Largest Federal Employee Union announces support for Swanson’s campaign
Hermantown, MN (October 13, 2026)— Trina Swanson’s campaign for Congress today announced the endorsement of The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), joining the group of labor unions, elected officials, advocacy organizations, and community leaders supporting her campaign.
“Trina Swanson doesn’t just say she supports federal employees. She was one of us.Trina and I were coworkers at USCIS, and when she later led the Minneapolis Field Office she was a great partner across the table who understood that respecting employees and their union make an agency stronger,” AFGE District 8 National Vice President Ruark Hotopp said. “I look forward to building on that relationship when Trina is in Congress. She understands what federal workers have lost as their jobs have been cut and collective bargaining rights stripped away. I know she will fight with us to restore those rights, rebuild the federal workforce, protect the merit-based civil service, and make sure federal employees have the resources and respect they need to serve the American people.”
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents more than 42,600 federal employees in District 8, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
“I am honored to receive AFGE’s endorsement. I understand firsthand the challenges facing our federal workforce and why a strong, merit-based civil service matters,” said Swanson. “As a former AFGE member, I know what collective bargaining means to working families, and I will carry that perspective to Congress by fighting to rebuild the federal workforce and restore the rights and respect federal employees deserve.”
Trina Swanson’s campaign for Congress has already received support from the National Farmers Union PAC, Minnesota State Council of Machinists, U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Congresswomen Betty McCollum and Kelly Morrison, EMILYs List, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, Feminist Majority, Immigrants’ List, the Committee to Protect Health Care, the DFL and its Senior, Rural, and Veteran’s Caucuses, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Save the Boundary Waters Action Fund, Women Winning, We Are Rising and Resisting Indivisible group, Iron Range Indivisible, Bemidji Indivisible, Duluth Indivisible, Education Minnesota, and community and union leaders across the region.