UAW Mobilizes Thousands for Critical 2026 Election Campaign Efforts

UAW's Ambitious Political Push Ahead of Election Day

As the countdown to Election Day narrows to under two weeks, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union is initiating one of its most extensive political efforts in decades. This operation targets pivotal races across the nation that will influence governmental direction in Washington, D.C., and beyond. Deploying more than 130 full-time political organizers alongside 1,000 volunteers, the UAW focuses on swing districts where their member presence could surpass the previous victory margins.

"Our political program is like everything else about the UAW: it’s member-driven," UAW President Shawn Fain remarked. "We’ve been flexing our member-driven muscle at the bargaining table for the last few years. Now we’re building that same muscle in our politics. This year, our members are leading a bold political program, shaking up the political status quo. We’ll start by electing UAW champions to office – but our members will lead the work that comes after election day to win a working class agenda in the halls of power."

Program Details

The initiative sees UAW members engaging in challenging dialogues with communities through door-to-door and phone outreach, emphasizing key union issues like wages, job security, health care, retirement, and time off. This strategy aims to combat negative advertisements and misinformation from corporate PACs while re-engaging UAW members across the political spectrum who may feel estranged from mainstream politics.

The 2026 campaign also serves as a platform for gathering member feedback to craft a working-class-led political agenda for the upcoming Congress in 2027.

"Every UAW vote matters in these razor-thin elections," stated Sara Noonan, a UAW Local 2000 member from Grafton, Ohio. "We’re not telling people how to vote when we talk to UAW members and their families. We’re talking about the issues and what’s at stake for both our communities and workplaces. Our vote is our voice and opportunity to stand together as working people to protect the rights that generations of union members fought to secure."

JJ Jewell from UAW Local 228 in Sterling Heights, MI, reflected, "I’ve been part of the UAW’s political program in Michigan as a member for 13 years, and I haven’t seen this much open conversation about the election in years. When we hit the doors to talk to UAW members and their families about things like cost and affordability or the imbalance of power between workers and corporations, we are talking about issues that matter to voters of all political persuasions. UAW members are helping reshape US politics to put power back where it belongs: not with the corporations, not with the elite and wealthy — but with the people."

Key Races

Focusing on crucial races where UAW member density could prove decisive, the union prioritizes districts with narrow margins of victory. These include:

• Michigan U.S. Senate: Abdul El-Sayed
• Michigan U.S. House: Districts 04, 07, 08, and 10
• Ohio U.S. Senate: Sherrod Brown
• Ohio U.S. House: Districts 07 and 09
• Pennsylvania U.S. House: District 07
• Iowa U.S. House: Districts 01 and 02
• Governor’s races: Michigan, Ohio

Outreach Efforts

Since July, the UAW has reached out to hundreds of thousands of working-class voters in pivotal districts across numerous states, including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, California, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, Washington, North Carolina, Kansas, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maine. Their efforts have resulted in:

• Knocking on over 125,000 doors
• Making 450,000 calls
• Recruiting over 3,200 volunteers, with 850 in Michigan alone

Focusing on districts known for their working-class demographics, the UAW views 2026 as a chance to significantly influence political dynamics. Michigan and Ohio receive a substantial share of the union's resources due to their industrial and job security challenges.

Early backing of Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's U.S. Senate race underscores their commitment, alongside critical House races in Districts 04, 07, and 10, which are at risk of Republican conversion. UAW membership in these areas outnumbers recent victory margins.

In Ohio, the union strives to reelect Sherrod Brown, a steadfast ally of the working-class, while safeguarding Marcy Kaptur's District 09 seat, a highly concentrated UAW district. Efforts are also underway to reclaim District 07 with Brian Poindexter, another union member.

In Lorain County, the sole Ohio county backing both Sherrod Brown and Donald Trump in 2024, the UAW extends its campaign to a heated County Commission race. UAW-affiliated county workers have been striking since February 18.

As the final weeks approach, the UAW's campaign emphasizes the potential for transformative change in Washington by empowering working-class representatives in Congress.