SEIU CALIFORNIA MEMBERS CELEBRATE WORKERS’ ROLE IN HISTORIC ELECTION VICTORY FOR JUSTICE, INCLUSION & EQUITABLE PANDEMIC RECOVERY
California Members’ Investment in Latino Outreach Proved Pivotal in Turning Arizona Blue

Sacramento, CA (November 9, 2020) — The 700,000 members of the Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU) in California today joined the millions of SEIU members across the country in celebrating the election of Joe Biden as President of the United States and Kamala Harris as the Black, South Asian woman elected on a presidential ticket. 

“Working people won this election. Essential workers, Black and brown communities, and a strong majority of voters powerfully and decisively defeated Donald Trump’s division and hate. We chose a resilient, inclusive America. We chose — with the most votes for a presidential ticket ever — Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” said Mary Kay Henry, President of SEIU. 

“SEIU members have always seen this race through the eyes of our children, and we could not be more proud that Kamala Harris has dismantled several barriers with her historic election. Millions of Black, Brown, Asian and immigrant children now have a sense of their potential and their place in our society,” said April Verrett, President of SEIU Local 2015 and Executive Board member of SEIU California. “SEIU members recognize that Kamala fought for us as Attorney General and as U.S. Senator, and we know that as Vice President she’ll fight for the values of equity, justice, and inclusion that we have always shared.”

SEIU California members were actively engaged at all levels, through texting, phone banking and voluntary contributions to get out the vote. In addition, SEIU California played a significant role nationally in the key swing state of Arizona, where the union led the largest Spanish media program to Latino voters outside of the Biden campaign.  

“SEIU California members are proud to have played a leading role in spearheading a new majority for justice, opportunity and inclusion in the state of Arizona, which chose Senator-elect Mark Kelly by a strong majority and is on track to choose a Democrat for President for the first time since 1996,” said David Huerta, President of SEIU United Service Workers West (USWW) and Executive Board Member of SEIU California. “This vote is a direct repudiation of years of attacks on immigrants and Latinos/as. It represents a powerful step forward toward inclusion, respect, and immigration reform. When more working people vote, justice wins. When more people from underrepresented and historically oppressed groups vote, justice wins. And when working people come together and fight for all of us, we win.”