On Tuesday, June 25, Special Election Day in Massachusetts for the U.S. Senate race, 1199SEIU members braved a record-breaking heat wave and turned out the vote for U.S. Senator-elect Ed Markey, a Democrat who won the seat with a 10-point lead over his Republican opponent, Gabriel Gomez.



“It was a great election. It was worthwhile. I was never unsure Ed Markey wasn’t going to win. His win proves we did our job,” said Anthony Sanders, a personal care attendant from Peabody who spent the last four months working as a member political organizer in Lynn.



Speaking with voters across the state, member political organizers and member-volunteers were active in both the Massachusetts Primary on April 30 and the June 25 election. Knocking on doors, making phone calls, and handing out literature, 1199SEIU member-volunteers became fierce advocates for Markey, a long-time union ally and voice for healthcare workers. With a strong understanding that our votes are our voice, 1199SEIU members focused on neighborhoods with historically low voter turnout to empower voters and help them have a voice.



Not only battling a three-day heat wave leading up to the election, union members also had to contend with a historically low voter turnout as many voters were unaware of the election.

Johanna Montalvo, a personal care attendant from Worcester, said she was pleased with the results of the election after months of volunteering: “It was amazing. We achieved our goals. We have elected someone who will fight for us and invest in our communities. We are tired, but we feel great.”



Lydia Lebron, an 1199SEIU member from Springfield, said that all members went above and beyond to make sure that Ed Markey received the votes to win the seat.

“I feel great. It was worth it. Even though it was hot and we were tired, it was worth it,” she said.



Bryan Herrera, a nursing home worker at Courtyard Nursing home who canvassed the Boston area, said he enjoyed the one-on-one interaction and educating voters about the issues.



“I like talking to people who don’t know about politics and educating them,” he said, noting that he felt great that Ed Markey had won.



1199SEIU members will have a short reprieve before jumping back into the political ring. This fall, long-serving Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will retire after serving 20 years in office. 1199SEIU members in Boston will be active in the mayoral race and will hold a candidates forum on July 11 to interview several of the candidates for the coveted mayoral seat. 1199SEIU members will also need to find a replacement for Markey, who served as a congressman for the Fifth Congressional district in Massachusetts.



Also, in 2014, Massachusetts voters will have to vote for a U.S. Senator, a new governor, candidates for the 200 state legislative seats, and nine U.S. congressional representatives.