Every two years, union delegates come together at our Committee on Political Education (COPE) Convention to talk strategy for building political power and vote on which candidates we’ll endorse in the 2026 midterm elections. We’ll also hear from national leaders about how workers can win together in our fight against billionaires, including:
SEIU California and SEIU-USWW President David Huerta, whose immigrant rights advocacy has built a powerful, more inclusive California labor movement. In June 2025, Huerta was arrested and injured while standing up for immigrant rights during an ICE raid targeting garment workers. He’s been charged and is still awaiting trial.
"I look forward to presenting my case and being exonerated. I will continue to stand with you until every worker and every family is safe from raids, separation and fear, and our constitutional rights are protected," said Huerta.
U.S. Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), who has dedicated her life to fighting for public education. She started her political career on her local school board. There, she led the successful effort to significantly expand pre-school availability, fiercely defended Mexican-American Studies and bilingual curriculum from attacks by the Arizona State Legislature, and advocated for investments in public schools in historically overlooked communities.
Last year after winning her election to the U.S. House, Grijalva fought to be sworn in after seven weeks of delay, the longest in congressional history.
NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss, whose leadership at the intersection of journalism and the labor movement fights for a free press that demands accountability.
Schleuss grew up in rural Arkansas, and was part of the group that organized the Los Angeles Times in 2018. As journalists fight corporate consolidation in Texas, Schleuss and the NewsGuild are a beacon of hope.
By coming together as a labor movement, we keep our communities together, build political power, and make sure working families have what they need to thrive.
We’ll see you in Georgetown Jan. 24-25.