The biggest labor union in Washington has endorsed “uncommitted delegates” over President Joe Biden in the state’s March 12 Democratic presidential primary.
The executive board of the United Food and Commercial Workers 3000, which represents over 50,000 employees, made the endorsement decision Wednesday night, calling Biden “an ally to workers over the last four years” but also suggesting he would not be the best candidate to defeat likely Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump.
“To protect workers, we must give ourselves the best chance to defeat anti-worker forces,” a statement released by the union said.
The union’s board also said they hope voting “uncommitted” will send a message to Biden to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. And they praised voters in Michigan who voted “uncommitted” to protest Biden’s refusal to call for a permanent ceasefire.
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Israel’s offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas’ attack on the country last October has killed over 30,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children, according to a World Health Organization official. About 576,000 people in Gaza — a quarter of the population — are experiencing famine-like conditions, top United Nations officials said Tuesday.
“Biden must push for a lasting ceasefire and ending US funding toward this reckless war,” the statement said.
Still, United Food and Commercial Workers 3000 said it will support whoever is the eventual Democratic nominee.
Just over 13% of Michigan’s Democratic primary electorate voted “uncommitted.” While that’s not much more than “uncommitted” votes in previous primary elections, prominent politicians like Michigan Democrat and Palestinian American Rep. Rashida Tlaib expressed support for the movement.
The Washington State Labor Council, which represents 600 unions across the state, told the Standard they do not endorse presidential primary candidates, leaving that responsibility up to its national affiliate, AFL-CIO, which endorsed President Biden last June.
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As of Thursday, 7.72% of eligible Washington voters have already sent in their ballots for the presidential primary. Seattle’s alt-weekly, The Stranger, also endorsed “uncommitted delegates” this week.
“Unlike a protest vote for [presidential candidate and Minnesota Rep. Dean] Phillips or a throwaway write-in vote, voting for ‘uncommitted delegates’ delivers a message to Biden in a language he can hear and understand,” The Stranger’s editorial board wrote.
After Michigan’s presidential primary, Biden’s campaign told NPR that “there’s no doubt that there were some folks in Michigan that wanted to send the president a message…that message has been received.”
The Washington State Democratic Party Central Committee passed a resolution in January calling for a ceasefire. So have several Washington cities, including Olympia and Bellingham.
Washington voters must postmark their ballots no later than March 12 or place them in a designated drop-box by 8 p.m. on Election Day to count.
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Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart during the Ducks’ annual spring game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Evan Stewart is returning to Oregon in 2026.
The Ducks receiver, who missed all of 2025 due to a torn right patellar, announced his return on Thursday.
Stewart had 48 catches for 613 yards and five touchdowns in 2024 at UO.
He is the ninth UO player to announce he will return next season, joining defensive tackles Bear Alexander and A’Mauri Washington, center Iapani Laloulu, outside linebackers Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei, quarterback Dante Moore and linebacker Jerry Mixon.
With Stewart returning, Oregon is projected to have 73 scholarship players.
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James Crepea is the Oregon Ducks beat reporter and Big Ten sports reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He primarily covers football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball and softball, as well as…
A career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds from sharpshooting, French wing Isaiah Sy propelled Oregon State men’s basketball to a 76-70 win over Loyola Marymount on Wednesday night at Gill Coliseum.
The Beavers (10-10, 3-4 WCC) also got 21 points from Josiah Lake II in a foul-fest that saw both teams shoot a combined 56 free throws at a 95% clip.
The Lions (11-9, 2-5 WCC) were led by Myron Amey Jr. with 18 points and Rodney Brown Jr. with 17. OSU scored 17 points off LMU’s 15 turnovers.
Despite a poor shooting first half, OSU kept it close with LMU through the first 20 minutes. Brown was hot in the early going, however, scoring 10 quick points to give the Lions an 18-13 lead.
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The Beavers were able to stay in the game by getting to the free throw line, hitting 14 of its 14 attempts in the first half. LMU was also perfect from the stripe in the half, going 11-11.
The Lions committed eight turnovers to OSU’s four in the first half, and after taking a 24-17 at one point, the turnover issue allowed Wayne Tinkle’s team to come back.
OSU retook the lead, 30-29, on a three-pointer by Sy with three minutes left in the half. By the break, it was 37-36 LMU, with OSU shooting just 29% to LMU’s 44%.
Sy came out with back-to-back buckets to open the second half, hoping to energize his team as it took a 41-37 lead. A swished three-pointer by Lake made it 44-37, getting the Gill Coliseum crowd on its feet and forcing an LMU timeout.
OSU rode the momentum and kept forcing turnovers, leading to another three-pointer by Sy to make it 53-42 around the 14 minute mark. The positive energy extended to the OSU bench during a 7-0 run for the Beavers as they surpassed their season-high in steals with 10.
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Sy surpassed his career-high with a fifth three-pointer just as LMU was making a run, extending OSU’s lead to 57-46 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
LMU stormed back over a three-minute period, though, going on a 13-3 run to cut the OSU lead to just one.
A full-court press stymied the rhythm of OSU’s offense, and LMU retook the lead, 59-58, with just over six minutes left.
The teams traded baskets with the score swinging back and forth, and Johan Munch fouled out for OSU on an illegal screen with 3:39 remaining. Two free throws by Sy gave OSU the lead back, 65-63, shortly after.
Trailing by four, Amey missed a three for LMU with just over 90 seconds remaining, and OSU milked the clock as much as it could.
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LMU’s five-minute scoreless streak snapped with a corner three-pointer by Brown, cutting it to 68-66 with 50 seconds left.
But Jorge Diaz Graham and Sy hit their free throws down the stretch, and OSU was able to hang on for the win.
Next game: Oregon State (10-10, 3-4 WCC) vs. Pacific (12-8, 3-4 WCC)
