Hill Harper, candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, announced that he has received the endorsement of the American Postal Workers Union Detroit District Area Local 295.
“I’m in total support of Hill Harper in his bid for the U.S. Senate,” said Keith M. Combs Sr., President of the APWU DDAL 295. “Michiganders need a Representative that cares about our children more than our weapons. We need a leader that will fight for our wives and daughters to be the decision makers for what they want to do with their bodies. We need a person who can motivate and mentor our youth. We need a fighter. We need Hill Harper in the U.S. Senate. That is why Hill has my full support.”
The APWU DDAL 295 represents 1,500 postal workers in Southeast Michigan, many of whom are veterans, including Combs Sr. According to a release, the union advocates for fair pay, benefits, safe working conditions, and respect for postal workers and all workers – all issues they say align with Harper’s values as a candidate. Additionally, they defend the public right to access and use the US Postal Service.
Harper expressed his gratitude for the endorsement, saying: “Everything I have today I owe to my own union membership, and I am truly grateful to receive the endorsement of the APWU Detroit District Area Local 295. They do such critical work serving the great state of Michigan and advocating for the rights of both workers and the public. From delivering absentee ballots to birthday cards – our amazing postal workers work hard to serve us and keep us connected. In the Senate, I will bring the same level of dedication and service-driven work.
“The support of President Combs and the APWU DDAL 295 demonstrates our shared commitment to serving the public, supporting our communities, and fostering partnerships and connections across Michigan. I have so much respect for our postal workers, and I am so proud to have their backing as I continue to work and fight for the people of Michigan.”
The APWU DDAL 295 endorsement represents a continuation of the strong base of unions and workers that are choosing Harper as Michigan’s next Senator.
Last week, The Detroit News reported that while the UAW would not be endorsing any candidate in the race, the members of UAW Region 1A and UAW Region 1 are largely behind Harper. The article quoted Laura Dickerson, Director of UAW Region 1A, saying: “My members are wholeheartedly with Hill Harper. They have chosen him. In my discussions with the director from Region 1, I think her people feel the same way.” Harper has also received the endorsement of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 26.
The Detroit businessman and famed “CSI: N.Y.” and “The Good Doctor” actor announced his bid in July 2023 for the Michigan U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow after the November 2024 statewide elections.
Stabenow announced on Jan. 5, 2023, that she would not seek re-election at the end of her existing term and that when her term comes to an end on Jan. 3, 2025, she’ll “pass the torch” and let the next generation of leaders continue to break barriers and in the fight of democracy.
Harper, who has been a Detroit resident since 2016, has been aggressively meeting with leaders in big and small cities around the state, including Detroit, Flint, Pontiac, and Saginaw, and served as the keynote speaker at the Michigan Chronicle’s 2023 Men of Excellence banquet, where he spoke about his desire to be a strong voice for Michigan’s democracy.
“I’ve always wanted to have impact and legacy in a real powerful way, and I felt like I could do that first as an actor. If you’re an artist you have to be political, but you don’t have to necessarily hold office to be political. You can be an activist, which is what I’ve been,” Harper said.
Harper’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate aims to provide Michiganders with economic security, safe and thriving communities, and real representation that prioritizes people over lobbyists and wealthy donors.
During an exclusive sit-down with Michigan Chronicle this past summer, Harper said his top five issues are student loan debt and youth education, healthcare, banning weapons of mass murder, economic development, and the environment.
“Without question, the most challenging part of my campaign will be convincing people to be able to reclaim their power and reclaim their vote. The largest voting constituency in Michigan is the one I have to appeal to, and those are people who don’t vote,” Harper said in July.
“We have to be able to bring those people back. They’ve lost trust in the system. They elected these career politicians over and over, they see nothing materially changing in their individual lives, and (they figure) why should they trust me, the guy who’s not a politician who says I’m not going to be like that and I’m actually going to fight for you? Are they going to believe it? So, I have to cover this state – all 83 counties – and speak to everybody across this state, whether it’s a farmer in Remus or a single mother at the corner of Mack and Drexel. I think fundamentally we all want the same thing.”
A lawyer, actor, union leader, and single father who owns a popular coffee shop in Detroit, Harper said he learned the value of public service early, a commitment he has maintained throughout his diverse career, from Harvard Law School to acting and as a key surrogate for President Barack Obama.
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