AFSCME PEOPLE
Public employees union political program
The operation.
AFSCME PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality) is the federal PAC of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the largest US public-sector union with roughly 1.4 million members. AFSCME has been a top-five labor political spender for two decades and contributes almost exclusively to Democratic candidates and party committees. Its president is Lee Saunders.
Major donors.
Notable races.
Sources.
Questions about AFSCME PEOPLE.
What is AFSCME PEOPLE?
AFSCME PEOPLE is the federal political action committee of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. AFSCME represents roughly 1.4 million state and local government workers — sanitation, corrections, social services, hospital, library, and parks employees — making it the largest US public-sector union.
How much does AFSCME spend on politics?
AFSCME's federal political spending — direct PAC contributions plus independent expenditures through affiliated committees and transfers — totals roughly $15–25 million per cycle. The union also spends heavily in state-level races, particularly gubernatorial and state legislative campaigns that affect public-employee bargaining rights.
Why does AFSCME care about Janus v. AFSCME?
The 2018 Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME ended mandatory union fees for non-member public employees, projected to cost public-sector unions tens of millions in dues revenue. AFSCME has since prioritized state and judicial races that affect union organizing rights.