This newsletter is a 6-minute read.

Hi john, first off — thank you to all of our first responders for keeping Texans safe during this week’s freeze across the state.

Now, here's your weekly Texas labor update:

This week, the Texas AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE) announced our 2026 primary election endorsements following delegates voting at the 2026 COPE Convention in Georgetown, Texas.

Throughout the endorsement process in Central Labor Councils, Area Labor Federations, and to our statewide leadership — it was clear that our endorsement is more meaningful and powerful than ever!

These candidates have proven to us that they have the backs of working people, and the Texas labor movement will have their backs in the March primary:

Statewide Endorsements

• U.S. Senate: No Action

• Governor: Gina Hinojosa (D), Member of TSEU (CWA 6186)

• Lieutenant Governor: Marcos Isaias Vélez (D), Assistant Director of USW District 13

• Attorney General: Nathan Johnson (D)

• Comptroller of Public Accounts: Sarah Eckhardt (D), Member of TSEU (CWA 6186)

• Commissioner of General Land Office: Jose Loya (D), Staff representative for USW District 13, Veterans of Steel Coordinator

• Agriculture Commissioner: Clayton Tucker (D)

• Railroad Commissioner: Jon Rosenthal (D)

• Texas Supreme Court, Place 1: Maggie Ellis (D), Member of AFSCME 1624 and TSEU (CWA 6186)

• Texas Supreme Court, Place 2: Chari Kelly (D), Member of AFSCME 1624

• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9: Holly Taylor (D), Member of AFSCME Texas Retiree Chapter 12

• 15th Court of Appeals, Place 3: Marc Meyer (D), Retired member of IAFF 341

Early voting for the 2026 primary election runs Feb. 17-27 and Election Day is Mar. 3. But first, we have to elect our union brother Taylor Rehmet to Texas Senate District 9 this Saturday! Let’s get to work!

Stay tuned for more content from our COPE Convention! You can watch the U.S. Senate Debate here.

TEXAS SENATE DISTRICT 9 COVERAGE:

Featuring International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Texas State Council President Taylor Rehmet

• High stakes Fort Worth Senate runoff: Union leader vs. MAGA activist — Fort Worth Star-Telegram

• A ‘bellwether’ election: Tarrant’s Texas Senate runoff draws national attention — Fort Worth Report 

• In Tarrant County, a Hub for the Far Right, a Democrat Seeks a Major Upset — Texas Monthly

• A Tight Statehouse Race in Texas Offers Republicans a Warning — The New York Times

ACROSS THE STATE:

Austin: Austin council item establishes consultation agreement between city management, city workers’ union — KXAN, featuring American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1624 President Brydan Summers

Austin: Austin RNs hold vigil for Minnesota nurse Alex Pretti, describe him as 'one of our own' — KUT News, featuring National Nurses United member Kristine Kittelson

Fort Worth: 85% Of Eligible Fort Worth Report Employees Seek Union Recognition For Job Protections — The Dallas Express, featuring the newly-formed Fort Worth Reporters Guild

San Antonio: In rare move, labor group opposes Democratic incumbents in San Antonio primaries — San Antonio Report featuring San Antonio AFL-CIO President Alejandra Lopez

STATEWIDE:

• Organized labor eyes comeback in Texas Senate, other state races — The Dallas Morning News, featuring Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar and United Auto Workers (UAW) leader Jimmy Mack

• Texas AFL-CIO gives primary race endorsements, declines pick for US Senate — KXAN, featuring Texas AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar

• Texas Senate Primary Debate: Why the Texas AFL-CIO endorsement matters — KXAN

• Senate hopefuls give masterclass in democracy, while universities enforce censorship — Houston Chronicle

• Teachers’ union asks court to stop investigations into educators over Charlie Kirk posts — KXAN, featuring Texas AFT President Zeph Capo

• Texas pauses H-1B visas for high-skilled workers at colleges and state agencies — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, featuring Texas State Employees Union (CWA Local 6186) board member Anne Lewis

• Steelworkers union leader emerges as sleeper in Texas’ Democratic lieutenant governor primary — featuring United Steelworkers (USW) District 13 Assistant Director Marcos Vélez

• Why one blue-collar Texas Democrat thinks he can win over working-class voters — San Antonio Express-News featuring USW District 13 Assistant Director Marcos Vélez

• Federal cuts hinder senior access to Social Security help, advocates say — Spectrum News 1 featuring Texas Alliance for Retired Americans (TARA) President Gene Lantz

AFL-CIO, AFGE mourn killing of Minneapolis union member amid ICE protests — Labor Tribune, featuring AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President Everett Kelley

‘Shameful’: Trump’s EPA accused of prioritizing big business over public health — The Guardian, featuring Justin Chen, president of AFGE Council 238

‘The Biggest Act of Union-Busting in U.S. History’: Trump’s War on Federal Workers — New York Times

Administration’s Move to Gut FEMA Staffing Violates Agency’s Independence and Mission, New Lawsuit Asserts — AFGE, AFSCME, SEIU, and others

🏃 LABOR ON THE MOVE

NEW ORGANIZING ✊ Journalists and staff at the Fort Worth Report have formed the Fort Worth Reporters Guild, part of the Media Guild of the West and The NewsGuild-CWA.

Congratulations to Travis Ray, who recently retired from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 72 (Waco).

Congratulations to UA Local 211 (Deer Park) brother David Guttowsky, who retired after more than 45 years of service.

Congratulations to Bill Tondre, who recently received his 65-year membership certificate and pin from United Association (UA) Local 142 (San Antonio).

💐 IN MEMORY

Alma Nails, member of UAW Local 276 in Grand Prairie, passed away on Jan. 14 at the age of 86.

Jeremy Don Mayo passed away on Jan. 25. Jeremy was the son of Donny Mayo, business representative for IBEW Local 66 (Houston).

Our hearts go out to their friends and family.

🚨 TAKE ACTION

ADD YOUR NAME: Tell Hearst: Keep Texas news written by Texans!
Hearst Media has bought up dozens of local newspapers across the state and now owns the four largest newspapers in Texas. We need to make sure that our local news and journalists’ jobs are protected! Take action here.

📆 EVENTS THIS WEEK

TODAY virtually: Union Text Bank: CD-18 Special Election Runoff in Houston

Join the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation for a virtual text bank to GOTV to union members for Christian Menefee for the CD-18 Special Election on Jan. 31. Details here.

TODAY virtually: Temporary Protected Status Under Threat: What It Means for Organized Labor

Join AFL-CIO constituency groups for this webinar on TPS. Details here.

TODAY in Corpus Christi: NNU Candlelight Vigil for Alex Pretti

Join National Nurses United (NNU) members to honor AFGE member Alex Pretti and all who have been murdered by ICE, and to demand that Congress vote to immediately abolish ICE. Details here.

Saturday, Jan. 31: Election Day

Election Day for Special Election Runoffs, including Texas Senate District 9 and Congressional District 18. Details here.

Saturday, Jan. 31 virtually: Union Text Bank: CD-18 Special Election Runoff in Houston

Join the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation for a virtual text bank to GOTV to union members for Christian Menefee for the CD-18 Special Election on 1/31. Details here.

Monday, Feb. 2: Last Day to Register to Vote for Primary Election

This is the last day you can register to vote for the March 3 primary election. Details here.

📆 PLAN AHEAD

Feb. 21 in Cedar Creek: The Bigger Broader Bolder Bash

Join the Texas AFL-CIO for our inaugural Texas AFL-CIO Bigger Broader Bolder Bash to celebrate retired President Rick Levy’s years of commitment to the Texas labor movement! Details here.

See all upcoming Texas labor events here.

📝 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMS

DUE THIS SATURDAY, Jan. 31: 2026 Texas AFL-CIO High School Scholarship applications Each year, the Texas AFL-CIO awards dozens of scholarships to Texas high school seniors, as well as to members or children of members of affiliated local unions. Learn more and apply here.

The newly formed North Texas Area Labor Federation (NTxALF) is hiring its first Executive Director! This key leadership role will build regional labor power among 40,000 union members and support affiliates across 11 counties. Details here.

On Wednesday, hundreds of union and community members from across industries joined with Austin NNU members for a candlelit vigil to honor the memory of AFGE member and VA nurse Alex Pretti.

Did you enjoy this newsletter? Let us know and submit photos, events, and other Texas labor news to [email protected]!

In Solidarity,

Team Texas AFL-CIO

Texas AFL-CIO

1106 Lavaca St

Austin, TX 78701

Visit us at: texasaflcio.org

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