Council 36's activism leads to major midterm victories!

The 2026 midterm elections are winding down. For months, AFSCME District Council 36 members like yourself worked tirelessly to get out the vote for pro-worker candidates and helped many of our endorsed candidates and ballot measures across the finish line.  

I was encouraged to see how AFSCME District Council 36 mobilized and spoke to thousands of union members across southern California by knocking on doors, making phone calls, and having one-on-one conversations with our neighbors, family, and friends.  

The election may be over, but our work is not complete. Now, it is time we make sure elected officials deliver for workers and our communities. Voters made their economic fatigue clear this election. The inability to afford rent, groceries, and childcare has resounded overwhelming in our communities. Now it's time to hold our elected officials accountable. It is time to roll up our sleeves to ensure those elected work alongside labor to ensure our communities have the resources they need and the ability to live affordably in the communities we love.

The most powerful messengers to elected officials are workers, like yourself, who perform essential public services every day and the union members who vote in their districts, which is why Council 36 members must continue to be politically engaged. Our strength doesn’t just come from our ability to collectively bargain, but also from the ability to speak directly to policymakers about how legislative and policy decisions impact workers and communities.  

I am extremely proud of all the work our members continue to do, making AFSCME DC 36 a leader in fighting for our communities.  

Matthew A. Maldonado 
Executive Director 
AFSCME District Council 36