BAC Journal > Election Overview

Election Overview

2014 Issue 3
Election 2014
JOURNAL ISSUE 3 - 2014

For BAC President James Boland, the greatest threat to the interests of middle class working people on Election Day, November 4th, isn’t any one candidate, but rather indifference – or its evil twin, ‘gridlock fatigue’ – all of which could contribute to low turnout by moderate to progressive voters this midterm election.

“People who care about and depend on good jobs, fair wages, safe working conditions, the right to organize, and a level playing field for law-abiding contractors in construction have to get out and vote their interests,” says President Boland. “Unfortunately, exploitative, low-road employers and corporations are highly motivated to continue pushing their low-wage, anti-worker agenda by spending billions in undisclosed funds to influence elections this fall. Labor may not outspend them, but we outnumber them, which is why it’s so critical for our members to know the issues and vote accordingly.”

What’s at stake on November 4th? Thirty-six governorships, 46 state legislatures, the entire House of Representatives (435 seats) and 33 out of 100 U.S. Senators, not to mention numerous local and other state races. In 2012, the majority parties in Congress each managed to maintain control – republicans in the House and democrats in the Senate. Two years later, national attention is riveted on control of the Senate, considered a virtual tossup. “We’re all fed up with gridlock, but at the federal level, losing a democratic majority in the Senate could stall a number of vitally important regulatory measures – including a final silica standard – and endanger legislative priorities such as rebuilding our schools and infrastructure,” says BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, who coordinates BAC political action.

The following pages highlight whether certain candidates share BAC members’ priorities such as good paying jobs and stronger economic growth, with working people sharing equitably in the recovery:

  • Key Races (Members only) – critical elections in battleground states;
  • Labor-Endorsed Candidates (Members only) – a state-by-state list of state and congressional candidates whose positions on job creation and workers’ rights have earned BAC’s support.

But don’t stop here – for further updates, a list of U.S. Representatives’ and Senators’ voting records on key BAC issues and links to other online resources, visit www.bacweb.org and click on the 2014 Elections banner.