California Nurses Urge Voters to Support Proposition 50 for Fair Elections

As the special election on November 4 approaches, unionized nurses in California are actively campaigning to secure voter support for Proposition 50. The California Nurses Association (CNA) has announced that its members are engaging in direct outreach efforts, including door-to-door visits and phone calls, to advocate for the proposition.

Sandy Reding, RN, who serves as the president of the CNA, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “Union nurses are committed to protecting our democracy and ensuring fair representation in our elections. We need to have a level playing field in our elections, which is what Prop. 50 does.”

Proposition 50 addresses concerns of electoral fairness, particularly in light of recent redistricting efforts in Texas and other states. These new electoral maps are considered among the most discriminatory since the Voting Rights Act of 1965, potentially diminishing the political influence of Latino and Black voters significantly in comparison to white voters.

Critics have pointed out that recent policies, primarily by Republican lawmakers, have undermined several public services. These include the reduction of collective bargaining rights for federal workers, weakening of Veterans Administration Health services, and cuts to critical safety net programs like Medicaid and Medicare, while tax reductions have been granted to wealthy individuals and corporations. Public health systems, union rights, and Social Security have also faced substantial challenges.

Reding, RN, highlighted the necessity of restoring healthcare access, noting, “Working people must fight to win back health care for millions of people across the country. Funding for Medicaid and other lifesaving programs is being cut to make the rich even richer.” She further stressed the importance of safeguarding the most vulnerable populations, adding, “This is why nurses are calling voters and knocking on doors for Prop. 50.”

Sharing her personal perspective, Reding mentioned her experience in Bakersfield, where a significant portion of the community relies on Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, for essential healthcare services. “My hospital is in Bakersfield where nearly two-thirds of the people get life-saving health care through Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program,” she explained. “Congress voted to gut Medicaid.”

Concluding her remarks, Reding underscored the urgency of the situation, stating, “This is an emergency for our democracy.”

California Nurses Association represents more than 100,000 members in over 200 facilities throughout California.