Committee on Political Education (COPE)
Endorsement Process
Endorsement Steps
Candidates seeking the endorsement of the Inland Empire Labor Council must complete all steps of the endorsement process to qualify for the IELC COPE Endorsement. The COPE endorsement process for the June 2026 primaries is now closed. Please email ielccope@ielabor.org for any questions.
1. Academy
The candidate academy is designed to familiarize candidates with the political and policy priorities of working families in the Inland Empire. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about pressing issues from union leaders, rank-and-file members and community leaders.
*All Candidates must attend one Academy Session*
2. Interviews
After completing an Anti-Right-to-Work pledge and a COPE candidate questionnaire, you will be interviewed by the COPE Interviewing Committee. After the interview process, an endorsement recommendation will be made by a two-thirds vote of the COPE Interviewing Committee.
3. Endorsement
Recommended candidates will move on to be reviewed and voted on by both the Inland Empire Labor Council Executive Board and the Delegate Board. If a candidate receives at least two-thirds vote from both, they will receive an endorsement. Federal and State Candidates are recommended to the California Labor Federation Endorsement Convention for approval of the State Delegation.
4. Campaigns
Once our endorsements are finalized, COPE plans strategies to mobilize union households to vote labor. Our campaigns consist of registering union members to vote, print literature featuring our endorsements and stances, door-to-door education on issues and priority candidates, and encourages union homes to vote on Election Day via phone. On certain occasions the committee will provide financial contributions to specific candidates.
**All priorities are requested and approved by our Committee On Political Education (COPE)**