Union Members Win 639 Public Offices in Midterms
The AFL-CIO reports union members won office across the country as union households favored Democrats by 21 percentage points.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Unions
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The AFL-CIO reported 639 union members were elected to public office in the 2026 midterm elections, including Democrats Troy Jackson, Abdul El-Sayed, Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico. Union households favored Democrats over Republicans by 21 percentage points nationwide on Election Day.
Why it matters
The result suggests organized labor's voter outreach reached a larger share of the electorate, with union members making up 15% of voters this year compared with 11% in 2024. The shift reflects union households responding to attacks on organized labor by the Trump administration and to rising living costs tied to tariffs and the war with Iran.
The AFL-CIO reported 639 union members won public office, while union households favored Democrats by 21 percentage points, up from nine points in the prior midterm cycle. The report does not break down how many winners hold federal, state or local posts.
The players
AFL-CIO
The AFL-CIO is the largest federation of unions in the United States, representing millions of workers across dozens of member unions.
Troy Jackson
Troy Jackson is a Maine Democrat and former state legislator and union leader who was elected to office in the 2026 midterms.
Abdul El-Sayed
Abdul El-Sayed is a Michigan Democrat and former public health official who was elected to office in the 2026 midterms.
James Talarico
James Talarico is a Texas Democrat and former state legislator who was elected to office in the 2026 midterms.
The details
Labor unions mounted historic efforts to bring disengaged union members to the polls, reaching more than 16 million union voters. Democrats won large majorities in the US House and Senate on Tuesday, with officials elected in Maine, Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, California, Illinois and Montana.
Timeline
2024: Union members made up 11% of the electorate in the prior election cycle.
2024 midterm cycle: Democrats led union households by nine points.
November 3, 2026: Midterm elections were held.
November 4, 2026: The AFL-CIO announced the 639 union members elected to office.
Political Context
Union share of the electorate rose from 11% in 2024 to 15% in 2026, extending a pattern of labor mobilization in federal races. The gain came as union households shifted toward Democrats by 21 points, compared with nine points in the prior midterm cycle.
Union voters are a growing share of the electorate, which can shape which candidates and policies gain traction in future elections. Voters who track labor issues may see more attention to tariffs, living costs and labor protections in coming campaigns.
The takeaway
Organized labor's turnout push helped move union households toward Democrats and raised union voters' share of the electorate to 15%. Readers following labor politics can track how this shift holds in future elections.
Further reading
Explore more Unions coverage for context on labor's role in the 2026 midterm results.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Common Dreams.
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