Archive for category: POLITICS

Knock on over 1.3 million doors, have over 250,000 conversations with voters

Phoenix, Ariz.–Building on their track record of winning elections cycle after cycle, UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power knew that knocking on doors and having conversations with voters to get out the vote was essential. UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power grew to over 500 canvassers after launching their field operation in August.

 “Worker Power and UNITE HERE Local 11 focused on doing what we do best, connecting face-to-face with voters on top issues that matter to them like the economy, reproductive rights and democracy. I am particularly proud that we talked to over 32,000 voters who did not vote in Arizona in 2020,” said Brendan Walsh, Executive Director of Worker Power. “In our experience, having won Arizona for Biden in 2020, we found that oftentimes these heavily contested races come down to a handful of votes, and we are optimistic that our field program will deliver that key difference again this year.”

Worker Power’s universe of voters consisted of low propensity voters, voters of color, women, young people, and unaffiliated or independent voters, from Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. Canvassers talked with 54.2% women and 51.6% voters of color to motivate them to vote for Harris, U.S. Senate candidate Ruben Gallego, and Prop 139. By election night we knocked on over 1.3 million doors and had 250,000 conversations with voters.

“As we wait for every vote to be counted, we know that hundreds of cooks, dishwashers, housekeepers, airport and food service workers, once again, left it all out in the field in Arizona to elect a President who will fight for working people. Our members just came off of a year-long contract fight at over 70 hotels and event centers, and won. They brought that same energy and drive to this election. That’s where the difference is made—not on television screens or billboards, but looking people in the eye and asking them what kind of world they want to live in.” said Susan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11 and Board Chair of Worker Power.

In addition to working on the Presidential and U.S. Senate elections, Worker Power and UNITE HERE Local 11 also activated voters to vote down ballot for key swing legislative races, Phoenix city council races, statewide propositions like Prop 139, and Prop 499 in Glendale.

“I had never been involved politically until this year. It was important for me to get out the vote for Harris because as a woman this election is a matter of life or death. I also have a sister and nieces in Texas where, like in Arizona, the rights of women and young girls are on the line. Decades ago women could not vote or own property, and we are not going back,” said Cynthia Jimenez, cook at Sky Harbor International Airport for 12 years and member of UNITE HERE Local 11, originally from Chiapas, Mexico.

UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power were affiliated with UNITE HERE International Union’s national program, which led field programs in seven key battleground states, including Nevada and Pennsylvania. Collectively, UNITE HERE knocked on 4 million doors to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.