WHY SEIU ENDORSED PEGGY
SEIU members work across the state in hospitals, nursing home, in home care, public schools, colleges and cleaning and protecting buildings housing some of the richest corporations in the world. We bring together people across different races, religions, genders, zip codes and more. We fight every day against greedy companies and bad bosses to get working families the pay, benefits and respect we deserve. As a small few try to divide us so they can rip us off and hoard even more wealth, we know that there is strength in coming together and standing up to bullies.
We endorsed Peggy Flanagan for U.S. Senate because even before she first ran for office, she has stood with working people. She’s listened to our stories, walked picket lines, and as she has successfully won offices from School Board to the State Legislature to Lt. Governor, she’s used her power to stand up to bullies and fight with and for working people. We need a fighter like Peggy in the U.S. Senate, which is why our 70,000 person union endorsed Peggy to be the next U.S. Senator from Minnesota. We hope you’ll join us in supporting Peggy.
SEIU MEMBERS ON WHY PEGGY SHOULD GET THE DFL ENDORSEMENT
Dear DFL Delegates,
I am a janitor in Bloomington and a proud union member. I am sharing my story because I personally experienced the horrors of Operation Metro Surge, and those experiences matter as you consider who should represent us as our next U.S. Senator.
The surge felt like living in a horror movie in which my family, coworkers, and community were the targets. Officers parked outside my workplace, waiting to detain non-White workers. The coworkers who were taken had spouses and children who depended on their income to survive.
Families often could not locate loved ones after they were detained. Many were held without due process and sent out of state. Even now, the fear has not gone away. People in my community still worry that stepping outside could mean being detained by individuals with no visible identification, driving unmarked cars.
Our children carry this trauma. Many are U.S. citizens who have known no home but this country, yet they live in fear of losing their parents. Families who have lived here for decades are treated as disposable.
We came to this country to work, contribute, and follow the law. Instead of tearing families apart and destabilizing communities, our country should create a pathway that allows people to step out of the shadows and fully participate in society.
Minnesota needs leaders who understand the real struggles families face and who are committed to protecting and strengthening our communities. We need leaders who stand with workers and immigrants—not those who vote against the very people who help build this state.
I am an immigrant, but my children are not and they will vote for leaders who will fight for them. They will vote for leaders, like Peggy Flanagan, who will truly fight for the most vulnerable and take real action—not offer empty promises or pretend to support them out of political convenience.
I ask that you consider joining them.
Sincerely,
P.
Dear DFL Delegate,
My name is Eva, and I work as a janitor at a department store in the metro area.
Operation Metro Surge impacted my daily life in ways I never could have imagined. I saw fear in the eyes of my neighbors—people were afraid to leave their homes because of rampant unlawful arrests and rights violations committed by individuals claiming to be federal agents. At the same time, I witnessed many others step forward to deliver food and offer rides, helping protect our community from the abuses taking place.
I want Minnesota’s leaders to understand—especially at this moment—that the offices they hold are meant to serve and protect the people. Just as we voted for them and rallied others to support them, we now expect them to act with integrity and transparency.
Leaders like Peggy Flanagan, who has demonstrated that she listens to our needs and fights for our interests, are more important now than ever.
In contrast, Angie Craig betrayed our trust by voting in favor of the Laken Riley Act and publicly expressing support for ICE, while coming to us claiming to oppose these very things and promising to fight on our behalf.
In the wake of Operation Metro Surge, Minnesota needs leaders who act with absolute transparency.
I ask that you support Peggy Flanagan to be our next U.S. Senator.
Sincerely,
Eva
Dear DFL Delegate,
I am a janitor and union member who works in Minneapolis. The increased police presence and enforcement operations have created a constant sense of heightened alert, making it difficult to feel at ease while traveling between home and work.
There is a palpable atmosphere of nervousness and mistrust. At work, the fear of unannounced inspections affects the concentration and morale of my colleagues. In the community, fewer people are seen in public spaces because of the fear of arrests. Safety should never be achieved at the expense of the workers who sustain the city’s infrastructure, and the intensive presence of federal agencies has fractured trust between the community and local institutions.
We need leaders who serve as voices of empathy and protection within government—leaders who remind us that Minnesota values the dignity of all families, regardless of their background.
It causes me deep disappointment and concern to know that there is a US representative who supported measures that curtails due process and bolster agencies that separate families and is now running for US senate. This leaves many of us still feeling vulnerable and underrepresented by the very people who should be advocating for our basic rights.
In the wake of Operation Metro Surge, Minnesota needs leaders who prioritize the protection of human rights and community unity over policies rooted in fear and persecution.
We need leaders like Peggy Flanagan.
Sincerely,
E.H.
Hello DFL Delegate,
My name is Ignacio, and I am a janitor in the Burnsville area.
I write to share that Operation Metro Surge has deeply affected my daily life and how I think this experience matters as you determine who to support for the US senate.
This period kept us living in terror, watching as alleged federal agents committed illegal and unimaginable acts. I saw in my neighbors and coworkers the terror of stepping out onto the street—the fear of constantly scanning through their windows for any suspicious vehicle.
I also observed with great appreciation how many community leaders stepped up to help—bringing food, or driving my neighbors—and even me—to work and to medical appointments.
What I want most is for Minnesota’s leaders like you to understand, at this critical moment, that we are relying on them to defend democracy and the rule of law.
Leaders like Peggy Flanagan are so important right now because she stays in contact with the community she serves; she listens to us, and then she stands up for us responsibly, prioritizing the interests of the people in general rather than those of large corporations.
In the wake of Operation Metro Surge, Minnesota needs leaders who act with actual transparency, serving the community and guaranteeing both safety and respect.
Please support Peggy Flanagan to be our next US senator
Sincerely,
Ignacio
Dear DFL Delegate,
I am from Minneapolis and I work as a janitor cleaning warehouses. I write to express how my experiences of Operation Metro Surge affected my daily life and ask you to consider this as you determine who to support to be our next US Senator.
Operation Metro Surge impacted all aspects of my life from increasing commute times to work in order for me to get there safely, in addition to heightening the sense of insecurity in my own neighborhood.
I noticed an increase in anxiety both at my workplace and within my community, marked by increased patrols and masked agents, which created a general atmosphere of unease.
I would like all Minnesotans to understand the real impact this entire experience has on working families, and it will take a long time to cover.
I believe that leaders like Peggy Flanagan are crucial right now because she understands the concerns of diverse communities and knows how to actually fight for us.
Angie Craig’s decision to support the Laken Riley Act—and her vote in favor of ICE—has left me deeply disappointed, as I had expected more empathetic leadership. In light of Operation Metro Surge, Minnesota needs leaders who prioritize safety and justice for all - not just when federal agents are terrorizing our streets.
I ask that you join me, my fellow union members, and my community in support of Peggy Flanagan.
Sincerely,
M.P.
Dear DFL Delegate,
I am a janitor and union member writing to you to consider my story as part of deciding our next US Senator.
Operation Metro Surge impacted my daily life and the lives of my community. We couldn't leave our homes; going to work was a source of constant fear, and we certainly couldn't go out to buy groceries for fear of what might happen.
Many of our coworkers didn't show up for work because they were afraid something would happen to them on the job—or even just for stopping at a gas station, where they feared they might be detained. They were even afraid to simply step outside the workplace.
We need all of Minnesota to know that we are simply people dedicated to doing our jobs to ensure that everything runs smoothly. And as we move forward, we need leaders like Peggy Flanagan to help us in the ongoing fight against ICE. We just know that we can rely on her and she will be there to support us when we need it most.
It also makes me feel terrible that Angie Craig voted for the Laken Riley Act and joined those who hate me just because I am an immigrant in thanking ICE. We are honest people who simply want to work; just as we do our jobs without harming anyone, she should have supported us in the same way.
Minnesota needs leaders who stand up for their workers—allies who support us when we need it most rather than turning their backs on us—so that every worker, regardless of status, knows we can count on them and that they won't abandon us during difficult times.
Sincerely,
C.F.P.