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Topics in the News:
elections
In 2011 some 5 million Americans were denied the right to vote, through laws or executive orders, in 14 states - states that represent 171 or 63% of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Bills to restrict voting right were introduced in 38 states, with more to come this year. These measures hit people of color, low-income voters, students, youth, immigrants and seniors most.
Civil rights pioneer W.E.B. DuBois’ epigram — “The power of the ballot we need in sheer self-defense, else what shall save us from a second slavery?” — was the subtext of the Dec. 10 Stand for Freedom march and rally for voting rights that drew what rally organizers estimated were tens of thousands of demonstrators, including more than 700 UFT members.
UFT President Michael Mulgrew joined a host of community and civil rights leaders on the City Hall steps on Nov. 8 — Election Day — to launch the “Stand for Freedom” national voting rights campaign.
UFT-endorsed candidate Dan Donovan was re-elected as district attorney for Staten Island on Election Day. Donovan, a Republican who became the borough’s DA in 2004, was re-elected for the second time with 70 percent of the vote. “Dan has a great record and educators did a great job backing him,” UFT Staten Island Representative Emil Pietromonaco said.
Republican lawmakers in 23 states have passed, tried to pass or are attempting to pass laws toughening voter registration and voting requirements [see map, below] in what critics call the most concerted effort to roll back voting rights in decades.
With a lift from UFT members in a low-turnout election, four of the UFT’s five endorsed candidates were elected to office or won a primary contest on Sept. 13.
This fall’s election cycle offers an opportunity for UFT members in four contested races to elect a Congress member and three state Assembly candidates endorsed by the union to open seats in special elections on Tuesday, Sept. 13. The union also endorsed one City Council hopeful in a district primary.
Blasting the “secret process” by which the mayor selected Cathleen Black as the next schools chancellor, UFT President Michael Mulgrew proposed a resolution at the Nov. 17 Delegate Assembly to fight to change the law to require a public hiring process for chancellor in the future. The resolution passed resoundingly by the delegates.
Retired Teachers Chapter activists reach out to strengthen the UFT and support in-service colleagues in so many ways that we are now often referred to as the “Daytime Union.”
The Nov. 2 election was about more than who is to blame for joblessness, the flat economy and which party controls Congress, statehouses and governors’ mansions. Some candidates advocated policies ranging from closing the U.S. Department of Education to ending tenure for teachers and privatizing all educational services.
With all the statewide and local successes, perhaps the sweetest prize of the evening was former Councilman Tony Avella’s upset victory over Republican state Sen. Frank Padavan, who has held the Queens seat for 38 years.
Even as labor’s political support eroded nationally with Republicans regaining control of the House of Representatives, UFT-endorsed candidates scored key victories in city and statewide races on Nov. 2. Both attorney general hopeful Eric Schneiderman and incumbent state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli won their respective contests, which were too close to call before Election Day.
On Election Day, we did what the critics thought we couldn’t do. Facing seemingly impossible odds in several key races, we dug in and did the work that we’re known for — grassroots community engagement. We mobilized and we energized, house by house and neighborhood by neighborhood. And in 157 of 170 races where we made endorsements, we won, picking up two important Senate seats along the way.
Even as labor’s prospects grew dimmer nationally as Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives, UFT-endorsed candidates scored key victories in city and statewide races on Nov. 2.
UFT President Michael Mulgrew met with UFT volunteers on Nov. 2 in the State Senate district in Queens where Tony Avella is challenging a Republican incumbent as the union made a final push for its candidates in hotly contested city and statewide races.
With all the talk of a Republican base energized even as Democratic voters suffer an “enthusiasm challenge,” unions nationwide are deploying tens of thousands to prevent Democrats from losing congressional majorities on Nov. 2. Concern with anti-labor ballot measures passing in several states is energizing the get-out-the-vote effort, too.
In the statewide race for comptroller, the UFT is making a big push for Democratic incumbent Tom DiNapoli. “As comptroller,” union President Michael Mulgrew said, “Tom DiNapoli is a strong defender of defined-benefit retirement plans, an opponent of efforts to privatize such plans, and an excellent steward of the state’s finances. He also doesn’t — and won’t — blame public employees and retirees for the state’s insolvency.”
With the balance of power in the U.S. Congress in play, UFT volunteers are working overtime to re-elect Democrat Michael McMahon to the U.S. House of Representatives in a hotly contested race against conservative challenger Michael Grimm, a political newcomer.
In the statewide race for comptroller, the UFT is making a big push for Democratic incumbent Tom DiNapoli. “As comptroller,” union President Michael Mulgrew said, “Tom DiNapoli is a strong defender of defined-benefit retirement plans, an opponent of efforts to privatize such plans, and an excellent steward of the state’s finances. He also doesn’t — and won’t — blame public employees and retirees for the state’s insolvency.”
Pollsters and pundits cite mounting evidence to support the prediction that the upcoming November general election will result in an even greater midterm correction than is historically normal for the political party in power. If the talking heads are correct, Democrats may be facing a bloodbath of losses.
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