From city halls to state houses, IAFF affiliates helped elect candidates and pass ballot measures that will strengthen public safety and the fire service.
Voters went to the polls Tuesday to decide dozens of races impacting fire fighters and public safety. Not only did they back pro-fire fighter and pro-labor candidates, but they also approved efforts to support safe staffing, increase fire department revenues, and other issues impacting America’s fire fighters.
FIREPAC invested more than $100,000 to support IAFF-endorsed candidates and fire service initiatives during the 2025 campaign cycle. These funds were used to ensure voters knew where fire fighters stood on important issues impacting their communities.
“The IAFF’s political mission is simple – it’s not about red or blue, it’s about fire fighters. That’s it,” said General President Edward Kelly. “Because of our members’ support for FIREPAC, our union was able to back pro-fire service candidates across the country, all of whom will be critical in shaping policies impacting fire fighters and the communities we serve.”
One of the most significant victories on Tuesday was for the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF), who will see Abigail Spanberger become Virginia’s first female governor when she’s sworn in in January 2026. The VPFF strongly backed Spanberger, who led the fight to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) while she served in Congress.
With a strong ally in the governor’s mansion and a new legislature in Richmond, Virginia fire fighters will now look to deliver collective bargaining rights statewide.
Because of our members’ support for FIREPAC, our union was able to back pro-fire service candidates across the country, all of whom will be critical in shaping policies impacting fire fighters and the communities we serve.
General President Edward Kelly
Beyond Virginia, IAFF affiliates notched multiple key victories at the local level across the country.
In Connecticut, Stratford Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 998 and the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut (UPFFA) secured a huge win when they ousted incumbent Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick, who had a history of anti-labor policy positions. Pro-fire fighter candidate Dr. David Chess, who earned the Local’s first political endorsement in 15 years, will be sworn in in December.
In St. Paul, Minnesota, Local 21 members backed candidate Kaohly Her, who unseated incumbent Mayor Melvin Carter in a major election night upset. Her has a strong record of supporting pro-labor policies in the Minnesota Legislature and earned the endorsement of Local 21 for her commitment to public safety and ensuring St. Paul fire fighters have the resources they need to properly serve the city.
Other FIREPAC-backed candidates in Ohio, Virginia, and Kansas also saw big election night victories.
Locals in Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas won key ballot initiatives on Tuesday as well. Voters approved measures to increase fire fighter staffing, enhance fire department funding, build new fire stations, purchase new apparatus, and expand collective bargaining rights – all of which will keep communities and fire fighters safer.
The IAFF’s Strategic Campaigners played a key role in these races, helping guide Locals on political and communications decisions throughout their campaigns. Affiliates interested in utilizing the Strategic Campaigns Specialists for their elections can contact their District Vice Presidents (DVPs) for more information.
