In the lead-up to North Carolina’s March 3rd primary election, hospitality workers across North Carolina have been connecting with thousands of voters on key issues.
With over 43,500 doors knocked statewide ahead of election day, UNITE HERE Local 23, the state’s largest union for hospitality workers, has been organizing to empower voters with vital information.
For this year’s primary, the union has focused on door-knocking in the Charlotte and Roanoke Rapids areas in an effort to highlight what’s at stake in this election – workers’ rights, fair wages, affordable healthcare, and education.
In an at-will employment state like North Carolina, where a union contract is one of the few protections available to workers for unjust firings, especially when strong anti-discrimination protections are not in place, Trump’s harmful policies have made an impact.
Trump’s anti-immigration policy has affected employment in industries like hospitality, which has long relied on immigrant labor across hotels, restaurants, event venues, and tourism to fill a large share of roles that keep the industry operating smoothly.
According to a recent report by UNITE HERE, there were 98,000 fewer people employed in the hospitality sector last December than at the same time in 2024. In addition to the decline in the workforce, the U.S. lost $1.2 billion in tourism revenue from September 2024 to September 2025, according to the report.
In local elections like House District 27, House District 99, and House District 106, union members are pushing for candidates who will put a stop to Trump’s anti-immigrant and anti-LGBT policies that are causing a decline in tourism and employment, and protect Union jobs that provide protections against discrimination.
Through their door-knocking and organizing efforts, UNITE HERE Local 23 canvassed to protect Representative Rodney Pierce’s seat in NC House District 27, and to elect Reverend Dr. Rodney Sadler for NC House District 106, and Veleria Levy for NC House District 99.
Candidates like Pierce and Sadler have a record of pushing back against anti-immigration rhetoric, while their opponents, Michael Wray and Carla Cunningham, have voted in favor of ICE activity in the state.
“My parents raised me to fight for what’s right. I’m supporting Rev. Sadler because my community was targeted by Trump’s mass deportation agenda during his first term. I’m a 3rd generation U.S. citizen, but my grandson travels with his passport, birth certificate, and driver’s license for fear of being stopped by ICE. He has two small children he supports at home. This past December, when ICE and CBP deployed in Charlotte, they had 20 SUVs parked near the only exit or entrance to my heavily Latino community. No one went to work or school. They were too afraid. We felt trapped in our own homes,” stated Maria Hernandez, a UNITE HERE Local 23 member and Canvasser, who works at HMS Host-CLT airport, in a press release. “Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler is a real Democrat and a people’s champion who will represent us well in NC House District 106.”
For Levy, a community advocate and health care champion, she is facing Nasif Majeed, who was the only democrat to support Republican efforts to target the LGBTQ+ community. Majeed voted along with Republicans to override Governor Josh Stein’s veto of HB805, which has the potential to negatively impact the state’s tourism industry, similar to the harmful House Bill 2.
UNITE HERE Local 23 canvassers played a key role in the 2024 election, helping Rodney Pierce secure the State House District 27 primary by just 34 votes out of 12,000 ballots cast. Union members are hoping to once again bring a win to working-class North Carolinians in highly contested elections in the Roanoke Rapids and Charlotte areas.
“I canvassed with my union because I’m a non-binary person living in North Carolina. Rep. Nasif Majeed’s vote with Republicans on HB805 single-handedly legislated my identity out of existence. This puts my coworkers and me at risk in the workplace and in public,” said Ian Anderson, UNITE HERE Local 23 member and canvasser who works as a Server at HMS Host-CLT Airport. “It speaks volumes to say this is a ‘personal moral issue’ and then parrot Republican talking points about ‘parents’ rights,’ a common conservative phrase that evokes hysteria over the existence of LGBT kids. I know that Veleria Levy, who’s spent the last two decades protecting vulnerable communities, is the candidate for NC House District 99.”
“UNITE HERE has a national reputation for running effective canvassing operations, and this one was no different. The voters turned out today by Local 23 canvassers helped make a critical difference in the election. And we’ll be sure to bring that same energy into the general election. Our Canvassers and members are Black, Brown, and marginalized community members. We’re supporting these candidates because their mission is to make sure our members’ voices are heard,” said Marlene Patrick-Cooper, President of UNITE HERE Local 23.
As of March 4th (post-primary election day), Representative Rodney Pierce, Reverend Dr. Rodney Sadler, and Veleria Levy all won their respective seats.
- According to NC Newsline, Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler won with 70% to Carla Cunningham’s 22% in unofficial results.
- First-term incumbent Rep. Rodney Pierce won 64% of the vote to former Rep. Michael Wray’s 36% in unofficial results.
- Veleria Levy won 69% of the vote, while four-term House member Nasif Majeed had 27.% in unofficial results.
UNITE HERE Local 23 represents 28,000 hospitality workers in North Carolina and throughout the South. For more information, visit UNITE HERE Local 23
