Statement from IFT President Dan Montgomery on Results of Tuesday's Elections, Including WRA Win

There is no better way to say this: Tuesday night was HUGE!

Voters up and down our state overwhelmingly rejected the lies, misinformation, and divisiveness spread during this election cycle and said YES to workers' rights and candidates who will prioritize public education, protect collective bargaining, and preserve retirement security. The vast majority of IFT-endorsed candidates won their races in yesterday's elections!

None of this would have happened without the work of IFT members like you. I want to personally thank every member who made phone calls, canvassed neighborhoods, or knocked on doors to tell voters about the critical issues at stake in this election.

Thanks largely to your efforts, the Workers’ Rights Amendment (Amendment 1) will now be enshrined in our state's constitution,permanently protecting the fundamental and fair right to collectively bargain for fair pay, smaller class sizes, safe workplaces, and more. This is an exciting and historic win for Illinois' working people and our communities!

But the passage of the Workers' Rights Amendment was just the beginning of our victories in this election. We are also excited that Governor JB Pritzker resoundinglywon a second term, defeating his extremist, anti-union challenger. From the moment IFT members helped to elect him in 2018, he has been a consistent and vocal champion of public education and the working people of Illinois. Along with our longtime friend Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, we know he will continue to be our ally in Springfield over the next four years.

We congratulate IFT-endorsed and newly elected Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, along with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, and State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, who all won re-election.

And in critical Illinois Supreme Court races, we are thrilled to say that in Justices Mary K. O’Brien and Elizabeth Rochford, Illinois has elected dedicated public servants who will protect women’s reproductive rights and collective bargaining and defend public education.

Illinois will be well-represented in Washington DC, too. Congresswoman-elect Nikki Budzinski will be a labor-friendly, public education ally in Congress, alongside re-elected Congressman Sean Casten. And we send special congratulations to Congresswoman-elect Delia Ramirez, who will be the first Latina from the Midwest to serve in Congress. She will be a staunch supporter of working families and public education. In the U.S. Senate, Senator Tammy Duckworth, a true friend of labor and education, won her re-election overwhelmingly.

Looking at these wins, I feel so hopeful and inspired. This election is further proof of what we can accomplish in our union for working people, students, and the citizens of Illinois when we work TOGETHER.

Please check here for the full election results.