US — More than three dozen nominees for open House and Senate races across the US have backgrounds as labor union representatives or members. This cohort reflects a trend of union-affiliated individuals seeking federal office, with most candidates identifying as Democrats though some are running as independents.

Steve Smith, spokesperson for the AFL-CIO, said in an interview that these candidates offer a distinct alternative to established political figures. "In a political environment that’s been dominated by wealthy elites for decades, union candidates provide a level of trust and credibility that’s simply unmatched." Smith added that these individuals bring specific professional histories to their campaigns. "In every area of the country, at every level, union members are running for office and winning because they bring lived experience in leveling the playing field for workers and creating a brighter future for our families," Steve Smith said. "Voters want elected leaders who understand the struggles working people face in an economy rigged against us," he said.

The slate of candidates includes individuals from various sectors and geographic regions. Todd Achilles, a former American Federation of Teachers member, is running for the US Senate in Idaho as an independent. Dan Osborn, a former president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G, is running for the US Senate in Nebraska as an independent.

In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, a former American Association of University Professors member, is running for the US Senate. The American Association of University Professors made its first ever national political endorsement by endorsing El-Sayed's Senate campaign. El-Sayed commented on the structure of the current economic system during an interview.

"If the markets actually worked the way they’re supposed to, you might have some efficient movement of money," El-Sayed said. He argued that the existing system deviates from standard economic models. "The problem is, we don’t live in capitalism, we live in oligopoly," he said.

Other candidates include Troy Jackson, a candidate for US Senate in Maine, who previously worked as a member of the unions of Painters and Allied Trades, the Machinists, Operating Engineers, United Auto Workers, and Laborers’ International Union of North America. Angie Nixon, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Florida, previously worked as a union organizer directing the Florida Public Services Union’s higher education campaign.

James Talarico, a candidate for US Senate in Texas, was a member of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel and is a member of the Texas State Employees Union. In the House, Colin Allred, a former congressman and former member of the NFL Players Association, is running for Texas’s 33rd congressional district. Chris Backemeyer, the Democratic nominee for Nebraska’s first congressional district, is a member of American Federation of Government Employees Local 1534.

Smith described the broader impact of these candidacies on the political landscape. "These candidates are at long last returning the levers of power to the people."

Timeline

A 2024 study by Cal State and UCLA researchers found working-class voters are 6.4 percentage points more likely to prefer a political candidate with a working-class occupation over one with an upper-class occupation. Exit polls and surveys conducted after the 2024 presidential election found little evidence that union members had shifted toward Donald Trump. According to the VoteCast survey conducted and Fox News, union members preferred Kamala Harris over Donald Trump by 16% in the 2024 election, with 57% supporting Harris and 41% supporting Trump.

Union density in the US declined from more than 30% in the 1950s to 10% in 2025. According to Gallup polls, 68% of Americans approved of labor unions in 2025. A 2026 report by the Center for Working-Class Politics found working-class candidates make up 8-14% of Democratic and 5-8% of Republican congressional candidates. The Center for Working-Class Politics report found union candidates invoked pro-worker themes 159% more than non-union candidates.

Why It Matters

The rise of union-affiliated candidates occurs alongside a decline in union membership, which fell from more than 30% in the 1950s to 10% in 2025. Despite this drop in density, public approval of labor unions reached 68% in 2025 according to Gallup polls. This contrast suggests that while fewer workers are union members, the institution retains broad public support.

Data from the Center for Working-Class Politics indicates that union candidates invoke pro-worker themes 159% more than non-union candidates. This messaging difference aligns with findings from a 2024 Cal State and UCLA study, which showed working-class voters are 6.4 percentage points more likely to prefer a candidate with a working-class occupation. The 2024 election results further contextualized this dynamic, with union members preferring Kamala Harris over Donald Trump by 16%.