John,
Summer is heating up — and so is the fight for working families.
Keep reading for the biggest moments from this month, including how we’re organizing protests, launching campaigns, and winning at the ballot box:
TRUMP MEGABILL: THEY REALLY DID IT
Despite months of organizing and protesting — and repeated promises from Republicans in Congress and Trump that Medicaid wouldn’t be touched — Republicans passed the largest healthcare cuts in history, slashing more than $1 trillion from Medicaid funding.
Working Families Power, along with MoveOn and other allies, spent the final week running phonebanks every night, with thousands of volunteers reaching out to Medicaid recipients in key districts, urging them to call their lawmakers to oppose the bill. But GOP lawmakers ignored their constituents and passed it anyway.
After the bill’s passage, WFP announced plans to back challengers to Republicans who sided with billionaires over working people:
“We deserve leaders who will fight for us — not obey the commands of their wealthiest donors. That’s why this month the Working Families Party will be announcing its backing of challengers to the GOP frauds who betrayed their communities by voting for this bill.”
But this fight is far from over, John. While Republicans sold out their communities to serve their billionaire backers, we’re doing what we’ve always done: organizing, mobilizing, and building real power from the ground up.
WFP organizers and volunteers are already out there — at doors, in streets, and in neighborhoods — refusing to back down and fighting for the future we all deserve.
Chip in now to help us hold the GOP accountable and build the political power working people need to win.
2026 IS ALREADY HERE: MEET OUR FIRST TWO HOUSE CHALLENGERS
The GOP’s vote to slash Medicaid won’t go unanswered, John — we’re building campaigns right now to unseat the politicians who betrayed their constituents.
This month, we’re proud to have endorsed our first two Working Families Party candidates for Congress in 2026, both running to defeat Republicans who voted to rip healthcare away from millions.
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In Colorado’s 8th District, Amie Baca-Oehlert is taking on GOP Rep. Gabe Evans, who barely won his last race. A teacher, mother, and former president of the Colorado Education Association, Amie has spent her life fighting for working families — and she’s ready to do the same in Congress.
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In California’s 22nd District, Randy Villegas is challenging Rep. David Valadao — who promised to protect Medicaid, then voted for its destruction. Randy’s a school board trustee, educator, and son of immigrants, running a people-powered campaign that’s already raised over $231,000 from 3,300 grassroots donors — no corporate PAC money, ever.
These aren’t long-shot campaigns. They’re the real deal — serious contenders with deep community roots, working-class values, and momentum on their side.
Help us build early momentum in 2026 — split a donation between Amie and Randy today.
ADELITA GRIJALVA WINS ARIZONA SPECIAL ELECTION PRIMARY FOR CONGRESS
In Arizona’s 7th District, WFP champion Adelita Grijalva just crushed her primary with 62% of the vote — the first big win of the 2026 cycle.
As a Pima County Supervisor, Adelita delivered real results: free preschool for low-income families, bold investments in climate resiliency, and affordable housing. Her opponent? A pro-corporate former legislator who barely scraped 14%.
With support from LUCHA, Worker Power, and Our Voice Our Vote, we knocked on over 90,000 doors. We also invested $200,000 in targeted ads and voter outreach — and it paid off.
As Adelita said to MSNBC on election night: this victory belongs to the movement.
She’s expected to win the general election this September — and this is just the beginning.
Chip in now to help us win even more races like this in 2026.
ONWARD TO NOVEMBER IN NYC: A WORKING FAMILIES PARTY VICTORY
Last month, Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary for NYC Mayor in a landslide — defeating disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his billionaire backers.
As WFP National Director Maurice Mitchell said, this wasn’t just a win — it was a mandate. Or just watch NY1 journalist Courtney Gross declare, “Now it’s a Working Families Party party,” live on election night.
The New York Working Families Party coordinated over 100 canvasses and events, ran viral videos featuring NYC Councilmember Chi Ossé that generated 3 million+ views, and aired national ads with AOC and Cynthia Nixon, completely reshaping the race.
Starting from just 1% in the polls, Zohran’s rise to the top was historic. And it wasn’t a fluke — NY WFP also won key mayoral races in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany. Hear NY WFP co-directors Ana María Archila and Jasmine Gripper break it all down on The Brian Lehrer Show.
Plus, new polling from WFP National PAC and New Yorkers for Lower Costs shows Zohran leading with 40% in the General Election, well ahead of Cuomo (24%), Adams (15%), and Silwa (14%).
But the fight isn’t over. Billionaires are regrouping. Cuomo and right-wing forces are hunting for alliances. It’s going to take all of us to win in November.
It’s time to organize, gear up, and fight to win in November.
A STINKY SITUATION IN PHILLY
When Philadelphia’s municipal workers, members of AFSCME DC 33, launched an eight-day strike for a fair contract, the city came to a standstill. Trash piled up — quickly dubbed “Parker Piles” — and essential services were disrupted. Their message was simple: in a city that just voted to give more tax breaks to wealthy corporations, working-class employees deserve fair pay and dignity.
AFSCME DC 33 is the lowest-paid of Philly’s four municipal unions, and the only one with a majority-Black membership. Most members earn less than a living wage — even as they keep the city running.
The Pennsylvania Working Families Party stood with AFSCME DC 33 every step of the way: organizing call-in campaigns, raising for the strike fund, and joining picket lines. WFP Councilmember Kendra Brooks also spoke out — you can read her full statement here.
But instead of meeting the workers’ demands, Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration tried to shut down the strike with court injunctions.
And even with strong public support — from everyday Philadelphians to artists like LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan — the pressure wasn’t enough. The final contract fell short of the union’s demands and passed by a slim margin.
We’re not backing down though. We’ll keep fighting to make Philly a city where every worker earns a living wage and has the resources to thrive.
WATCH OUR VIDEO — GOOD TROUBLE: HONORING JOHN LEWIS' LEGACY W/ PARK CANNON
On the anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’s passing, we honored his legacy the best way we know how — by continuing his fight.
We released a new video featuring Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon, a WFP-endorsed leader, reflecting on Lewis’s call to make “good trouble,” and what that means today as Trump and his allies try to divide and distract us.
It’s a powerful reminder that our strength lies in unity. And that together, we can defeat the government of billionaires and build one that truly serves all of us.
Watch our video featuring Park Cannon here.
NEW LOCAL ENDORSEMENTS IN MICHIGAN, GEORGIA, AND OHIO
We’ve got new endorsements — and they’re the kind of leaders who’ve been doing the work long before they were on the ballot.
📍 Detroit, Michigan (Primary is Tuesday, August 5)
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Denzel McCampbell (for City Council, District 7) grew up in Detroit and has been organizing for clean water, voting rights, and affordable housing for years. He helped rewrite the city charter to hold power accountable — now he’s running to fight for working streetlights, tenant protections, and transit that actually works.
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Gabriela Santiago-Romero (for City Council, District 6) is a Mexican immigrant and lifelong organizer raised in Southwest Detroit. As the current incumbent in District 6, she’s secured $1M for street safety, expanded homeownership access, and continues to reject all corporate PAC money. Because she's fighting for her community — not special interests.
📍 Atlanta, Georigia
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Rohit Malhotra (for City Council president) is the son of immigrants and a nationally recognized civic leader. He’s spent his career helping cities center racial justice, public trust, and community-led solutions. Now he’s running for City Council President to flip the script — and build a city that works for everyone, not just the powerful.
📍 Dayton, Ohio
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Shenise Turner-Sloss (for Mayor) is a union member, public servant, and proven WFP champion. is a union member, public servant, and proven WFP champion. As City Commissioner, she’s delivered funding for youth programs, pushed for transparent budgets, and led the creation of Dayton’s first housing policy. Now, she’s ready to go even further as mayor.
Find the rest of our endorsed candidates here and let's keep building power from the ground up.
WFP Call Team
Joining the WFP Call Team is an opportunity to make a major impact in elections and policy fights across the country.
We’ll keep you up to date on virtual phone banking opportunities that will allow you to directly reach voters, to share with them what we’re fighting for and how they can help. Sign up to join the team here.
Join the Call Team »
WFP Welcome Gathering
Our next WFP National Welcome Gathering is Thursday, August 21st at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT!
At the gathering, you can hear from WFP organizers who will share what we’re working on nationwide and any ways to get plugged in.
If you’re feeling anxious about this political moment and the fight ahead, the Welcome Gathering is an opportunity to ground yourself in our shared values and community. We hope to see you there! RSVP here.
RSVP: WFP Welcome Gathering »
Thanks for catching up with us, John!
Right now, working families are getting crushed — Medicaid is being slashed, rents are soaring, and wages are stuck while billionaires keep getting richer. This isn’t just a fight to defend what we have left. It’s a fight to build a movement powerful enough to demand justice, win bold victories, and reclaim the future our communities deserve.
In the months ahead, we’re going all in: organizing to win critical local elections and laying the groundwork to elect working-class champions to Congress in 2026.
Make a contribution today to help to power that fight — fueling organizers, mobilizing volunteers, and lifting up candidates who have our backs. Every dollar helps us build the momentum we need to win.
Make a donation »
In solidarity,
Team WFP
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