The unions represent 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno. Their backing is so important that presidential candidates regularly stage rallies at union headquarters, using the unions’ political machine for outreach to Democratic voters that’s been pivotal.
Culinary has had a strong hand in Nevada, where the Democratic presidential nominee in the past four presidential elections has won the state. Additionally, all of the federal representatives in Congress from Las Vegas are Democrats, as are both U.S. senators from Nevada — with much of their campaigns’ groundwork put in by union members.
“Our members are going to be out in force — we’re knocking on doors, we register folks to vote, we’re going to be turning up votes,” Pappageorge said.
The list of candidates they are walking away from is significant, including state Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro of Las Vegas, Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager of Las Vegas, and Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno of North Las Vegas. Monroe-Moreno is chairwoman of the Nevada Democratic Party.