Illinois AFL-CIO makes endorsements after putting Democrats on pause

Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune on Jul 20, 2026

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The Illinois AFL-CIO on Monday issued endorsements for the Nov. 3 general election, a month after saying it was deferring support for statewide and legislative candidates in a stinging rebuke to the state’s Democratic Party rule.

In June, Tim Drea, president of the state’s largest umbrella organization for organized labor, cited frustrations with Democrats who control state government for failing to advance its agenda items on behalf of its 1.7 million union household members.

At the time, Drea likened the deferral of endorsements to a pause in order to hold discussions with Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon after failing to see several AFL-CIO-backed measures stalled in the General Assembly.

But it also was organized labor sending a loud message to Democrats from one of its most politically powerful constituencies.

“Last month, we sent a message that lawmakers must address labor’s unfinished priorities in the upcoming veto, lame-duck, and spring sessions and that the legislative process itself has fallen short of what working people deserve,” Drea said in a statement on Monday.

“It is clear from recent conversations with state leadership that the message has been received, and that we can look forward to a more collaborative process in the months to come,” he said. “Union members are now ready to get to work for our endorsed candidates.”

Drea said no commitments were made.

“We went in just to say, hey, we want to be heard,” he said. “The frustrations that we had were answered, and you know, it’s time to move on and work towards better policies for working families.”

The labor organization went on to endorse Pritzker’s reelection as well as Democrats for all statewide offices and an overwhelming number of Democrats running for state legislative seats.

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