Click for more government of the people and for the people.
The UAW said today that after months of organizing on shop floors and in communities across Michigan, UAW members helped deliver “a rebuke to billionaire-funded politics on Tuesday, powering victories for working-class champions across the state.” UAW-endorsed Abdul El-Sayed defeated what it “termed an obscene flood of outside spending” to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. His grassroots campaign was promoted by UAW members. UAW-endorsed Jocelyn Benson won the Democratic nomination for governor, while Donovan McKinney won Michigan’s 13th Congressional District after earning the union’s support.
“UAW members are done with business as usual in Michigan. The billionaire class thought they could buy another election. They underestimated the power of workers talking to workers. Shop floor conversations beat Wall Street’s checkbook. We backed Abdul because he answers to workers – not billionaires or corporate PACs. Tonight showed what happens when working people get organized and fight together. We are ready for two working-class champions at the top of the ticket in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate and Jocelyn Benson for Governor. Michigan voters chose candidates who know the economy should work for working people – not just the wealthy and well-connected,” said UAW President Shawn Fain.
The UAW Numbers
From Detroit to Grand Rapids, Flint to Three Rivers, nearly 800 UAW members knocked on doors, made phone calls, and organized conversations with coworkers, friends, neighbors, and family members to build the kind of political operation that the UAW credibly maintains that corporate money can’t buy. With more than 350,000 active and retired members in Michigan, the union also mounted a remarkable early vote program, helping turn out nearly 113,000 UAW voters before Election Day—almost one in every ten early votes cast statewide. UAW members made more than 145,000 phone calls, and organized worker-to-worker conversations that helped turn out 112,887 UAW voters during Michigan’s early voting period. Member volunteers launched canvasses and phone banks in Detroit, Taylor, Warren, Flint, Saginaw, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Three Rivers.
“Corporate America poured millions into this race because they knew Abdul wouldn’t work for them. Our members know what’s at stake. Every contract fight, corporations force us to bargain over access to health care instead of winning bigger raises, stronger retirements, and more time with our families. That’s exactly why we’re fighting for Medicare for All. Abdul shares that vision, and we’re going to send him to the U.S. Senate to help make it a reality,” said UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English.
“The days of taking labor’s support for granted are over. Abdul earned our members’ trust the old-fashioned way—by showing up on picket lines and standing with workers when it mattered. That’s worth more than any billionaire’s campaign check, and that’s why working people delivered this victory,” said UAW Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli.
“When our American Axle members went on strike for a future they could build a family on, Abdul stood with them. Workers don’t forget who shows up when the fight is real. That’s something no super PAC can buy and no billionaire can erase. The members in Three Rivers are ready to finish the job and send Abdul to Washington in November,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes.
Background, According to the UAW
The UAW’s endorsement followed one of the union’s most transparent and member-driven political programs. Members heard directly from candidates at the union’s February CAP Conference, participated in additional Michigan CAP Council forums, and evaluated candidates through member surveys before endorsing Abdul El-Sayed in June.
El-Sayed earned the endorsement by consistently standing with working people against corporate greed and for Medicare for All. Throughout the primary, UAW members built a statewide field operation rooted in solidarity instead of billionaire money.
“Tuesday’s results are part of a growing national movement led by UAW members to elect leaders who answer to working people instead of corporate donors.
- Alongside Michigan’s victories, UAW members have helped current and former UAW members Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York,
- Troy Jackson in Maine, and
- Randy Villegas in California secure the Democratic nomination and will fight to send these candidates to Washington in November. Across key battleground states, union members are building durable political power from the shop floor up—proving that when workers organize independently, they can take on corporate money and win,” the UAW said.
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
UAW Clout in Michigan Apparent in Primary Wins
Click for more government of the people and for the people.
The UAW said today that after months of organizing on shop floors and in communities across Michigan, UAW members helped deliver “a rebuke to billionaire-funded politics on Tuesday, powering victories for working-class champions across the state.” UAW-endorsed Abdul El-Sayed defeated what it “termed an obscene flood of outside spending” to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. His grassroots campaign was promoted by UAW members. UAW-endorsed Jocelyn Benson won the Democratic nomination for governor, while Donovan McKinney won Michigan’s 13th Congressional District after earning the union’s support.
“UAW members are done with business as usual in Michigan. The billionaire class thought they could buy another election. They underestimated the power of workers talking to workers. Shop floor conversations beat Wall Street’s checkbook. We backed Abdul because he answers to workers – not billionaires or corporate PACs. Tonight showed what happens when working people get organized and fight together. We are ready for two working-class champions at the top of the ticket in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate and Jocelyn Benson for Governor. Michigan voters chose candidates who know the economy should work for working people – not just the wealthy and well-connected,” said UAW President Shawn Fain.
The UAW Numbers
From Detroit to Grand Rapids, Flint to Three Rivers, nearly 800 UAW members knocked on doors, made phone calls, and organized conversations with coworkers, friends, neighbors, and family members to build the kind of political operation that the UAW credibly maintains that corporate money can’t buy. With more than 350,000 active and retired members in Michigan, the union also mounted a remarkable early vote program, helping turn out nearly 113,000 UAW voters before Election Day—almost one in every ten early votes cast statewide. UAW members made more than 145,000 phone calls, and organized worker-to-worker conversations that helped turn out 112,887 UAW voters during Michigan’s early voting period. Member volunteers launched canvasses and phone banks in Detroit, Taylor, Warren, Flint, Saginaw, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Three Rivers.
“Corporate America poured millions into this race because they knew Abdul wouldn’t work for them. Our members know what’s at stake. Every contract fight, corporations force us to bargain over access to health care instead of winning bigger raises, stronger retirements, and more time with our families. That’s exactly why we’re fighting for Medicare for All. Abdul shares that vision, and we’re going to send him to the U.S. Senate to help make it a reality,” said UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English.
“The days of taking labor’s support for granted are over. Abdul earned our members’ trust the old-fashioned way—by showing up on picket lines and standing with workers when it mattered. That’s worth more than any billionaire’s campaign check, and that’s why working people delivered this victory,” said UAW Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli.
“When our American Axle members went on strike for a future they could build a family on, Abdul stood with them. Workers don’t forget who shows up when the fight is real. That’s something no super PAC can buy and no billionaire can erase. The members in Three Rivers are ready to finish the job and send Abdul to Washington in November,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes.
Background, According to the UAW
The UAW’s endorsement followed one of the union’s most transparent and member-driven political programs. Members heard directly from candidates at the union’s February CAP Conference, participated in additional Michigan CAP Council forums, and evaluated candidates through member surveys before endorsing Abdul El-Sayed in June.
El-Sayed earned the endorsement by consistently standing with working people against corporate greed and for Medicare for All. Throughout the primary, UAW members built a statewide field operation rooted in solidarity instead of billionaire money.
“Tuesday’s results are part of a growing national movement led by UAW members to elect leaders who answer to working people instead of corporate donors.
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.