Elections 2022: Support Labor Endorsed Candidates this Election Season
It’s election season and this year there is a lot at stake on the ballot! Please take a moment to look through this year's labor endorsed candidates and ballot questions for 2022 and support them on this year’s ballot. The Secretary of State website has everything you need to know about voting in this election.
The Massachusetts AFL-CIO has endorsed the following candidates in Western Mass. Please note that races where an incumbent is not facing a challenger and uncontested open seats were not considered for an endorsement.
State Senate
Rep Jake Oliveira - Candidate for State Senate for the Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester District - Website
Senator Anne Gobi - Incumbent Candidate for the Worcester and Hampshire District - Website
Rep Paul Mark - Candidate for State Senate for the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District - Member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association and IBEW - Website
State Representative
Anthony Russo - Candidate for State Representative for the 3rd Hampden District - Member of Bricklayers Local 3 - Website
Aaron Saunders - Candidate for State Representative for the 7th Hampden District - Website
Shirley Arriaga - Candidate for State Representative for the 8th Hampden District - Website
Smitty Pignatelli - Candidate for State Representative for the 4th Berkshire District - Twitter
Susannah Whipps - Candidate for State Representative for the 2nd Franklin District - Website
Endorsed Candidates for Statewide Office
Maura Healey - Candidate for Massachusetts Governor - Website
Kim Driscoll - Candidate for Lieutenant Governor - Website
Andrea Campbell - Candidate for Attorney General - Website
Bill Galvin - Candidate for Secretary of State - Website
Diana DiZoglio - Candidate for State Auditor - Website
Deb Goldberg- Candidate for State Treasurer - Website
Endorsed Ballot Question
Labor is proud to endorse the Fair Share Amendment - Question 1 on the ballot this November and Question 4 - YES for Safer Roads Campaign that will uphold the Work and Family Mobility Act which was passed this June. Both of these questions represent over a decade of organizing from union and labor allies. Passing both Question 1 and Question 4 will be a historic win for working people statewide.
Question 1 - The Fair Share Amendment
Question 1, the Fair Share Amendment, would create a 4% tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and require – in the state constitution – that the funds be spent only on transportation and public education.
With Question 1, the top 1% of Massachusetts residents — those making over $1 million a year — would pay their fair share in taxes. 99% of us won’t pay a penny more.
And because Question 1 will be written directly into the state constitution, the money would be constitutionally required to go only to transportation and public education. That means $2 billion a year, every year, for better roads, safer bridges, reliable public transportation, and public schools from pre-K through college.
Learn more about Question 1 - The Fair Share Amendment here and sign up to volunteer here. We have canvasses and phone banks everyday between now and the election. To see our full schedule click here. Question 1 is ten years in the making and we have just 18 days to go! Any hour you have to contribute to outreach to voters is appreciated.
Question 4 - YES for Safer Roads
Voting YES on Question 4 would keep in place The Work and Family Mobility Act. First introduced in the State House in early 2019, The Work and Family Mobility Act brought together over 270 law enforcement, public health, and community leaders to collaborate on a bill that would increase safe mobility for immigrants without status, while also improving road safety for everyone in Massachusetts.
Overwhelmingly approved into law in June, this common-sense measure allows all qualified state residents, regardless of immigration status, to apply for a standard Massachusetts state driver’s license beginning July 1, 2023. The bill also puts in place stringent proof of identity requirements for immigrants without status applying for licenses, and keeps in place all safeguards against non-citizen voting.
Nevertheless, by resorting often to false and duplicitous claims, opponents gathered enough signatures this summer to put Question 4 on the ballot. The question threatens to revoke a law that allows immigrants without status to drive to work or take their children to the doctor with a valid driver’s license in their pocket and proper insurance coverage on their car, making the roads safer for everyone in Massachusetts. To find out more and sign up to volunteer click here.
Question 5 - in Select Districts
In select districts across the region there will be a fifth non-binding ballot question asking voters to weigh in on whether their State Representative should be instructed to vote yes for legislation creating a single-payer Medicare for All health care system at the state level. The WMALF is a strong supporter of the state single payer legislation and we encourage voters to vote YES and send a message to their representative that this is a vital issue for Massachusetts working families. This question will be on the ballot in the following districts in Western Mass.
Pittsfield
· Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, 2nd Berkshire
Belchertown, Ludlow, Pelham, New Salem, Pelham, Petersham, Shutesbury, Wendell
· Open Seat (Oliveira), 7th Hampden
Chicopee (most), West Springfield, Agawam (part), Westfield (part), Wilbraham, Springfield (part), East Longmeadow (part), Monson (part)
· Rep. Michael Finn, 6th Hampden
· Open Seat (Wagner), 8th Hampden
· Rep. Angelo Puppolo, 12th Hampden
Greenfield (part), Athol, Orange, Phillipston, Erving, Gill, Northfield, Royalston, Warwick, Winchendon (part)
· Rep. Susannah Whipps, 2nd Franklin
WMALF Endorsed Candidates
The Western Mass Area Labor Federation is also proud to endorse Tara Jacobs, Candidate for Governor’s Council Eighth District representing the four counties of Western Mass. Tara has been a civic leader and strong advocate on the North Adams School Committee. We’re confident she’ll bring that same commitment to representing all of Western Mass to the Governor’s Council. Learn more about Tara here.
