Posts tagged union
Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Victoria Martz, Indiana House of Representatives District 55

Indiana is known as one of the most solidly Republican states in the country. But it does not necessarily need to be. Indiana has a long and proud tradition of manufacturing, supported by labor unions who made the state a notable center of steel production, automotive production, pharmaceuticals, and other heavy manufacturing. Indiana is a state with a large working-class population, and in recent years the rights of working-class people have been rolled back by Republican governors and the legislature through weakening of labor unions’ strength (becoming a right-to-work state in 2012), cutting food aid, and cutting access to child care.

Victoria Martz (she/her) is a bisexual millennial criminal defense lawyer who grew up on a farm in rural southeastern Indiana. Her experiences on the farm taught her the value of hard work and the dignity of owning one’s own labor. Victoria’s campaign focuses on workers’ rights, the legalization of marijuana (building tax revenue for the state to expand social programs), and creating public service programs for mental health.

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Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Rachel Ventura, Illinois Senate District 43

This week we kick off the 2024 election season with Rachel Ventura (she/her), who is a Democratic Socialist state senator from Illinois’ 43rd district, the part of the state in and around the city of Joliet. This single mother of twin daughters has degrees in Mathematics and Biology and has worked as an actuary and naturalist before joining a gaming company, Legendary Games. Rachel is passionate about taxing the rich, universal healthcare, campaign finance reform, and investing in the middle class.

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Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Nikki Merritt, Georgia State Senate District 9

Today we are continuing our profiles of our favorite Progressive candidates who are running to represent their communities at the state and federal levels, and move the country forward, to continue to ensure that all Americans are equally represented in government.

This week we are profiling Nikki Merritt (she/her/hers). Nikki is a Georgia State Senator representing Gwinnett County. She is a Black progressive Democrat and CWA Local 3204 labor union member. In the Georgia State Senate, she prioritizes healthcare, worker protections, voting rights, and education. She is married with two children.

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