Statewide vote by key California union delivers gubernatorial endorsement to Katie Porter
Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers from across California voted to endorse the progressive former congresswoman from Orange County following an NUHW-sponsored candidate forum last weekend.
NUHW’s Executive Board voted to provide resources and grassroots support to Porter’s campaign. Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra finished second.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers announced today that union members have voted to endorse former Congresswoman Katie Porter for governor of California. Approximately 19,000 NUHW members in California were eligible to vote electronically after Porter and four other top Democratic candidates participated in a forum Sunday during the union’s annual Leadership Conference at the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport.
NUHW, unlike most other unions and organizations that endorse candidates, holds a vote among its in-state members. The endorsement commits NUHW to dedicate its energies and resources to back Porter in the June 2, 2026, Primary Election that will determine the two candidates who will run in November to become California’s next governor.
“I’m so grateful to NUHW, and the thousands of frontline healthcare workers they represent, for their support in our fight to make California a better, more affordable place to live,” Porter said. “As governor, I’ll work tirelessly to defend our health care from the attacks lobbed by Donald Trump and his cronies in Washington. Together, with NUHW, patients, and providers, we will press forward for a future where every Californian receives high-quality health care.”
This was NUHW’s second gubernatorial forum of the 2026 election cycle. Last year, at its Leadership Conference in San Francisco, the union held the first forum among leading Democratic candidates, but did not conduct an endorsement vote. This year’s forum was attended by Porter, Becerra, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and former California Controller Betty Yee.
“We are very appreciative of the candidates who took the time to meet our members and discuss the issues that are of concern to all Californians. We consider all of these candidates friends of our union,” said NUHW President Emeritus Sal Rosselli. “Our members voted to support Porter because of her leadership on labor and healthcare issues and her fighting spirit that will be so important in the ongoing battles with the administration in Washington.”
NUHW members began voting shortly after the forum ended on Sunday, Sept. 28, and balloting ended at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Members were able to vote for any of the five participating candidates, or select “No Endorsement.”
Porter received 45 percent of the votes cast. She was followed by Becerra with 19 percent, while 16 percent of voters selected “No Endorsement.” The remaining vote was pretty much evenly divided among the other three candidates.
The NUHW endorsement vote, representing a key constituency of politically engaged union members, including psychologists, housekeepers, medical technicians, respiratory therapists, nurses, and pharmacists, who work in healthcare facilities from San Diego to Eureka, has a track record of being a bellwether in major state races.
After a spirited forum in 2017, NUHW members delivered the union’s endorsement for governor to then Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.
This year’s NUHW Governor Forum, conducted in partnership with the Los Angeles Times and Spectrum News, included a three-member panel of reporters from both news organizations as well as Politico. The moderator was Associated Press U.S. Planning Editor Lisa Matthews, who also asked questions of the candidates and read questions submitted by NUHW members.
The forum can still be viewed in English or Spanish on NUHW’s YouTube channels.
