SEIU California Endorses Michael Tubbs for Lieutenant Governor

California’s Largest Labor Union Backs The Former Stockton Mayor’s Campaign

LOS ANGELES — The SEIU California State Council – which represents 750,000 nurses, health care workers, janitors, social workers, in-home caregivers, school and university employees, and more – today announced its sole endorsement of Michael Tubbs for California lieutenant governor.

“Michael Tubbs has been with us for every major fight in recent years – for fairer wages for fast food workers, for rideshare drivers’ right to organize, and for dignity for caregivers,” said Arnulfo De La Cruz, President  of SEIU Local 2015 and Executive Board Member of SEIU California State Council. “Michael represents the future of leadership in our state – someone who can transform what’s possible for California to improve working people’s lives and create brighter prospects for their futures. This is why we’re wholeheartedly backing his campaign to be California’s next lieutenant governor.”

Tubbs has a long track record of standing side by side with SEIU members, going back to his time as Stockton mayor when he advocated to keep two local health clinics open that residents relied on for basic health care needs. More recently, he defended the new minimum wage for fast food workers, supported legislation allowing rideshare drivers to unionize, and called on LA County to provide a living wage to in-home care workers.

“I am honored and grateful to have gained the endorsement of California’s largest union. Together, we’ve fought for the rights of rideshare drivers, raised the floor for fast food workers, and demanded dignity for caregivers,” said Michael Tubbs. “As Lieutenant Governor, I will continue that fight across the state to build a California that includes hard working families and enables them to thrive.”

BACKGROUND:

Tubbs served as mayor of Stockton from 2017-2021, where he was lauded for his leadership and innovation in turning around a city that had declared bankruptcy, was an epicenter of the foreclosure crisis, and had one of the highest murder rates in the country. By championing new jobs and making a green economy, Tubbs was able to move Stockton forward economically. Under his stewardship, Stockton was named the second-most fiscally healthy city in California and one of the most fiscally healthy cities in the nation. 

Tubbs’ accomplishments in office also include:

  • Raising more than $20 million to create the Stockton Scholars, a scholarship and mentorship program for Stockton students
  • Creating a guaranteed basic income project that demonstrated the power of economic agency and has now been adopted by 150+ mayors and 50+ county officials across the United States
  • Spearheading a Stockton Green New Deal to mobilize a diverse coalition to address environmental injustices
  • Working with the police chief to reduce homicides by as much as 40% and led the state in the decline of officer-involved shootings 
  • Supporting businesses throughout the city and working with new groups like Main Street Launch, a non-profit supporting the growth of small businesses new to the city

Since leaving office, Tubbs has continued his work on economic opportunity in his roles as Special Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility and founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and End Poverty in California (EPIC), where he led a 10-stop statewide listening tour to hear from Californians about their experiences living in poverty.

Learn more about Michael Tubbs and his campaign for lieutenant governor at MichaelTubbsforCA.com. 

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