Labor union IE pledges $1 million to support Wahab's state Senate campaign
June primary enters stretch run as endorsements, cash piles up
ELECTION 2022
10TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
—UNION STRONG—AFSCME Local 3299 is pledging $1 million to fund an independent expenditure committee in support of 10th State Senate District candidate Aisha Wahab.
—The announcement follows a flood of large labor union contributions to Wahab’s campaign in the past week and created shock waves in a June primary race headlined by two Democrats—Wahab and Fremont Mayor Lily Mei.
—It is unclear whether the $1 million outlay will be used primarily for the June primary or combined with a likely November General Election in the fall. (Note: IEs are prohibited from coordinating their efforts with campaigns.) Nonetheless the amount allocated to the IE is a stunning development for Wahab’s campaign just as the primary is beginning to heat up for the final two months to Election Day.
—“Aisha Wahab embodies the struggles, aspirations and resilience that bind people from across our diverse community each day,” said AFSCME 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger. “She will be an excellent voice for working people in the State Senate, because she understands what it means to walk in our shoes.” AFSCME Local 3299 is the U.C. system’s largest employee union.
—The SD10 primary race has mostly focused on Mei’s troubles with progressives in the Alameda County Democratic Party. Mei was formally reprimanded by the county central committee for being anti-LGBT. On the campaign finance front, Wahab and Mei have been neck-in-neck in their fundraising efforts during two prior finance periods, and as another filing deadline approaches.
ENDORSEMENTS
—Alameda County Sheriff’s candidate Yesenia Sanchez received the endorsement of SEIU Local 1021, the campaign tells East Bay Insiders. The powerful East Bay labor union’s support is a major get for the campaign facing incumbent Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern in a three-person June primary race.
MORE IN THIS ISSUE: Labor Coalescing Around Thao | Kaplan Gets Asian Labor Vote | Hayward Mayoral Race | Slave Reparations: Local/Statewide | Moneyball | Datebook |
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