Missouri union members: How are you approaching the state's 2024 election cycle?

Missouri Democrats have counted on union members as a part of their electoral coalition for generations.
While unions still provide financial and organizational support for scores of Democratic candidates, GOP candidates are trying to curry favor with organized labor groups.
During a recent episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on @stlonair, Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel told @stlpublicradio’s @jasonrosenbaum his group endorsed Democrat @crystalquade and Republican @mikelkehoe in the race for governor.
Hummel said that while unions haven’t always agreed with Kehoe on his votes, he added that they’re optimistic unions can work with him if he wins in November.
@joshhawleymo has also sought to appeal to unions by showing up at picket lines - and abandoning his prior support of “right to work.” That’s a policy that bars unions and employers from requiring workers to pay dues as a condition of employment.
Still, Hummel said the Missouri AFL-CIO is backing Quade in the general election, since Kehoe wouldn’t say definitively if he’d veto a “right to work” bill. And Hummel group also backed @lucaskuncemo, instead of Hawley.
“Certainly worker power, I think, is on the rise, and he probably wants to capitalize on that,” said Hummel, referring to Hawley. “But, you know, actions speak louder than words.”
Rosenbaum is working on a story about how union members are approaching Missouri’s 2024 election cycle. If you want to talk with him about his story, send him an e-mail at [e-mail] - or reply to this reel.
Cover photo: @carolinahidalgo