry Gershon, a businessman, against GOP incumbent Lee Zeldin. In the Island’s Second CD, the Union is backing Democrat Liuba Grechen Shirley against Peter King. Grechen Shirley is a young activist who has worked for non-profits.

In the Hudson Valley’s Nineteenth Congressional District, Antonio Delgado, an African American lawyer and Rhodes scholar, is challenging arch-conservative Rep. John Faso. And in central New York’s Twenty Second CD, Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi is running against steadfast Trump supporter Rep. Claudia Tenney.

In the Hudson Valley’s Thirty-Ninth Senate District (SD), members are campaigning for Assemblyman James Skoufis against Tom Basile in a longheld Republican seat. In the Fiftieth SD, another traditionally Republican seat, the Union is supporting Democrat John Mannion, a biology teacher and healthcare advocate, against Republican Bob Antonacci. New York activists will also be dispatched across the river to New Jersey, where the Union is targeting three Republican-held CDs. In Jersey’s Third CD, Andy Kim, a former Obama national security adviser, is challenging incumbent Tom MacArthur. In the Seventh CD Tom Malinowski, another former Obama State Department official, is challenging incumbent Leonard Lance. In the Eleventh CD Mikie Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor and Navy pilot, is facing Assemblyman Jay Webber for the seat being vacated by Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen.

“We need to elect Mikie to make sure that we move things in the right direction.” says Jerry Christensen, a CNA at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Bayville, who has canvassed for Sherill. “I’ve been in the health field for over 32 years and I’ve seen a lot of changes over time, like staffing levels getting worse.”

Darlene Brown, a CNA at AristaCare at Delaire, who has also been working for Sherill, agrees: “Politics isn’t just for politicians. It’s for us. If we all come together as a team we can make things happen.”

In Maryland, 1199ers are attempting to make history by helping to elect the state’s first African American governor; longtime friend of 1199 and former president of the NAACP Ben Jealous is challenging incumbent Republican Larry Hogan.

Members in the MD-DC district plan to register 1,200 members as voters while signing up 700 new PAC contributors. Activists significantly helped increase the primary turnout four years ago, which bodes well for the Jealous campaign’s goal of getting a million Democratic voters to the polls. Jealous himself is no stranger to GOTV work. Years ago, he worked with Stacey Abrams of Georgia, whose bid to become the nation’s first African American woman governor is being supported by 1199 and a host of progressive allies. Denisha Proctor, a unit associate at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Hospital has been working for Jealous. “Once you realize that politics is not just what you watch on TV, but about your own life, you become active,” she says. “Ben Jealous is different than most politicians. He represents the change that we need. When we knock on doors, we’ve been getting a lot of support for him.” Florida 1199ers are working for another historic first. Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a young progressive African American, is running for governor against archconservative and Trump supporter Ron DeSantis, who resigned his seat in the House to focus on the race. MPOs are working throughout the state to get out the vote.

“We’re supporting Andrew Gillum not only because he is the first African American to run for governor,” says MPO Kaydra Bonamy, a CNA at Terra Vista Rehabilitation and Health Center in Orlando. “He’s also our choice because he’s pro-union in a right-towork state. He is against slave wages.

He believes health care is a right, not a privilege. And he will stand up against Trump.”

Florida 1199ers are also working to return Democrat Bill Nelson to the Senate. He is locked in a tight race with multi-millionaire Rick Scott, the current governor.

Penny Ceasar, an MPO and unit clerk at West Side Regional Medical Center in Plantation, is optimistic. “Political work is my passion,” she says. “And we’ve been getting good responses.”

Bonamy agrees. Her attitude reflects those of the MPOs: “I’m confident because we have a great team working on the campaign.”

1199 Magazine | September / October 2018