Friend—Labor organizing is working wonders in this country.

Last week, the Writers Guild of America reached an agreement with studios and streaming services, ending a near-record 148-day strike.

WGA negotiators called the deal “exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in each section of the membership.” 

Just a few months before, anonymous studio executives said they would starve the writers out and agreed to nearly zero of their terms. But the writers remained unbroken, joined by solidarity from people across all sectors of the country and economy.

Working class solidarity works.

The labor movement is having a moment in America. Last week, Joe Biden joined striking United Auto Workers on the picket line in Michigan—a first for a sitting US president.

Some politicians have been more reluctant to support the growing labor wave. My governor, Gavin Newsom, vetoed monumental legislation that would have qualified striking workers for unemployment insurance in California. He cited budgetary shortfalls, but somehow had enough to allocate a $267 million grant toward hiring police officers to fight a fictional retail crime wave.

Shame on Gavin Newsom for lacking the moral courage to do what’s right.

And shame on Newsom for vetoing a bill that would require custody hearings to consider a child’s gender identity. This lack of protection for genderqueer youth is very disappointing in a supposedly LGBTQIA+ friendly state like California.

We need to hold our leaders accountable for the legislation they support and oppose, for their actions and their votes. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with some of the Biden Administration’s choices with regard to the labor movement. And I’m neither surprised nor pleased with the conservative turn taken lately by Governor Newsom.

As a 100% individual donation-powered, community-driven candidate, I’m not afraid to hold our politicians accountable. I won’t be afraid to call out hypocrisy or injustice in Congress—I respect moral clarity and sense of vision in dealing with my coworkers, and would have to hope my colleagues in the House would do as well in our collaboration.

This is a campaign by and for the people, in 100% solidarity with labor and the working class. Corporate money is a powerful force, but organized people are stronger. I’m incredibly proud to have you on my side.

In solidarity,

Maebe Pudlo