CWA’s Frank Mathews on Midwest Primary Ground Game

As early voting ramps up across the Midwest, Communications Workers of America District 4 Administrative Director Frank Mathews explained why union political work is less about personalities and more about power: educating members, defending access to the ballot and backing candidates with working-class life experience.

• Mathews says sustained voter turnout in Wisconsin reflects years of organizing by working families determined to protect worker rights.
• In Ohio’s primary, the CWA is prioritizing candidates with direct working-class and public service backgrounds.
• The CWA is urging members to verify voter registration early to avoid being turned away during early voting or on Election Day.

Early voting is underway in Ohio and other Midwest states, a calendar shift that has changed how unions approach political education and turnout. On America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Communication Workers of America District 4 Administrative Director Frank Mathews described a region where labor is treating the primary season as a proving ground, not a warmup.

Mathews oversees CWA District 4, which spans Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. In his view, the stakes in 2026 are not confined to a single race or a single cycle. He argued that the last decade and a half has been defined by repeated attempts to weaken worker voice in public life, from collective bargaining rights to the basic ability to show up and vote.

Wisconsin turnout and the long shadow of 2010

Mathews pointed to Wisconsin as a case study in what happens when working families respond to sustained pressure with sustained organizing. He worked in the state in 2010 as a staff representative and remembers the rapid pace of policy changes targeting public sector unions.

In the years that followed, working families experienced what Mathews described as a long spell of being singled out. But he argued that the political story in Wisconsin is now shifting because voters have been building momentum over time, election after election.

The most recent Wisconsin state Supreme Court contest drew major turnout, a result Mathews said was a sign that working people are paying close attention to which candidates prioritize worker protections and which candidates align with corporate interests. While the seats are formally nonpartisan, the values and outcomes are not neutral for working families, he said.

He credited Judge Chris Taylor's victory to a broad, energized electorate. Mathews also said turnout increased compared with the previous high-profile court race, which he described as being shaped by outside attention that ultimately did not produce the outcome some expected. In his account, the political lesson was that when working families feel targeted, they organize and vote.

Looking ahead, Mathews noted that another state Supreme Court justice is expected to retire next year. He argued that the current court balance could give working families a measure of protection for years, depending on how the next contest unfolds.

Ohio primaries: A crowded field and a labor test

In Ohio, Mathews said the unusual feature of this primary season is the number of races drawing serious attention at once. He described multiple contests in which labor has actively evaluated candidates and mobilized members, rather than waiting for the general election.

Mathews highlighted a congressional primary in the Cleveland area, where Brian Poindexter is running for Ohio’s 7th Congressional District seat. Mathews said CWA members are energized because Poindexter reflects what many union households have long wanted to see in Washington: a working person with direct experience of the trades and the pressures of earning a living.

CWA’s support for Poindexter is rooted in the belief that unions should look at what a candidate has done, not simply what they promise, Mathews said. He credited Poindexter’s record in local government, including service on the Brook Park City Council, as evidence of public service beyond ambition.

Mathews also pointed to a race in the Columbus area, where Adam Miller is running in Ohio’s 15th Congressional District. Mathews said Miller brings a mix of public service experience and military background, including service as a judge advocate in the Army Reserve. He described that background as part of a broader pattern CWA is seeking: candidates who have lived the day-to-day realities of working families and understand public institutions from the inside.

Beyond Ohio, Mathews referenced efforts to educate and mobilize members in Indiana, including support for Rep. Andre Carson’s reelection bid. He described Carson as a consistent ally of working people in the Indianapolis area.

In Wisconsin, Mathews also highlighted a candidate in the Eau Claire area, Jessica Cook, a CWA-endorsed working person focused on representing working families rather than prioritizing the interests of executives and the wealthy.

How CWA defines its political work: Education, not orders

Mathews emphasized that CWA’s approach is grounded in member education. He said the union’s role is to provide information and context so members can understand how elections affect their lives, their jobs and their communities.

He described outreach tactics, including phone banking and text messaging to members in targeted areas. The goal, he said, is to connect union households with candidates and issues that directly shape wages, benefits, public services and the right to organize.

Mathews also underscored a principle that unions often repeat during political seasons: the decision of how to vote belongs to the individual member. What matters, he said, is that working families vote.

Voter registration checks: A practical warning for union households

Mathews also urged all union members to verify their voter registration status early, especially those who have not voted in recent elections.

Mathews said some Ohio voters may discover they have been removed front he voter rolls, or flagged if they have missed multiple election cycles. He encouraged members to check their status through the Ohio Secretary of State’s website and address any issues before they arrive to vote.

He also noted that voters who are not currently registered still have time to register ahead of the general election. Still, he framed early voter verification as the best defense against Election Day surprises.

Money in politics and the next phase of the fight

Ferenc raised a concern that Mathews did not dispute: the scale of money expected to flood major races in Ohio, including statewide contests.

Mathews did not offer a prediction about outcomes, but he believes labor currently has a strong ground game, which includes regular member contact, practical education and a focus on candidates who understand working life because they have lived it.

For Mathews, the primary season is not only about who advances. It is about whether working families can build enough power to keep worker issues at the center of public decision-making.

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