With a 55-45 Republican majority and many "safe" Republican Senate seats, the Republican control of the Senate is unlikely to change hands. And due to six-year terms, only one-third of the Senate -- 33 of 100 seats -- is up for election. In 1998, control of the Senate is much harder to change.

Many Congressional seats in both House and Senate are considered "safe." Past voting patterns show either the Democratic or the Republican candidate, incumbent or not, will win. (You have a better chance of winning the lottery than a Republican does of winning in Illinois' 2nd District or a Democrat winning in Pennsylvania's 9th District.) Other districts "lean" Democratic or Republican, where a several term incumbent or his/her party's choice of a successor usually wins.

In the middle are about 60 "swing" seats where voters are evenly split by party, where the incumbent retires, or where a first-term incumbent has not established a strong base. Because chances of Democratic success are greater in these districts, BMWE can use its resources more effectively by focusing on these seats.

Space does not permit listing all candidates for all 435 House seats or all 33 Senate. For "safe" and "leaning" seats, please contact your local lodge legislative representative or your BMWE state legislative director (see Official Directory in this Journal) for a list of BMWE-endorsed candidates in your state and your Congressional District. If you can't reach either of these officers, and if in doubt, please strongly consider voting for the Democrat listed on your ballot to help regain a Democratic majority on the Hill.

Listed below are some of the "swing" seats held or sought by friends of BMWE in both parties. The BMWE-endorsed candidate is in italics. Because some Republicans have helped us, BMWE has endorsed some Republicans which other labor organizations have not. If you live in one of the districts below, please make an extra effort to vote for BMWE's candidate.

California - With several retirements and first termers, California is very volatile in 1998.

1st Dist. - Mike Thompson (D) to replace retiring Frank Riggs (R), Napa, of the Transportation Committee. Thompson has a strong labor record as a California State Senator and will favor correctly on the crucial vote for Speaker of the House.

3rd Dist. - Sandie Dunn to replace retiring Vic Fazio (D), Woodland, of the Appropriations Committee. Fazio has a new 100% BMWE voting record, particularly on AMTRAK funding. Dunn's positions are similar. She will continue Fazio's support of rail labor.

22nd Dist. - Lois Capps, (D), San Luis Obisbo, Incumbent 1st term. In March 1998, Capps won election to complete her deceased husband Walter Capps (D) first term. Capps' seat is crucial to a Democratic majority in the House.

24th Dist. - Brad Sherman, (D) Woodland Hills, Incumbent, 1st term, Budget Committee. Targeted by Republicans, Sherman helped BMWE fund AMTRAK and other projects and is needed for a Democratic majority in the House.

36th Dist. - Janice Hahn to replace retiring Jane Harman (D), Torrance. Hahn will best continue Harman's BMWE-friendly voting record and is important to regaining a Democratic majority in the House.

46th Dist. - Loretta Sanchez, (D), Garden Grove, Incumbent, 1st term. "B-1 Bob" Dorman (R), who Sanchez beat by 984 votes in 1996, is running again. Sanchez' labor voting record is far better than Dorman's and her vote is needed for a Democratic House.

Colorado

2nd Dist. - Mark Udall, (D), NW Denver suburbs, to replace retiring David Skaggs of the Appropriations Committee. The district is evenly split among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. A grassroots campaigner, Udall has a stronger labor voting record in the state legislature than his opponent. A Udall win will help make a Democratic House majority.

Connecticut

2nd Dist. - Sam Gejdenson, (D) Norwich, Incumbent, 9th term. Gejdenson consistently backs full AMTRAK funding and supports BMWE issues. His last three races have been very close. An apparent Republican target, a Gejdenson vote is needed for a Democratic House.

3rd Dist. - Jim Maloney, (D), West (Waterbury), Incumbent, 1st term. Another AMTRAK supporter, Maloney is strongly pro-labor and consistently helped BMWE. Maloney faces a serious Republican challenge. He is needed for a Democratic majority.

Illinois

17th Dist. - Lane Evans, (D), Rock Island, Moline, Incumbent, 8th term, Vets Committee. Always ready to meet with BMWE and to help you, the member. Evans deserves your help. Against the same opponent he narrowly beat in 1996, Evans needs your vote and your help.

19th Dist. - David Phelps, (D), to replace Glenn Poshard (D), Marion, who is running for governor. Phelps, described as "pro-gun and pro-labor" is a "carbon copy" of Poshard whose near 100% labor record and seat on the Transportation Committee helped BMWE help you.

Indiana

8th Dist. - Gail Riecken, (D), against John Hostettler (R), SW Indiana, 2nd term. Riecken understands labor and will support BMWE's issues. She is strongly supported by the state AFL-CIO. Her election would help BMWE and help regain a Democratic House majority.

10th Dist. - Julia Carson, (D) Indianapolis, Incumbent, 1st term. Carson "went to the wall" for BMWE on AMTRAK funding. With a near 100% rail labor voting record, she makes BMWE work on the Hill much easier. Carson's Republican opponent is wealthy and well known. Carson helped you. Now you can help Carson keep her seat to help you in the future.

Iowa

3rd Dist. - Leonard Boswell, (D), Osceolla, Incumbent, 1st term, Transportation Committee. A "fast track" opponent, Boswell, a farmer, supports BMWE issues and connects us to shippers' rail concerns. He won by only 1% in 1996 and now has strong Republican opposition.

Massachusetts

3rd Dist. - Jim McGovern, (D), Worcester, Incumbent, 1st term, Transportation Committee. A strong AMTRAK supporter and BMWE helper, McGovern's rail labor voting record is near 100%. His Republican challenger started early with "independent expenditure" attacks.

6th Dist. - John Tierney, (D), North Shore, Incumbent, 1st term. Pro-AMTRAK, Tierney is near a 100% rail labor voting record. Republican Peter Torkildson, who Tierney barely beat in 1996, is running again. Tierney helped you. Your vote can now help Tierney.

Minnesota

8th Dist. - James L. Oberstar, (D), Incumbent, 11th term. Strongly supports BMWE positions on issues, particularly in the area of safety.

New Jersey

1st Dist. - Robert Andrews, (D), Woodbury, Incumbent, 5th term. Helping to lead the fight to prevent the Amtrak Reform Council from destroying AMTRAK.

8th Dist. - William Pascarell, (D), Patterson, Incumbent, 1st term, Transportation Committee. Pro-balanced budget but anti "fast track," Pascarell is pro-rail labor and strongly supports AMTRAK and BMWE issues. He won by only 3% in 1996. He needs your vote in 1998.

Ohio

18th Dist. - Bob Ney, (R), Bellaire, Incumbent, 2nd term, Transportation Committee. A fiscal conservative who honors collective bargaining agreements, Ney has a pro-rail labor voting record. In Committee, BMWE relies on him to help stop bills harmful to you. His 1998 amendment to AMTRAK funding blocked efforts to eliminate or privatize AMTRAK.

19th Dist. - Steve LaTourette, (R), Painesville, Incumbent, 2nd term, Transportation Committee. In Committee he blunts the harm to you that would otherwise result from bills promoted by rail management. His 1997 amendment to AMTRAK capital funding preserved labor protection on AMTRAK.

Pennsylvania

9th Dist. - Jon Fox, (R), NW Philadelphia suburbs, Incumbent, 2nd term, Transportation Committee. Another pro-labor Republican, Fox supports BMWE issues in Committee. In the House he spoke for BMWE's 1997 LaTourette Amendment preserving labor protection on AMTRAK. The Democrat he beat by 81 votes in 1996 is running again in 1998.

Texas

1st Dist. - Max Sandlin, (D), Texarkana area, Incumbent, 2nd term, Transportation Committee. Though his district is socially conservative, Sandlin supports BMWE issues in Committee. His seat is key to regaining a Democratic majority in the House.

Washington

1st Dist. - Jay Inslee, (D) against Rick White (R), North Seattle, 2nd term, Commerce Committee. Born in the district, Inslee supported BMWE issues when he formerly served in Congress. Bruce Caswell, a conservative third candidate, will take votes from White, improving Inslee's odds. Inslee's election would help assure a Democratic House majority.

3rd Dist. - Brian Baird, (D), to replace Linda Smith (R), Vancouver, who is running for Senate. A professor like Wellstone, Baird is the stronger pro-rail labor candidate. He lost to Smith by 887 votes in 1996. Baird's election in 1998 would aid a Democratic House majority.

Wisconsin

1st Dist. - Lydia Spottswood, (D) to replace Mark Neumann (R), Janesville, Appropriations Committee, who is running for Senate. A nurse, Spottswood's expertise is health care. She understands collective bargaining. Her extreme right wing opponent promotes "Paycheck Protection." This is a no-brainer for workers. Spottswood is the far superior candidate.

2nd Dist. - Tammy Baldwin, (D) to replace retiring Scott Klug (R), Madison, of the Commerce Committee. Baldwin's strong labor record and forthrightness in the state legislature makes her the superior candidate. Her courage and labor sense will help BMWE in Congress.

State Governors Races

The state governor you elect in 1998 will create the Congressional District which will elect your Congressman in the year 2002 -- just about the time BMWE's national contract is in front of Congress.

It works like this:

The U.S. Constitution requires a census every 10 years, the next census being in the year 2000. The Constitution also requires each of the 435 Congressmen to represent roughly the same number of citizens.

To meet these Constitutional requirements, after each census, each state legislature passes a bill redrawing the boundaries of each Congressional District to reflect changes in state population. The governor must sign or veto this bill.

Surprise! Boundaries of Congressional Districts are usually drawn with partisan political objectives. Democratic legislatures and governors draw districts to help elect Democrats and Republicans draw districts to favor Republicans. These district boundaries last 10 years, until the next census. Congressmen elected from these boundaries will serve until 2012.

Your next three national contracts will probably be decided by Congressmen elected from districts drawn by the state governor you elect this fall. Please consider what you want from Congress in the first decade of the 21st century when you vote for your state governor in 1998.

PEB 219 notwithstanding, Democrats are more helpful to BMWE's efforts on your behalf. A Democratic majority in the U.S. House means Congressional Committee Chairs sympathetic to BMWE concerns. Please remember the state governor you elect this fall will strongly influence BMWE's ability to negotiate contracts and to work for you in Congress.

Consider how the governor you vote for this fall will affect your wallet and your family over the next decade.

An example of what we're talking about can be found in just the first paragraph of a letter sent July 31 to Christine Todd Whitman, Governor of New Jersey, by Rail Labor Chiefs, including BMWE President Mac A. Fleming:

"As Presidents of the rail unions representing 25,000 Amtrak workers, we are deeply concerned about comments attributed to members of your Amtrak Reform Council (ARC). Specifically, we are speaking of Mr. Gil Carmichael's comments that appeared in a June 7, 1998 article in the Meridien Star, a Mississippi newspaper, expressing his desire to eliminate 11 of the 13 unions that represent workers at Amtrak, as well as comments attributed to a member of your staff, to the effect that the ARC needs to "take a look at railroad retirement." It is our sincere hope that the Council does not consider union-busting and attacking railroad retirees to be its primary functions." . . .