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Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District Special Election Could Foreshadow Strength of Union Vote


For those that are not aware, there is a special election today in Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District between Democrat Conor Lamb and Republican Rick Saccone.  Traditionally, an off year Congressional election might not merit much attention, but given the fact that both Democrats and Republicans have spent significant time and money on the election and the fact that unions and labor law issues have become a focal point gives me reason to take note.

Readers are likely aware that unions have seen a shrinking presence in the workplace and diminished political influence over the past few decades.  As a result, unions, a traditional supporter of Democrats, have had less impact on recent elections than in the past.  In the 2016 Presidential election, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton struggled to draw (or even maintain) the traditional Democratic voting block of union voters.  In fact, it was actually President Donald Trump that was able to capture a larger share of union voters than many anticipated (for a Republican candidate, that is).

However, Democrats and pro-union groups hope that today's special election will signal a turning point for unions.  The Democratic candidate, Lamb, has made it a major point of emphasis to embrace unions and campaign alongside them, going so far as to tell union steelworkers "You've been the heart and soul of this campaign." at a recent rally.  As well, Democrats have pointed out that Saccone supports right to work legislation (as readers will recall, this is kryptonite to many unions and their supporters) in an effort to solidify union support behind Lamb.

Not to be outdone, President Trump campaigned for Saccone this past weekend and attempted to use his 2016 victory to help push the Republican candidate to victory.  (President Trump won the district by nearly 20 points in 2016).  As well, many "rank and file" steelworkers in the district have switched party affiliations in recent years to Republican and have expressed concern over whether Democrats (and Lamb) will actually represent their best interests.

While the race remains tight (and many observers think Lamb will secure a narrow victory), many view today's 18th Congressional special election as a litmus test for both Democrats and Republicans to gauge where they stand among unions and pro-labor groups heading into this year's mid-term election.  Win, lose, or draw, I suspect both parties will likely use the outcome of this election to fine tune their national message on labor law related issues ahead of this year's election (and the upcoming 2020 Presidential election).


 

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