UAW Members Out in Force in Key Midterm Districts Could Shape the Next Congress
With less than two weeks until Election Day, the UAW is leading its most ambitious political operation in decades in some of the country’s most critical and high-profile races. These contests will shape the next two years of government in Washington, D.C., and beyond. The UAW has deployed over 130 full-time political organizers and 1,000 volunteers across the country in swing districts where UAW member density exceeds the previous margin of victory.
“Our political program is like everything else about the UAW: it’s member-driven,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “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.
Overview of Program
UAW members in the field are having tough conversations at the doors and on the phone about the union’s core issues: wages, job security, health care, retirement, and time off. The approach is designed to counter negative ads and misinformation from corporate PACs and engage UAW members across the political spectrum who have felt left behind by the political establishment in recent elections.
The 2026 field program is also an opportunity to hear from members and develop a working-class-led political agenda for the new Congress in 2027.
“Every UAW vote matters in these razor-thin elections,” said UAW Local 2000 member Sara Noonan 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.”
“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,” said UAW Local 228 member JJ Jewell from Sterling Heights, MI. “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.”
The UAW is prioritizing must-win races in districts where the union’s membership density exceeds recent margins of victory. These members could make the difference in razor-thin elections. Select examples of these races 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
Since launching in July, the UAW has contacted hundreds of thousands of working-class voters in key districts in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, California, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, Washington, North Carolina, Kansas, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maine. The program has:
- Knocked over 125,000 doors
- Made 450,000 calls
- Recruited over 1,200 volunteers, including 850 in Michigan alone
The UAW’s 2026 program is focused on heavily working-class districts that could help decide the balance of power in Congress. The UAW has invested heavily in two states – Michigan and Ohio — where de-industrialization and job insecurity have played a major role in shaping the politics of the states. The Union sees 2026 as an opportunity to make up significant political ground.
In Michigan, the UAW was an early endorser of Abdul El-Sayed in the high-profile U.S. Senate race. Three priority House races in the union’s home state—Districts 04, 07, and 10—could flip to Republican control. In each district, UAW membership density exceeds the margin of victory in recent elections.
In Ohio, the UAW has committed significant resources to reelect Sherrod Brown, a longtime ally of working-class people. The union is also working to protect Marcy Kaptur’s seat in District 09, one of the country’s densest UAW districts. UAW members make up 10% of all voters there. Members in Ohio are also working to flip District 07 for fellow union member Brian Poindexter.
In Lorain County—the only Ohio county to vote for both Sherrod Brown and Donald Trump in 2024—the UAW is adding a contentious County Commission race to its campaign. UAW-represented county workers have been on strike since February 18.
The final three weeks of the UAW program will focus on making the case to all : together, we can put an end to status quo politics and make real change in Washington with working class fighters in Congress.
