United Working Families

United Working Families (UWF) is an independent political organization based in Chicago, Illinois. It was formed in 2014 as a coalition between the Chicago Teachers Union, SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana, Grassroots Illinois Action, and Action Now. Although it is not a formal political party, the organization recruits and trains political candidates and organizers, endorses and provides support to political candidates, and engages in community organizing. Its stated goal is to "create space for independent politics" in Chicago and Illinois and to enact a "vision for a city and a state that provides for the many, not just the wealthy few." The organization has been characterized as part of the progressive movement and the labor movement.

Electoral politics

Municipal elections

2015 Chicago municipal elections In 2015, UWF backed the candidacy of Jesus "Chuy" Garcia against incumbent mayor Rahm Emanuel. Garcia placed second in the first round and proceeded to the run-off election, where he lost to Emanuel.

The below table shows the candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2015 Chicago aldermanic election. + Candidates endorsed by UWF in 2015 Chicago aldermanic electionCandidateWardStatusResultPercentage of votes wonLeslie Hairston5IncumbentWon in first round52.55%Roderick Sawyer6IncumbentWon in first round56.2%Tara Baldridge8ChallengerLost in first round15.67%Susan Sadlowski-Garza10ChallengerWon in run-off50.09% (run-off); 24.09% (first round)Toni Foulkes16IncumbentWon in run-off50.94% (run-off); 47.65% (first round)David Moore17Open seatWon in first round52.93%Ricardo Muñoz22IncumbentWon in first round57.65%Juanita Izirray26ChallengerLost in first round33.89%Zerlina Smith29ChallengerLost in first round4.66%Scott Waugespack32IncumbentWon in first round78.95%Tim Meegan33ChallengerLost in first round34.01%Carlos Ramirez-Rosa35ChallengerWon in first round67.26%Tara Stamps37ChallengerLost in run-off46.99% (run-off); 32.13% (first round)Nicholas Sposato38IncumbentWon in first round53.58%John Arena45IncumbentWon in run-off53.89% (run-off); 45.46% (first round)

2019 Chicago municipal elections UWF did not make an endorsement in the 2019 mayoral election, but did create a digital advertisement featuring activists who critiqued candidate Lori Lightfoot for actions during her tenure as president of the Chicago Police Board. Lightfoot proceeded to win the election.

The below table shows the candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election. All endorsed candidates who won would later join the City Council's Progressive Reform Caucus. +Candidates endorsed by UWF in 2019 Chicago aldermanic electionCandidateWardStatusEarly endorsementResultPercentage of votes wonCleopatra Watson9ChallengerNoLost in first round25.80%Susan Sadlowski Garza10IncumbentYesWon in first round68.82%Tanya Patiño14ChallengerNoLost in first round29.40%Rafael Yañez15ChallengerNoLost in run-off40.30% (run-off); 21.83% (first round)Jeanette Taylor20Open seatYesWon in run-off59.71% (run-off); 28.78% (first round)Michael Rodríguez22Open seatYesWon in first round63.80%Byron Sigcho-Lopez25Open seatNoWon in run-off54.20% (run-off); 29.23% (first round)Rossana Rodríguez Sanchez33ChallengerYesWon in run-off50.06% (run-off); 42.05% (first round)Carlos Ramirez-Rosa35IncumbentYesWon in first round59.43%Tara Stamps37ChallengerNoLost in first round40.17%Andre Vasquez40ChallengerNoWon in run-off53.87% (run-off); 20.09% (first round)John Arena45IncumbentNoLost in first round36.21%Erika Wozniak Francis46ChallengerYesLost in first round16.84%Matt Martin47Open seatNoWon in run-off62.50% (run-off); 39.31% (first round)Maria Hadden49ChallengerYesWon in first round63.37%

2023 Chicago municipal elections In the 2023 Chicago mayoral election, UWF endorsed challenger Brandon Johnson, who previously served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Chuy García, who had received UWF's endorsement for Mayor in 2015, requested a delay in the endorsement process while he made his decision about whether to enter the race, but UWF proceeded with endorsing Johnson in September 2022, citing Garcia's unwillingness to provide a timeline for his decision. Johnson was ultimately elected.

The below table shows candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2023 Chicago aldermanic election. CandidateWardStatusResultDaniel La Spata1IncumbentWon in general electionKhari Humphries4Open seatLost in general electionDesmon Yancy5Open seatWon in run-off electionWilliam Hall6Open seatWon in run-off electionCleopatra Draper9ChallengerLost in general electionOscar Sanchez10Open seatLost in general electionJulia Ramirez12Open seatWon in general electionVicko Alvarez15ChallengerLost in general electionJeanette Taylor20IncumbentWon in general electionJessie Fuentes26ChallengerWon in general electionRossana Rodriguez-Sanchez33IncumbentWon in general electionCarlos Ramirez-Rosa35IncumbentWon in general electionLori Torres Whitt36ChallengerLost in run-off electionDenali Dasgupta39ChallengerLost in general electionAngela Clay46Open seatWon in run-off electionMatt Martin47IncumbentWon in general electionMaria Hadden49IncumbentWon in general electionMueze Bawany50ChallengerLost in general election

State and county elections

2018 Illinois and Cook County elections UWF endorsed the following candidates in the 2018 Illinois elections: + Candidates endorsed by UWF in 2018 Illinois and Cook County electionsCandidateOfficeStatusResultDelia RamirezIllinois House of Representatives, 4th districtOpen seatWon in Democratic primary and general electionAaron OrtizIllinois House of Representatives, 1st districtChallengerWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general electionBrandon JohnsonCook County Board of Commissioners, 1st districtChallengerWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general electionAlma AnayaCook County Board of Commissioners, 7th districtOpen seatWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election

2020 Illinois and Cook County elections The below table shows candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2020 Illinois elections. The organization also endorsed Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Party presidential primary election. + Candidates endorsed by UWF in 2020 Illinois and Cook County electionsCandidateOfficeStatusResultKim FoxxCook County State's AttorneyIncumbentWon in Democratic primary and general electionCelina VillanuevaIllinois Senate, 11th districtIncumbentRan unopposed in Democratic primary and general electionRobert PetersIllinois Senate, 13th districtIncumbentWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general electionAaron OrtizIllinois House of Representatives, 1st districtIncumbentWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general electionTheresa MahIllinois House of Representatives, 2nd districtIncumbentWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general electionNidia CarranzaIllinois House of Representatives, 3rd districtChallengerLost in Democratic primaryDelia RamirezIllinois House of Representatives, 4th districtIncumbentRan unopposed in Democratic primary and general electionLakesia CollinsIllinois House of Representatives, 9th districtOpen seatWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general electionWill GuzzardiIllinois House of Representatives, 39th districtIncumbentRan unopposed in Democratic primary and general election

2022 Illinois and Cook County elections The below table shows candidates endorsed by UWF in the 2022 Illinois elections and 2022 Cook County elections. CandidateOfficeStatusResultDelia RamirezU.S. House of Representatives, 3rd districtOpen seatWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general electionRobert PetersIllinois Senate, 13th districtIncumbentWon unopposedCelina VillanuevaIllinois Senate, 11th districtIncumbentWon in general electionCristina Pacione-ZayasIllinois Senate, 20th districtIncumbentWon in general electionTheresa MahIllinois House, 24th districtIncumbentWon unopposedLakesia CollinsIllinois House, 9th districtIncumbentWon unopposedLilian JimenezIllinois House, 4th districtOpen seatWon in Democratic primary and general electionMichael RabbittIllinois House, 15th districtChallengerLost in Democratic primaryWill GuzzardiIllinois House, 39th districtIncumbentWon unopposedNorma HernandezIllinois House, 77th districtChallengerWon in Democratic primary and general electionFritz KaegiCook County AssessorIncumbentWon in Democratic primary and general electionBrandon JohnsonCook County Board of Commissioners, 1st districtIncumbentWon unopposedAlma AnayaCook County Board of Commissioners, 7th districtIncumbentWon unopposedAnthony Joel QuezadaCook County Board of Commissioners, 8th districtChallengerWon in Democratic primary; unopposed in general election

Policy agenda In May 2019, all UWF-endorsed candidates who won in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election (along with alderman Daniel La Spata) signed onto a legislative policy agenda entitled "Our 100 Day Plan to Reimagine Chicago." The agenda includes ordinances supporting public housing and affordable housing, a new real estate transfer tax, an increased minimum wage, a Community Benefits Agreement for the Obama Presidential Center, eliminating exemptions in Chicago's welcoming city ordinance, and reform of tax increment financing.

In November 2019, aldermen affiliated with UWF hosted a series of town halls on the city budget, in support of their proposed alternatives to Mayor Lightfoot's budget. The organization itself released a statement opposing the mayor's budget on the grounds that it lacked funding for affordable housing, failed to re-open closed mental health clinics, and did not contain sufficient progressive revenue measures. On November 26, eight of the nine UWF-endorsed aldermen voted against Lightfoot's budget proposal, which passed by a vote of 39–11.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, UWF worked with other community organizations and some local elected officials to create and endorse a "Right to Recovery" package at the city, county, and state levels. The package would include paid emergency leave, emergency housing for those unable to self-quarantine, a moratorium on Immigration and Customs Enforcement check-ins, and weekly payments of $750 to families with children and workers facing layoffs and furloughs.

On September 11, 2024, three City Council committee chairs and the president of the Fraternal Order of Police called for the firing of mayoral aide Kennedy Bartley, the former executive director of United Working Families, for using the term "f---ing pigs" to describe police and talking openly about defunding or abolishing the police.

United Working Families

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