FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2026
September 22, 2026
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 5 California Candidates for Election to U.S. House
Categories:
Congress, Election 2026, House
AFGE says candidates will support federal employees and their vital work
LAKEWOOD, Calif. –– The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of five candidates for election to the U.S. House representing California in the 2026 elections. The general election is Nov. 3.
The newly endorsed candidates are:
- Mike McGuire (CD-1), president pro tempore of the California State Senate and the first rural Democratic leader to hold that post in more than a century.
- Dr. Richard Pan (CD-6), a pediatrician who secured $90 million in new federal funding for California’s emergency responders and helped keep Sacramento’s fire stations open during a budget crisis while representing the city in the California State Senate.
- Aisha Wahab (CD-14), a state senator who worked with AFGE Local 1260 to pass legislation protecting federal employees from eviction during government shutdowns.
- Jacqui Irwin (CD-26), former mayor of Thousand Oaks and member of the California State Assembly who chaired the assembly’s Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
- Marni von Wilpert (CD-48), who served as counsel on the House Committee on Education and Labor and helped write the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.
“AFGE needs candidates that support the vital work of federal employees and understand that our workplace rights are crucial in helping federal employees provide the best services to the country,” said AFGE District 12 National Vice President Mario Campos. “Jacqui Irwin, Mike McGuire, Dr. Richard Pan, Aisha Wahab, and Marni von Wilpert will help lead the way in ensuring that federal employees are given the dignity and respect they deserve by members of Congress.”
AFGE previously endorsed 39 current members of Congress for reelection to their seats representing California ahead of the statewide primary.
More than 255,000 federal employees live in California – caring for veterans, supporting the military, ensuring the safety of our food and air, and getting Social Security recipients their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents nearly 82,000 federal employees in District 12, which includes Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
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