The Executive Board of UNITE HERE Local 25, a hospitality workers union that represents over 7,200 members in the D.C. region, voted this week to endorse D.C. Council candidates Janeese Lewis George in Ward 4 and Jordan Grossman in Ward 2. The Union believes that this election, coming in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a critical opportunity to elect bold progressive leaders to champion workers’ issues on the D.C. Council.

“Hospitality workers in the District are facing incredible hardship right now,” said Local 25 Political Director Sam Epps. “But that means we need to do more, not less, to elect Councilmembers committed to ending D.C.’s crisis of racial and economic inequality. Our members know that Jordan and Janeese are the leaders we need to do just that.”

Local 25 and our endorsed candidates are committed to following physical distancing rules. The Union plans to engage in an extensive phone-banking campaign to support endorsees. “We will not let the pandemic get in the way of our members’ political needs and aspirations,” Epps added.

Regina Welch, a Local 25 member and D.C. resident who participated in a virtual townhall with the candidates last week, said she was “blown away” by Grossman and Lewis George. “From fighting for affordable housing and rent control to creating and protecting good union jobs, I think electing these candidates could change the way the District treats workers.”

In addition to Lewis George and Grossman, Local 25 has endorsed Vincent Gray in Ward 7, Robert White for an at-large seat, and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton for reelection to Congress.