Less than two months before the primary election for California governor, the powerful Service Employees International Union of California (SEIU California) has to elect a new candidate, after the departure of Eric Swalwell from the race and, although he does not mention names, its new president, Arnulfo de la Cruz accepts that he may be a Latino or also a woman
Today, SEIU California, which has almost a million members, could announce its support for the candidate its members have had to choose, once again, and, in an interview with La Opinión, De La Cruz ruled out that money can buy the governorship.
Do you consider that the candidate who has spent the most money is the one who can buy the election?
“No. In terms of resources, a minimum is required to launch a campaign for the governorship. You do not win the election with money. Yes, money is required, but it also requires people and that is the power of the union,” he responded.
“Do they have resources and do they have the people? We have thousands of members in all the communities of California,” he added. “So, it is about that coalition of different unions, community organizations, small businesses, with communities of faith, the coalition can be massive and with few resources. Or, with the minimum, you can put together a campaign for governor in California. No, it is not just about money, it is about having the faith and trust of the voters of the people.”
With too many candidates, the primary election on June 2 and the fact that the Democratic Party has not defined a firm candidate who brings together all the aspirations of those who are going to vote. Doesn’t it mean internal division of the party and that the governorship is being handed to the Republicans on a silver platter?
“Of course it can be. It is possible that two Republicans will reach the general election in California in 2026 [Steve Hilton y Chad Bianco] We want to avoid that, and we have to elect a Democrat who comes in the first two positions after the [elección] primary.
Although the vast majority of registered voters in California are Democrats, that does concern us a lot.”
Do you think the union is prepared for a Latino candidate? Do you believe in the union that it is not yet time for a Latino to be governor?
“Of course yes. It may be in this election that the first Latino candidate arrives [Xavier Becerra o Antonio Villaragoisa] for governor of California; It may also be that, for the first time, a woman arrives as governor of California,” he responds. “It may also be that a person who has not held office as an elected official and who has very progressive solutions to change the tax structure arrives for the first time. [Tom Steyer]”.
Having the first Latino governor in California would be historic, don’t you think so?
“That would be historic. There is an opportunity to do that, depending on who arrives…we also have a woman, or rather, several.” Katie Porter is the only one, after Betty Yee’s retirement.
SEIU California rescinded its endorsement of Swalwell, following allegations of sexual abuse. The former California gubernatorial candidate withdrew from the race and resigned from the House of Representatives.
“As a union made up predominantly of women, SEIU has prioritized fighting for workplaces free of sexual harassment and assault,” was the official statement from SEIU California, in a statement.
“Many of our members have experienced sexual harassment, coercion, abuse and rape at work and know firsthand how difficult it is to come forward in any circumstance, but especially when they know that the abuser has more power than you and that your life and future is at stake.”
Steyer has the money, Becerra has the people
Data compiled by advertising tracking firm AdImpact reveals that Steyer has spent or booked more than $115 million on ads for broadcast television, cable television and radio; a figure that almost triples that of his closest Democratic rival.
However, Xavier Becerra, son of Mexican immigrants, in a new Just Voter Challenge survey, conducted among 3,404 California voters with a high probability of participating in the primary elections, placed him leading the race for governor with 23 percent.
He is followed by Republican Steve Hilton with 19.7 percent; Next are fellow Republican Chad Bianco with 16.68 percent, Democrat Tom Steyer with 13.9 percent and Katie Porter with 11.39 percent.
California State Comptroller Betty Yee announced this week that she was withdrawing from the race for California governor.
The survey was conducted between April 14 and 20, among registered and verified voters, selected directly from the California voter registry.
Each respondent was required to have a documented history of participation in at least three of the last four major state elections.
The SEIU has little time to carry out the process of selecting a new “rooster” for the fight for governor, which also includes Tony Turmond, superintendent of public education.
To choose the candidate, according to De la Cruz, they would analyze their years in activism to register voters, help people achieve citizenship and then register them as voters, “who are champions in supporting unions and workers” – regardless of the positions they have held as elected officials -, who have values, who have demonstrated their leadership, “and who have raised their voices with the policies they have supported throughout their careers, among many other characteristics.
Everyone, except the mayor of San José, emphasized that, from the beginning of the gubernatorial race, “we were very clear that we are not at Mahan’s desire.” [Mat Mahan, alcalde de San José] because he has done harmful things against unions in Santa Clara County.”
He added that: “We have little time left to make a decision who we are going to support and receive the mail-in ballots among union members,” he said. “The process has been difficult with so many candidates, and we do not detract from any of them in terms of supporting working families.”
He considered that there are “good candidates” who have done a lot for the members of SEIU California, “but who have very little chance of reaching the Sacramento house as governor, because they have not been able to raise funds in California to run a gubernatorial campaign in the 58 counties of California.”
“It requires a lot of resources to put together a campaign and talk to 26 million voters. I mean, you can’t do that with a campaign rig with 10 volunteers and $1 million. It requires many more resources, a massive coalition of different sectors to launch a campaign for governor. So I see few who have been able to put together the resources and cohesion necessary to have a campaign as governor in California.”
