2022 Election Recap: Against All Odds Working Families Delivered on Election Day
A message from Mullissa Willette, SEIU 521 Localwide President & Santa Clara County Member
Fellow SEIU 521 Members,
Votes are still being counted across California and the country, but we know that working people like us came out in record mid-term numbers to make our voices heard and stand for pro-labor causes. In a midterm election where the president’s party has historically faced major setbacks, working people and infrequent voters turned out in greater numbers than expected to elect leaders who stand with workers against attacks on women’s and reproductive rights, price-gouging, tax-dodging, and union-busting corporations.
This election year, SEIU 521 members and our community allies knocked on thousands of doors and made tens of thousands of phone calls to mobilize workers. Countless discussions on protecting what we’ve gained were front and center, and our member voters truly understood that worker votes = worker power ??.
We won many vital races that directly impact our union contracts and workplace rights!
As the final vote totals are made official, we are proud of the wins members like you helped achieve across every corner of our union. See below for a list of key SEIU 521 election endorsements victories and updates:
✅ VICTORIES ✅
County Board of Supervisors
- Jordan Wamhoff – Madera County Board of Supervisors, District 1
- Robert Macaulay – Madera County Board of Supervisors, District 5
- Sylvia Arenas – Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, District 1
- Ray Mueller – San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 3
- Eddie Valero – Tulare County Board of Supervisors, District 4
- Felipe Hernandez – Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, District 3
City Council/Mayor
- Mia Casey – City of Hollister Mayor
- Eric Arias – Bakersfield City Council
- Manpreet Kaur – Bakersfield City Council
- Maria Orozco – Watsonville
- Kristal Salcido – Watsonville
- Ari Parker – Watsonville (currently leads)
- Kimbley Craig – City of Salinas Mayor
- Steve McShane – Salinas City Council
- Lisa Diaz-Nash – San Mateo City Council
- Diane Howard – Redwood City City Council
- Lucas Ramirez – Mountain View City Council
- Ellen Kamei – Mountain View City Council
- Alison Hicks – Mountain View City Council
- Omar Torres – San Jose City Council
- Peter Ortiz – San Jose City Council
Sheriff
- Tina Nieto, Monterey County
School Boards
- Keisha Thomas – Fresno Unified, Trustee Area 1
- Veva Islas – Fresno Unified, Trustee Area 4 (currently leads)
- Susan Witrup – Fresno Unified, Trustee Area 7
- Maimona Afzal – Santa Clara County Office of Ed, Trustee Area 6
- Raeena Lari – Santa Clara County Office of Ed, Trustee Area 7
Members Elected to Office in 2022
- Ray Montemayor – Hartnell College Board of Trustees
- Jan Shriner – Marina Coast Water District
- Rosaena Sanchez – Lindsay City Council
Local Measures:
- Kern County Yes on Measure J (term limits on Board of Supervisor seats)
- Kern County Yes on Measure K (sales tax to support county services)
- San Benito No on Measure Q (stops economic development)
- City of San Mateo Yes on CC (property transfer tax on high-value properties)
In addition to the critical local races above that impact SEIU 521 members directly, our member-endorsed state-wide candidates won the office of Governor, Attorney General, U.S. Senate, Secretary of State, and Superintendent of Public Education, among others.
SEIU 521 members are already in motion to prevent election deniers from overturning the results of this election. Make no mistake: our democracy is under attack, and we will keep fighting until every vote is counted and every election verified. We know the fight doesn’t end on election day, and we will continue to mobilize to hold elected leaders accountable for supporting workers fighting to win unions and making our economy work for all of us, not just greedy corporations. Ready to stay engaged, and continue building our worker power? Join a COPE Committee or learn more here.