In 2008, Working America has worked hard to elect candidates who will support working families. This year's successes provide an opportunity to engage our members in pushing for economic policies that work for working families. In 2009 and beyond, we will reach out to our members and other working people to build a force for change that truly will transform America.
The Wall Street Journal called us a "secret weapon" in 2008. They meant that, with little fanfare, we had become a giant progressive organization for working class moderates, with a powerful ability to change the priorities and behavior of our members.
Here's the "secret"-we work on economic issues all year round. In 2007 and 2008, 650,000 members wrote letters, signed petitions and made phone calls on such issues as health care and good jobs.
In the 2008 election, all eyes were on white working-class voters. We showed the power of focusing on economic issues and running a first-class operation-the Working America difference in bringing working-class moderates back into the progressive movement.
Our top-notch field operation is high performance-we hire carefully, train daily and enforce standards. Our field organizers care about their work and use their personal motivations to connect with potential members at the door.
President Obama
With white working-class voters in the national spotlight, John McCain tried to change the subject: "If we keep talking about the economic crisis, we're going to lose," said one of his top strategists.
Our challenge was to change the subject back-in what Harold Meyerson wrote was "probably the single greatest test in American history of labor's ability to get its members to vote more on the basis of class than on the basis of race." Working America and the entire AFL-CIO made this our mission.
Our success speaks for itself.
Member Profile
Our members often are not part of the progressive movement until they join Working America. They are eager for change but often lack good information, a way to get involved and are unsure how to vote.
The Working America Advantage
Working America members voted for Barack Obama at much higher rates than their counterparts in the public at large. This chart shows the margins by which groups voted for or against Obama. For example, while white men voted for McCain by 16 points, white male Working America members voted for Obama by 27 points.
2009 New Jobs, Good Jobs: Winning on the Issues
In 2009 and beyond, we will reach out to our members and other working people to build a force for change that truly will transform America.
An economy that works- The new administration will face immediate crises and long-term questions about whom the economy will serve. We'll organize for short-term relief that helps working families rather than gives windfalls to corporations, and long-term policy that creates good jobs, instead of rewarding employers who ship jobs overseas. And we'll push for strong regulation of the financial sector to prevent the need for future bailouts.
Health care for all- Health care is our members' No. 1 issue, but as individuals there's little they can do to fix a broken system. The battle over health care reform will be fierce—will it be business as usual for insurance and drug companies or affordable, universal health care? We'll have to fight hard for real reform. That fight must start immediately, in the narrow window of opportunity before the insurance industry starts its scare campaign for the status quo.
Workers' rights- Many Working America members are among the 60 million workers who would like to join a union. But labor laws are broken and more often than not prevent working people from having a say on the job. We'll work to restore basic workers' rights to bargain for better working conditions and more secure jobs.
Green jobs- Green jobs provide an opportunity to do right by today's workers and future generations. Clean energy measures can create millions of new jobs while reducing energy costs and fighting global warming. Working America members are enthusiastic about rebuilding a good jobs economy now that will improve America's environment and energy security for years to come.
WORKING AMERICA WINS |
| Race | Candidate | Win | WA Members | Persuasion Program |
Senate |
| Colorado | Mark Udall |  | 61,000 |  |
| New Hampshire | Jeanne Shaheen | | 10,000 | |
| New Mexico | Tom Udall | | 61,200 | |
| Oregon | Jeff Merkley | | 111,000 | |
| Virginia | Mark Warner | | 50,000 | |
Governor |
| Missouri | Jay Nixon | | 75,000 | |
House |
| CO-4 | Betsy Markey | | 4,160 | |
| IN-2 | Joe Donnelly | | 1190 | |
| IN-9 | Baron Hill | | 6220 | |
| KY-3 | John Yarmuth | | 51,603 | |
| ME-1 | Chellie Pingree | | 11,410 | |
| MI-7 | Mark Schauer | | 20,630 | |
| MI-9 | Gary Peters | | 29,050 | |
| MN-1 | Tim Walz | | 26,440 | |
| NH-1 | Carol Shea-Porter | | 5,820 | |
| NH-2 | Paul Hodes | | 4,180 | |
| NM-1 | Martin Heinrich | | 31,200 | |
| NM-2 | Harry Teague | | 6,700 | |
| OH-1 | Steve Driehaus | | 57,650 | |
| OH-16 | John Bocierri | | 34,270 | |
| OH-18 | Zack Space | | 24,040 | |
| OR-5 | Kurt Schrader | | 29,860 | |
| PA-3 | Kathy Dahlkemper | | 5,688 | |
| PA-4 | Jason Altmire | | 23,030 | |
| PA-7 | Joe Sestak | | 40,000 | |
| PA-8 | Chris Murphy | | 40,660 | |
| PA-11 | Paul Kanjorski | | 17,380 | |
| PA-12 | Jack Murtha | | 20,270 | |
| VA-11 | Gerry Connelly | | 15,930 | |
| WI-8 | Dr. Steve Kagan | | 3,150 | |
Ballot Measures |
| Colorado | Amendment 47:
Right to Work for Less | | 33,700 | |
| Colorado | Amendment 49:
Paycheck Deception | | 33,700 | |
| Oregon | Measure 64:
Paycheck Deception | | 193,000 | |
- Denotes races where Working America canvassed between Labor Day and Election Day.
Working America's voter persusasion program communicates with members about elections through a blend of targted door knocks, mail, phone calls, email and other contacts.
Click here to read and download the full report as a PDF
