Several Candidates Earn Endorsements From Care in Action South Carolina

Press Release

COLUMBIA – Care in Action South Carolina, the only advocacy organization in the Palmetto State focused ​​entirely on mobilizing and elevating women of color in the 2022 election, announced today that it has endorsed Rosemounda “Peggy” Butler for Secretary of State, as well as South Carolina House of Representatives candidates Chandra Dillard (HD23), Adriene Atkinson (HD25), Annie E. McDaniel (HD41), Patricia Moore “Pat” Henegan (HD54), Wendy C. Brawley (HD70), and Michelle Brandt (HD114). These endorsements follow Care in Action’s earlier endorsements of Mia McLeod for Governor and Krystle Matthews for U.S. Senate.

The endorsements were made unanimously by the Care in Action South Carolina Workers Committee following an extensive process that included thorough reviews of the candidates’ records and their commitments to stand up for domestic workers. Domestic worker leaders are available to speak to the media about today’s endorsements upon request.

“Women of color are going to be the difference at the ballot box this November. We’re delighted to endorse these candidates today, and we look forward to turning out the vote,” said Maria Reyes, Care in Action South Carolina State Director. “Working people, including domestic workers, deserve strong champions who will fight for them. It’s absolutely critical that South Carolinians finally get a government that is on their side.”

“Domestic workers get up early and do our jobs every single day so the rest of our state can keep moving,” added Auntoinette Jenkins, home health aide. “At the same time, many of us are still struggling just to put food on our families’ tables. That’s why it’s so important that we elect this strong slate of candidates in November.”

Women of color are key to progressive victories and to electing candidates who will support all families and workers in policy decisions, including domestic workers and immigrants. In 2020, the domestic worker movement mobilized on a large national scale, contacting millions of voters during election season and helping deliver the White House and control of the U.S. Senate to the Democratic Party.

The pandemic has exacerbated systemic inequities that disproportionately impact Black people, Latinx people, and other people of color and immigrants. Domestic workers, the majority of whom are immigrants and women of color, are systematically excluded from worker protections and make an average hourly wage of just $10.31. A growing number of older adults and people with disabilities require in-home care, and many of them rely upon Medicaid’s home- and community-based services (HCBS) to provide it. Relatedly, a growing number of family caregivers struggle with the physical, emotional and financial strain that our underfunded care infrastructure puts upon them.

Care in Action, a 501(c)(4) organization, was founded in 2016 at the request of domestic workers who knew they needed to build political power to advocate for dignity and fairness for this workforce.

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