IBEW Makes Its Voice Heard at CA Democratic Convention

It was the union’s strongest delegation yet. A record 25 IBEW member delegates spent the weekend hunkered down at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco for the 2026 CA Democratic Convention, debating the party’s platform and making sure working families were a top priority. IBEW was there in force this year to champion its high-paid skilled and trained jobs and terrific benefits, including family health care and retirement.

Setting up a booth this year for the first time gave IBEW members the chance to talk to the thousands of delegates about IBEW career and apprenticeship opportunities. They also talked about the power of the union to create strong local economies – both on the jobsite and in the political world. Apprenticeship programs were a popular topic. In addition, many delegates were genuinely surprised by the number of cutting-edge renewable projects as well as the breadth of career areas covered by the IBEW. Many other delegates approached the booth to tell members they had had an uncle, sister, father, or sibling who was an IBEW member, and came over to say, “keep up the good work.” They understood the value of being a union member, especially those who grew up in union families and benefited from the fair wages, great benefits and respect on the job their families received. They knew first hand that unions build stronger communities.

But the real work of the convention happens behind the scenes, in the meetings, committees and caucuses where strategy and platform language is hammered out. And that’s where the IBEW coalition really shined. Not only did they get to showcase their deep knowledge about CADEM rules, negotiations and compromise, they held crucial conversations on hydrogen and carbon capture technologies and jobs. And when working family jobs were threatened in one of the proposed party platforms, the coalition jumped into action and was able to strike a compromise with the environmental caucus to address public power and utility accountability, energy affordability and protection of worker pensions.

Of course, election strategy for the November midterms was top of mind for all the delegates. How best to flip the House of Representatives Blue was a topic on everyone’s mind. IBEW was joined by their union brothers and sisters in other unions – ranging from the building trades to education to service workers – to make sure working families had a strong voice in the party’s platform. One of the big questions of the 2026 convention was who was going to get the endorsment for governor. Nine candidates took the stage, vying for the powerful CA Democrat’s endorsement. Each candidate was confined to four minutes, where they spoke before a packed auditorium. But delegates couldn’t agree, and no one candidate got the required 60% delegate vote to win the endorsement.

Next up, IBEW will once again join labor as it works on turnout for the critical June primary and November mid-term elections.