Legislative Updates

Tina Smith

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Minnesota

P.O. Box 14362
St. Paul, MN 55114

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor: “It’s pretty simple, taxpayer-funded government contracts should go to companies that follow the law and treat their workers fairly. Unfortunately, today, too many federal contracts are being awarded to companies with egregious and repeated violations of worker protection laws,” said Sen. Smith. “While most contractors treat their workers fairly, we should be cracking down on the bad actors that put workers’ lives and livelihoods at risk.”
- Tina Smith wants an end to employers mistreating their employees and wants to expand workplace protections by those employed by large federal contractors
- Tina smith believes in creating legislation that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour
Healthcare/Retirement: “Social Security is the bedrock of economic and retirement security of the American middle class. Tina believes we should expand Social Security and ensure that it remain solvent in the long term. Tina strongly opposes serious threats to these programs like privatization and steps to cut benefits. She also opposes the recent Republican tax bill, which adds $1.5 trillion to our national debt and risks major cuts to Social Security and Medicare.”
- Smith is a strong supporter of strengthening Medicare and Social Security

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- Jason Lewis
- Before his Senate race Lewis was a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
- He was formerly a conservative commentator for the Star Tribune
- Lewis was endorsed by President Trump
Tina Smith:
- Smith won the special election in 2018 to secure her Senate seat
- Won her seat by 11 percentage points
- Smith was endorsed by both Amy Klobuchar and Former Vice President Joe Biden

Other Information:

AFL-CIO Scorecard rates her at a lifetime score of 100%
She was appointed to fill Al Franken Senate seat after he resigned in 2017

Theresa Greenfield

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Iowa

Campaign Office Number:
515-346-8477

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor
- “Unions built the middle class, and we should be working to strengthen their standing in our communities. When Theresa’s first husband, a union electrical lineman, died in a workplace accident, his union helped Theresa and her kids land on their feet. Theresa is standing up for union rights and has been endorsed by local labor unions across Iowa representing thousands of workers.”
Retirement
- “While politicians in Washington are talking about cutting Medicare and Social Security to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and special interests, Theresa believes that Social Security and Medicare are promises we must keep to our seniors. She opposes the privatization of both programs as they are crucial to the livelihoods of countless Iowans. Theresa will never let anyone lay a finger on them while she is in the Senate.”

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- Joni Ernst (R) Incumbent Senator
  - Advocates for the Trump Administration
  - Supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Theresa Greenfield:
- Endorsed by the Iowa AFL-CIO and Amy Klobuchar
- First time bid for a Senatorial race

Other Information:

Grew up on a farm:
- Appeals to the overwhelming number of farmers in Iowa

Unions helped her in her time of need
- Husband passed away and Social Security and Union Benefits gave her “that hand up that I needed to get started”

Sara Gideon

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Maine

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor:
- “Creating and expanding job training programs to give workers the skills they need to attain good paying jobs and address shortages in our skilled workforce”
- “Workers’ rights are the cornerstone of a strong economy, and we’ve been able to support Maine workers by investing in job training programs, fighting for a higher minimum wage, and protecting the right of Mainers to organize and secure benefits they deserve.”
Healthcare/Retirement:
- “Maine Seniors have paid into Social Security and Medicare, using these programs to their retirement and future. That’s why Sara will always fight to protect those benefits…”
- “She restored a low-cost drug program for nearly 2,00 Maine seniors and championed the release of $15 million in senior affordable housing bonds…”
- She believes that ACA should “allow anyone to choose to buy into Medicare through a newly created public option, while preserving the choice for those who like their private insurance to keep it
Infrastructure:
- “Investing in infrastructure development and technological advancements like rural broadband, which will help create the jobs of the future and revitalize rural communities in Maine”

Critical Election Information:

Main Competitor:
- Susan Collins is the Incumbent Senator
- Has been in office since 1996

Sara Gideon:
- She won the primary with 70% of the vote
- Six Labor Unions Endorsed Sara Gideon
  - Carpenters, Locomotive Engineers, Machinists, AFSCME, Iron Workers, and Postal Workers

Other Information:

Gideon has been in the Maine House of Representatives for the last eight years

Steve Bullock

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Montana

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor:
- Strong supporter of Trans-Pacific Partnership TPP and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership CPTPP (referred to as TPP 2.0)
- Wants the minimum wage raised to $15/hour
- Successfully raised the minimum wage in Montana before he was Governor and another time while as Governor
- Wants Montana construction projects to fully require at least 50% of the workers be Montana residents on any project funded by the state
Social Security and Medicare:
- Bullock expanded Medicaid in Montana under Affordable Care Act
  - Has helped lower premiums for Montanans
Infrastructure:
- Signed a bill investing $400 million into infrastructure across Montana
  - The bill includes repairing and constructing buildings, bridges, and water systems

Critical Election Information:

Main Competitor:
- Steve Daines is the Incumbent Senator
- Dominated his primary
- Every election he has participated in he has pulled 10% more of the vote than his competitors
Steve Bullock:
- Secured 95% of the votes in his primary
- The Montana AFL-CIO endorsed him

Other Information:

He is the current Governor of Montana
- Has been in the Governor’s office since 2013

John Ossof

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Georgia

P.O. Box 450326
Atlanta, Georgia, GA 31145

Website

Important Political Stances:

Infrastructure: John has made a campaign promise to provide investments into infrastructure, which includes transportation and transit, clean energy, public health, and environmental clean up
Labor: Though there are no significant quotes made about organized labor, there are many signs that he is an ally. The AFL-CIO has formally endorsed him. The implementation of investing in infrastructure will create many well-paying jobs for the labor industry.
Healthcare: “Too many Georgians can’t afford health care. The high cost is driven by the corrupt influence of the insurance and drug industries in Washington”-John Ossof
- He has made the campaign promise to support Medicaid expansions, reduce price gouging, expand U.S. Public Health Service, and add nonprofit options to the ACA.

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- David Perdue is the Incumbent Senator
- An affluent businessman who has been the CEO of several companies including Reebok and Dollar General
- His cousin is currently the Secretary of Agriculture (Sonny Perdue)
- AFL-CIO Scorecard rates him at a lifetime score of 11%

John Ossof:
- secured the primary nomination with 52% of the vote.
- AFL-CIO has formally endorsed Ossof
  - “Jon supports an economy that works for all Georgians, not just the wealthiest, by restoring the minimum wage to a living wage, pay equity for women and people of color, restoring overtime protections, and supporting workers ability to come together to bargain for better wages and benefits to help create a more just, prosperous and equitable society”- Charlie Flemming Georgia AFL-CIO President

Other Information:

John is a small business owner that investigates and exposes organized crime, corruption, and war crimes.
He worked as a national security aide for Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson.

Mark Kelly

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Arizona

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor Quotes and Comments:
- He has “highlighted both the importance of small businesses to the Arizona economy as well as the importance of trade schools and apprenticeships.”
- “We’ve got a shortage in our country in a lot of different trades, whether it’s barbers or electricians or pipe fitters or carpenters. In certain areas of the country, in places that are growing like Arizona, there is clearly, clearly a need”
Social Security Medicare:
- “America made a promise to protect the health and wellbeing of its seniors. Mark opposes legislation weakening Social Security or efforts to gamble seniors’ retirement security in the stock market. Medicare is also a solemn promise made to Arizona’s seniors. Recently, Washington politicians proposed cutting over 800 billion dollars from Medicare. Mark opposes these proposed cuts. Mark also opposes efforts to change Medicare as we know it and turn it into a voucher system.”
Infrastructure:
- He believes in “supporting economic drivers like trade, tourism and the military, while also investing in research and development.”
- “Ending the tax breaks for the super wealthy and big corporations that are exploding the national debt while not benefiting working and middle class Arizonans.”
- “Investing now in things that will pay off for our country down the road, like infrastructure and research and development.”

Critical Election Information:

Main Competitor:
- Martha McSally
- Appointed to John McCain’s seat after the replacement stepped down
- Lost her General Election in 2018 to Kyrsten Sinema
- Originally a U.S. House Representative (Arizona District 2)

Mark Kelly:
- has not run for public officer before
- Kelly was endorsed by the AFL-CIO

Other Information:

Kelly is a U.S. Navy veteran and former Astronaut
- Retired in 2011
Co-Founder of Americans for Responsible Solutions
Super PAC that advocates for stronger gun laws

M.J. Hegar

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Texas

P.O. Box 7156
Round Rock, TX 78683

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor: “My stepdad died in a workplace accident. If it were not for the labor movement, many more families would suffer the same pain, and we would not have the workers’ rights that we have today. Every day, I am fighting for workers like him.”
- Hegar is a strong ally to labor organizations
- She has promised to always protect the rights of the workers to unionize and collectively bargain for fair wages and safe work environments
Healthcare/Retirement: “I will fight efforts to cut pensions, Social Security and Medicare”
- She advocates for the expansion of Medicare and protection of the Affordable Care Act
- She will also oppose any threats to Social Security
  - She believes “Social Security and Medicare are not entitlements, but a promise made to every American”

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- John Coryn is the Incumbent Senator
- Prior to his Senate tenure starting in 2002 he was previously Texas Supreme Court Justice
- Coryn dominated his primary with 76 percent of the vote
- He was endorsed by Senator Ted Cruz
- He has an opposition to the Tea-Party

M.J. Hegar:
- She won her primary by 5 percentage points
- Hegar was endorsed by Former President Barack Obama
- The Texas AFL-CIO along with many other unions including the OPCMIA have endorsed her

Other Information:

Hegar ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas but lost by only 3 percentage points.
Hegar served in the U.S. Air Force
- Served three tours in Afghanistan
- Military awards include:
  - Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross

John Hickenlooper

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Colorado

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor:
- “Unions built America’s middle class, and they will be critical in building our economy as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.
- “Currently only 37% of young people in the United States complete a four-year degree. Apprenticeships offer an attractive bridge or alternative to postsecondary education.”
Social Security and Medicare:
- Hickenlooper believes in a stable retirement for all and “We can do this by protecting Social Security and Medicare, as well as by proactively bolstering these programs so that they remain solvent for years to come. We must cut the cost of prescription drugs by increasing transparency and accountability for drug pricing and allowing the safe importation of life saving Medications from Mexico and Canada- policies that will help lower Medicare expenses and bring down Health-care costs overall.”

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- Cory Gardener is the Incumbent
- Has been in office since 2015
- Narrowly won election in 2014 for U.S. Senate seat

Republican	Cory Gardner	48.2%	983,891
Democratic	Mark Udall *Incumbent*	46.3%	944,203

John Hickenlooper:
- Hickenlooper won the primary with 58.7% of the vote
- AFL-CIO has endorsed Hickenlooper
  - “We have been impressed by the hard work exhibited by Johns campaign”-Dennis Dougherty, Executive Director of the Colorado AFL-CIO

Other Information:

He was the Governor of Colorado from 2011-2019
- Left office on Jan. 1, 2019
- Prevented by term limits from seeking re-election in 2018

Jeanne Shaheen

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for New Hampshire

2 Wall Street, Suite 220
Manchester, NH 03101

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor: “My priority in the Senate has always been to make a difference for New Hampshire families by strengthening our economy and creating jobs and resources that support these Granite Staters. I am proud to stand with New Hampshire’s workers every day, and I will continue to work across the aisle to increase the minimum wage and provide resources for job training programs that strengthen our workforce.”
- She will strive to support labor in every way she can as a Senator
  - Legislation beneficial to labor she has cosponsored:
    - Paycheck Fairness Act
    - Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Healthcare/Retirement: Shaheen was a strong ally of the Affordable Care Act when it was first introduced and believes in maintaining long term solvency of Social Security and Medicare

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- Bryant Messner
- West Point Graduate
- Messner Created his own law firm (Messner Reeves LLP)
- First time running for public office

Jeanne Shaheen:
- Shaheen is the Incumbent Senator and has been a U.S. Senator since 2009
- Shaheen was endorsed by the New Hampshire AFL-CIO
- She currently holds an 18-point lead over Messner

Other Information:

AFL-CIO Scorecard rates him at a lifetime score of 92%
Prior to her tenure in the Senate she was New Hampshire’s Governor from 1997-2003
- First woman to be elected Governor and Senator

Jaime Harrison

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for South Carolina

P.O. Box 1767
Columbia, SC 29202

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor: “Too many South Carolinians are in financial desperation and the middle class feels completely out of reach. America was built on jobs that pay a living wage to support a family and benefits that keep them healthy.”
- Harrison believes that expanding tax benefits to incorporate childcare tax credit to support middle class families
- When he is elected, he will strive to create and build good paying jobs for hard working citizens
Healthcare: “Harrison estimates that roughly 250,000 South Carolinians don’t have healthcare, in part because, he says, Graham chose to reject Medicaid expansion under ObamaCare”
- Under the leadership of Harrison, he will protect peoples with pre-existing conditions, lower prescription drug costs and stop the closures of rural hospitals
Retirement: Harrison has been outspoken about opposing any movements to privatize Social Security and Medicare
Infrastructure: “Failure to invest in infrastructure harms our quality of life and raises the cost of doing business.”
- Harrison ensures under his administration he will provide an influx of relief to the infrastructure grid of South Carolina and the U.S. as a whole

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- Lindsey Graham Incumbent Senator
- Has been in office since 2003
- Prior to his election to Senate he was a lawyer for a private practice and served in the Air Force

Jaime Harrison:
- His Democratic primary was canceled
- Started to startle Lindsey Graham’s campaign with his grassroots fundraising
  - Has raised over a million dollars in 24 hours

Other Information:

Prior to his Senatorial bid he was a lobbyist for the Podesta Group
He once ran for the Democratic National Committee chairperson but later backed out and supported Tom Perez
- Later he was appointed associate chairman of the DNC

Gary Peters

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Michigan

P.O. Box 32072
Detroit, MI 48232

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor: “I grew up in a union household, my father was a public-school teacher and my mom was a union steward, and my parents instilled in me the importance of hard work, determination and integrity, those are the values I’ve carried with me every day fighting for Michigan in the U.S. Senate.”
- He is a great ally to organized labor
- He wrote and passed a bill that expands apprenticeship opportunities for our veterans (S. 760 Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019)
Healthcare/Retirement:
- Gary recently fought against a Republican effort to cut Medicare and end the guaranteed benefits for seniors
- He believes social security is a sacred promise that helps keep many seniors out of poverty

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- John James
- Served 8 years in the Army as a Ranger-Qualified Aviation Officer
- James challenged Michigan incumbent senator Debbie Stabenow in 2018 and lost by a 6 percentage points

Gary Peters:
- He is the Incumbent Senator
- is considered the favored candidate with a lead of 5 percentage points.
- Peters was endorsed by the Michigan AFL-CIO and several other labor organizations

Other Information:

AFL-CIO Scorecard rates him at a lifetime score of 96%
“Gary Peters understands the importance of labor and resiliency of working people, and as our senator has always been a leader in fighting to create better paying jobs, boost manufacturing and expand apprenticeship opportunities throughout Michigan”- Ron Bieber, Michigan AFL-CIO President
Gary Peters was a previous member of the U.S House of Representatives but decided to run for the Senate seat that was being vacated in 2014
- He has been a member of the U.S. Senate since 2015

Doug Jones

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Alabama

4500 5^th Ave. S, Building L
Birmingham, AL 35222

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor: “I will tell you, folks, we need to make sure you someone in the United States Senate that’s got your back, not the president’s back, not the Republican Party, not the Democratic Party, but someone that’s got your back”
- Jones said this quote at the Alabama AFL-CIO 32^nd Biennial Convention
- He has supported many Pro-labor bills including employment and pensions relief (Butch-Lewis Act)
Healthcare: Doug believes in expanding Medicaid and protecting the Affordable Care Act
Retirement: “If Congress can bail out Wall Street, if Congress can bail out farmers who don’t even want bailouts — they just have to take them because of the trade policies and the retaliatory tariffs that China’s been putting on – if they can take these bailouts, we can damn sure make sure our pension funds are secure”

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- Tommy Tuberville
- Tuberville was a head coach for several college football teams from 1995-2016 (Auburn University and University of Cincinnati)
- Tuberville beat Jess Sessions in the Republican Primary: 60.7 to 39.3
- Tuberville is currently favored in this election

Doug Jones:
- Incumbent Senator
- He won the special election in 2017 when Jeff Sessions left to become Attorney General
- Disapproved of the confirmation of U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia
- Alabama AFL-CIO has endorsed him

Other Information:

AFL-CIO Scorecard rates him at a lifetime score of 95%
Joe Biden endorsed him
Honored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce three times in 2020 for his bi-partisan voting record

Barbara Bollier

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for Kansas

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor:
- AFL-CIO scored her as a 71% on her stance towards labor
  - Great Rating considering she was still a Republican at the time
- Voted in favor of SB 55, which would restore prevailing wage to a Kansas County
Social Security and Medicare:
- Bollier believes in protecting Medicare and ensuring its fully funded into the future, lowering prescription drug prices for seniors, and allowing the government to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies, and defending Social Security from any cuts

Critical Election Information:

Main Competitor:
- Roger Marshall
  - Background is mainly made up of practicing medicine as an OB/GYN and as a board member of Great Bend Regional Hospital
  - He is a U.S. House Representative from Kansas District 1)
  - Voted Nay on both articles of impeachment for Trump

Barbara Bollier:
- She is the Incumbent Senator
- Dominated her primary with 85% of the vote
- She has been considered by the Republican party as a “sensible centrist” and a leading “moderate voice”

Other Information:

Left the GOP to join the Democratic Party in 2018
- Mainly due to Anti-Transgender Platform of the Republican Party
- And Blocking of expansion of Medicaid
Endorsed several Democrats before her switch to the party
- GOP retaliated against her and removed her from leadership roles
Former Anesthesiologist

Cal Cunningham

Democratic Candidate, U.S. Senate for North Carolina

P.O. Box 309
Raleigh, NC 27602

Website

Important Political Stances:

Labor: Cunningham supports many pro-labor bills including:
- The Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act)
  - This act will strengthen workers rights to collectively bargain and join unions easier
- Cunningham will fight for any pro-labor bill and will always look out for organized labor
Healthcare: Cunningham believes that there are problems with the current Healthcare system in America and wants to fix them
- He wants to strengthen the Affordable Care Act needs to be strengthened
- He wants to expand Medicaid to incorporate a public insurance option

Critical Election Information:

Political Competitor:
- Thom Tillis Incumbent Senator
- Secured his primary with 78 percent of the vote
- Joined the U.S. Senate in 2015
- Stands with McConnell and refuses to look at the PRO Act and will not look at any House proposed bills
- Voted for Eugene Scalia for Labor Secretary

Cal Cunningham:
- He dominated his primary by 22 percentage points
- Cunningham was endorsed by the North Carolina AFL-CIO and many more unions
- He was a former North Carolina State Senator
- Currently favored to win with a 6-point lead

Other Information:

Before his Senatorial race Cunningham was part of a legal team that fought for workers and exposed hazards on job sites
While he worked as a State House Representative, he fought for higher pay for teachers

OPCMIA Urges Sen. Manchin to Reverse his Position On the Build Back Better Act

OPCMIA Endorses Catherine Cortez Masto for U.S. Senate

OPCMIA Praises House for Passing Build Back Better Act

Join the OPCMIA SMS News Network