Portland, OR -- Members and leaders of the nation's strongest and fastest growing union, Service Employees International Union, tonight extend their congratulations to Jeff Merkley on his election to the U.S. Senate.

SEIU members proved that they make politics work and elected a candidate who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk," said SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Burger. "Now, instead of sitting back and waiting to see what happens, members are staying out in the streets and holding our new leaders accountable for the promises they made over this past campaign season on affordable health care and rebuild the middle class by restoring workers' freedom to join unions."

* SEIU ran independent expenditure ads in August and October. The first highlighting Senator Gordon Smith's support of George Bush's political agenda and collecting large political contributions from drug and oil companies in return and the second on siding with CEOs and housing lenders that made off with millions of dollars.
* SEIU members knocked on 65,797 doors and made 180,380 phone calls to targeted households in Oregon.

Members took advantage of SEIU's intensive micro-targeting efforts to have quality conversations with the most persuadable voters over the phones and at the doors. Work began over the summer with members expanding the electorate by registering new voters and ensuring infrequent voters were registered at their current addresses. SEIU members also helped educate voters on the importance of access to quality affordable health care, jobs and economic justice, issues which, as time went on, became the defining issues of the campaign. Members also held rallies, house parties and other earned media events throughout the election to complement the one-on-one work done in the community.

By the time media attention and other campaigns arrived in the fall, SEIU members 1) had established community offices, 2) were well into their voter persuasion efforts and 3) were helping supporters vote early or by absentee and 4) transporting those who needed help getting to the polls.

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