UAW Endorses Karen McDonald, Garlin Gilchrist for Michigan Statewide Offices

The UAW’s Community Action Program (CAP) board in Michigan has announced significant endorsements concerning state elections, emphasizing the defense of workers' rights.

Kicking off their support, the union endorses Karen McDonald as Michigan’s next Attorney General, highlighting her commitment to counter federal challenges on working-class rights. Additionally, Garlin Gilchrist is backed for the role of Secretary of State, praised for his dedication to safeguarding democratic processes and voting rights as the state faces significant electoral challenges.

LaShawn English, UAW Region 1 Director, remarked, “The UAW’s support is never automatic. In times like these, we look past party lines and focus on one thing: electing leaders who will stand up to the billionaires and fight for union families. UAW members who lead the Michigan CAP Board came together to ask hard questions and evaluate candidates with the goal of determining who is ready and willing to fight for working people. Our union’s endorsement is earned, not given. This moment is about electing leaders who will stand shoulder to shoulder with working people. Karen McDonald for Attorney General and Garlin Gilchrist for Secretary of State are the leaders that we trust to win and to have our backs.”

Support for Karen McDonald is further echoed by Dennis Geno, UAW Local 362 member and Chair of the Great Lakes Bay Area Regional CAP Council, who shared, “Workers’ rights are in more danger than ever, and we need an Attorney General like Karen McDonald as our first line of defense for working-class Michiganders. I drove over three hours in a snowstorm to hear from candidates who would support our union. Karen grew up in a working-class family, was a union member herself. She has a track record as a fighter and will fight for workers as Attorney General. We know a real one when we see her, and Karen McDonald is a real one we can trust on our side.”

Dwayne Walker, UAW Local 900 President and Michigan CAP Council Executive Committee member, highlighted Garlin Gilchrist’s critical role by saying, “Michigan is ground zero for attacks on our right to vote and Garlin Gilchrist is the person we need to protect our democracy. Garlin is a strong ally to the UAW and has shown up time and again to not just stand tall but to stand in solidarity with Michigan’s working class when we’ve needed him the most. The choice is clear for the UAW’s Michigan CAP General Board as to who should lead our state in this critical moment, when our vote needs leadership most.”