REP. RO KHANNA, CALIFORNIA UNIONS UNITE ON STAGE IN SAN JOSE FOR RALLY IN SUPPORT OF POPULAR PROP 40
Powerful rally follows major endorsements from the California Democratic Party, California Nurses Association, and the California AFL-CIO of Prop 40
80% of Democrats, 70% of union households, 63% of teachers support popular Prop 40 Billionaire Tax
SAN JOSE – Today, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna joined working people from California’s largest labor unions on stage for a rally in support of the widely popular Prop 40, the California Billionaire Tax. Rep. Khanna, along with workers and representatives of SEIU-UHW and the Teamsters, were met with cheers and applause from the packed audience.
All those in attendance were united in their support for Prop 40 and the belief that California’s billionaires should pay their fair share to keep hospitals open and healthcare costs from skyrocketing.
The rally comes as support among California Democrats, labor organizations, and other groups consolidated behind Prop 40. With overwhelming percentages of union households and other key constituent groups now supporting the measure, today’s event was a celebration of Prop 40’s rapidly growing momentum. Meanwhile, Khanna and other speakers used the occasion to speak to the crowd on the measure’s critical importance just less than three months out from the November election.
“[Prop 40] is the fight that will define the future of this country,” said U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna. “This is not a complicated issue. It’s very simple: Do you stand for billionaires or do you stand for kids who don’t have health insurance? Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to mislead the public…[but] the vast majority of Californians support this.
The question for our country, for California, for the Democratic Party is simple: Are we going to be a party for the working class or the donor class? With Prop 40, we are showing the country we are going to be a party for the working class.”
“We know we are up against billionaires with a lot of money, but what we have is people power,” said Debru Carthan, Executive Vice President, SEIU-UHW. “They have money. We have people. The power of the people will not stop.”
Already, hundreds of elected officials, labor unions, and community-based organizations have endorsed Prop 40 as an urgent and necessary solution to keep hospitals open and healthcare costs from skyrocketing.
This month alone, the California State Democratic Party, the California Nurses Association, and the state’s largest labor group, the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, all voted to endorse the Billionaire Tax, showing that Democrats and working families are united behind Prop 40.
The number of major supporters of the Billionaire Tax has far outpaced the number of groups opposing. Supporters include U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Ro Khanna, Teamsters California, AFSCME California, SEIU-UHW, Committee of Interns and Residents / SEIU, UNITE HERE Local 11, UNITE HERE Local 30, AFT Local 1521, Disability Voices United, Our Revolution California, Oxfam America, Color of Change, and many more.
Voters consistently support the California Billionaire Tax by large, double-digit margins. A new poll of likely 2026 California voters found that the billionaire tax holds a strong double-digit, 19-point lead statewide, with voters supporting it by a 57% to 38% margin. Support rises dramatically among constituencies that form the backbone of the Democratic Party, with 80% of Democrats and 70% of union members supporting Prop 40.
Prop 40 qualified for the ballot after supporters submitted more than 1.6 million signatures from Californians across the state — nearly twice the number required to qualify — making it one of the strongest citizen-led ballot qualification efforts in California history.
The funds from Prop 40 will go to life-saving medical care for seniors, veterans, and families. It will allow millions of Californians to keep their health insurance and not see their premiums skyrocket. It will also help prevent teacher layoffs in our public schools and keep children fed through food assistance.
About Prop 40, the California Billionaire Tax Act
Trump’s “Big, Ugly Bill” slashed funding for healthcare in California to pay for more billionaire tax breaks. These cuts eliminate healthcare coverage for up to 3.4 million Californians and double health insurance premiums for millions more. Prop 40, the California Billionaire Tax Act, will make billionaires finally pay their fair share in taxes to keep local hospitals and ERs open and healthcare affordable for millions of Californians.
Vote YES on Prop 40 to save lives, tax billionaires.
Original article disclosure
Paid for Paid for by Yes on 40 – Billionaire Tax Now – No on 41 & 42, Sponsored by Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West. Committee’s Top Funder Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West