New York’s largest health care union, 1199SEIU, is throwing its weight behind Brooklyn Councilwoman Crystal Hudson’s bid to become the City Council’s next speaker, becoming the first major organized labor group to get officially involved in the race, which hit a fever pitch overnight Tuesday.
The union, which represents some 200,000 health care workers in the city, said in an exclusive statement to the Daily News on Wednesday that it is endorsing Hudson’s campaign for speaker because she “always puts the needs of hardworking New Yorkers at the forefront of her advocacy.”
“Our union strongly values the fight for racial justice and health equity that Crystal has centered since her first campaign for office,” Yvonne Armstrong, 1199SEIU’s east coast president, said in the statement, referencing Hudson’s push for increasing wages for home care workers, among other issues. “We’re excited by what a Hudson speakership will mean for our members, their patients and their communities and look forward to fighting for policies that support the working families that represent the foundation of our city.”
Incumbent Council Speaker Adrienne Adams is leaving office at the end of the year due to term limits, triggering the race for her replacement.
1199, which also ranks as the country’s largest health care union, is the first major labor organization to publicly announce a preference in the race, which will be determined by an internal vote by the Council’s 51 members in January.
But the move from 1199 comes on the heels of sources revealing late Tuesday night that Manhattan Councilwoman Julie Menin, the other leading speaker candidate, is expected to as early as Wednesday announce she has the endorsements of three other key local unions: The United Federation of Teachers, the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council and 32 BJ.
As first reported by City & State, Menin could potentially also announce Wednesday she has locked in support for her speaker bid from a majority of the Council’s 51 members — the threshold necessary to win the race. Sources told The News it remained unclear Wednesday morning whether Menin would actually be able to make such an announcement though.
Given the internal nature of the race, the speaker’s race is often effectively decided earlier than the January vote and outside players like labor bigs and county party bosses hold major sway over the process.
One key stakeholder who has yet to chime in on the race is Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who takes office Jan. 1 and could exert significant influence over the speaker contest. On paper, Mamdani, a democratic socialist, appears to be the most ideologically aligned with Hudson, a progressive Democrat.
DC 37, the city’s largest public sector union, also has yet to chime in on the speaker’s race.
As first reported by The News on Tuesday, Menin, a more moderate Democrat, has been positioning herself in some conversations with members as someone who could serve as a check on Mamdani, including by increasing use of the Council’s subpoena power.
Bronx Councilwoman Amanda Farias, Manhattan Councilman Chris Marte and Queens Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers have also campaigned for speaker. But Menin and Hudson are seen as the clear front-runners at this stage.
