FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2024
CONTACT: Daniela Perez, [email protected]
Today, Care in Action, the policy and advocacy home for women who care, proudly announces its new round of endorsements, selecting candidates who have demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing the care economy and supporting domestic workers. These candidates come from key battleground states, reflecting the urgent need for leaders who will address the care crisis facing millions of families and workers across the country.
After a thorough and thoughtful deliberation process, Care in Action’s Worker Committee—composed of house cleaners, nannies, and care workers serving aging and disabled adults—identified candidates who truly understand the unique challenges faced by care workers. In these battleground states, domestic workers, caregivers, and families are at the heart of an economy that can no longer ignore the care crisis.
Combined, the endorsed candidates represent:
The candidates endorsed by Care in Action are:
North Carolina
Josh Stein for Governor
Braxton Winston for NC Commissioner of Labor
Diamond Staton Williams for NC House District 73
Arizona
Ruben Gallego for United States Senate
Georgia
Deborah Gonzalez for District Attorney – Western Judicial Circuit
Nabilah Islam Parkes for Georgia State Senate District 7
Sam Park for Georgia House District 107
Jasmine Clark for Georgia House District 108
Ruwa Romman for Georgia House District 97
Bryce Berry for Georgia House District 56
The care crisis in America is reaching a breaking point. Families are facing soaring housing costs while care workers struggle to make ends meet. With childcare costs exceeding housing or in-state college tuition in every state, and many families spending nearly a quarter of their income on care, it’s clear that the current system is unsustainable. At the same time, care workers, many of whom are women of color, are underpaid and undervalued. They can’t afford to get paid less, and families can’t afford to pay more. It’s a cycle that these endorsed candidates are committed to breaking.
Hillary Holley, Executive Director of Care in Action, Released the Following Statement:
“These candidates have shown that they understand care work is the cornerstone of our economy and are ready to tackle the care crisis head-on. Our endorsement committee made up of the very individuals on the frontlines of care, deliberated extensively to choose leaders who not only recognize the invaluable role of caregivers but are also committed to creating policy solutions.
Right now, care is taking up a huge part of families’ budgets. In every state, people are paying more for child care than housing or in-state college tuition. Meanwhile, care workers are underpaid for their skilled and essential work. In 2023, direct care workers’ median annual earnings were less than $22,000, making it nearly impossible for them to support their own families. If we continue down this path, our economy will suffer. We need leaders who understand that the care economy is collapsing under a broken system where families can’t afford care, and workers can’t afford to live on their wages. These champions are stepping up to change that.”
Care in Action’s endorsement process underscores the vital need for investments in care infrastructure. From childcare to aging care, these candidates represent a shared vision for a future where care is accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Care in Action will continue to advocate for policies that ensure dignity, respect, and economic security for the 2.2 million domestic workers and the millions of caregivers across the nation.
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Care in Action is the policy and advocacy home for women who care, working on behalf of more than two million domestic workers and care workers across America. Among the fastest-growing sectors in our economy, domestic workers are also among the most vulnerable and undervalued. As a mostly women and majority women of color workforce, this growing constituency consistently and overwhelmingly supports progressive values in American political life. Learn more at www.careinaction.us.