Union Endorsements Spark Racial Equity Concerns in St. Paul Senate Contest

For decades, the Senate District 65 seat has been held by white lawmakers. This year’s race marks a notable moment, with multiple candidates of color seeking the position. (L to R) Senate District 65 Candidates Raeisha Williams, Jamael Lundy and Robyn Gulley

As Democrats in Minnesota Senate District 65 prepare for their endorsing convention on Sunday, March 29, questions about racial equity, transparency, and political influence in labor union endorsements are intensifying in one of the state’s most diverse districts.

The issue centers on endorsements from major labor organizations, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the AFL-CIO, both of which backed candidate Robyn Gulley late last year. Gulley, who is white, is married to SEIU Minnesota President Jamie Gulley.

Image from Robyn Gulley's senate campaign website.

Her opponents, Raeisha Williams and Jamael Lundy, both Black candidates, were not given the opportunity to participate in endorsement screenings.

“I’m disappointed that I was not provided the opportunity to screen with the majority of the unions that endorsed in this race,” Lundy said in a statement. “However, I remain committed to working on behalf of our frontline labor members and with our labor unions.”

Williams framed her experience as part of a broader historical pattern.

“I wasn't contacted by SEIU or AFL about this Senate race and offering an endorsement opportunity or even just to get to know me as a candidate,” Williams said. “It feels like historically African Americans have been left out of the system's process to give us a voice at the state level.”

At the time of the labor endorsements, there was another candidate in the SD65 race, Saint Paul school board member Carlo Franco. He ended his campaign on January 14 to focus on his responsibilities to students amid Operation Metro Surge. Franco says he also was not invited to screen with either SEIU or the AFL-CIO.

“As a frontline union member who comes from a working-class family of union members and continues to work in close partnership with labor in various roles I serve in, I was disappointed that they did not choose to screen in this race prior to providing an endorsement,” Franco said. “In my experience, many unions such as AFSCME, SPFE and the Teamsters for example, have long been committed to a member-driven endorsement process that builds consensus on candidates they support — which I believe is the democratic process that all Unions should be committed to.”

Labor unions like SEIU have long emphasized commitments to racial, economic, and social justice, representing a membership base that includes a high proportion of workers of color. Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL- 65A) said the lack of inclusion in the endorsement process is troubling.

“Senate District 65 is one of the most diverse districts in Minnesota. Our democracy should reflect the voices of immigrants, workers, families, elders, and young people who live here,” he said.

BLCK Press reached out to Robyn Gulley to ask about her endorsement process with the labor unions but did not hear back.

Emails Raise Questions About Process

Separate from the endorsement concerns, scrutiny has intensified around a January email sent by Jamie Gulley to District 65 DFL Vice Chair Haley Taylor Schlitz regarding caucus procedures.

Hayley Taylor Schlitz says her work as vice chair of Senate District 65 has focused on expanding engagement, a goal she believes should guide party decisions. “We want diversity, we want engagement, we want inclusivity,” she said. “That’s the party that we are and the values that we hold.”

In the email, Gulley expressed strong opposition to virtual caucusing and warned of political consequences, writing in part:

“I want to bring your attention to something I’m very concerned about… you in your capacity as a party officer are advocating for a virtual process for caucuses this year. I and SEIU 100% oppose this… I just wanted to let you know that this issue will be a deal breaker for me and many others if you chose to be a candidate.”

Taylor Schlitz, who was considering a run for House seat 65B at the time, said the interaction left her with concerns about how influence was being exercised.

“It felt like they were trying to stack the deck in favor of the people that they wanted, and I think it was being done improperly,” she said. “My initial reach out to Jamie was, ‘Hey, I'm considering running. I'd love to talk to you and discuss endorsements.’ I just don't think that that's the proper way to go about deciding who gets endorsements. I don't think that it had the correct motives.”

She said she ultimately disengaged from the conversation.

“I pretty quickly redirected the conversation and ended up just ending it all together,” she said. “Of course, in a race, you're going to have some endorsements and you're not going to have others, and that's perfectly fine. I just think the manner and motive was questionable, to say the least.”

Debate Over Virtual Caucusing and Community Safety

Taylor Schlitz defended her support for virtual or hybrid caucusing, describing it as rooted in accessibility and community safety, particularly for immigrants and communities of color.

“First of all, it's winter,” she said. “People whose voices we want to be heard—depending on their work schedule, family life, or the weather— wouldn't be able to make it. There’s no reason why there can't be a hybrid or virtual option.”

She emphasized that safety concerns from constituents during Operation Metro Surge were a central factor.

“There are people who are obviously fearing for their lives, fearing for their families—the last thing on their list of concerns is to go out and do things that feel optional,” Taylor Schlitz said. “But that doesn't mean that their voices shouldn't be heard.”

Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega (DFL-65B) echoed those concerns and described the climate in January as one of fear and instability in immigrant communities.

“Back in January was the heat of Operation Metro Surge,” Pérez-Vega said. “Folks were getting killed for legally observing and people had been scared. We've had ICE agents at our front doors, our markets, around our schools, places of worship and community centers which hold caucus locations and our polling sites.”

She said those realities made traditional in-person participation difficult or even unsafe for many residents.

Dispute Over “Fraud” Claims

Senate District 65, currently represented by Sen. Sandy Pappas, covers parts of St. Paul, is widely recognized for its racial and cultural diversity.

Jamie Gulley’s email also referenced allegations of significant fraud in past caucuses conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, claims that local leaders dispute. Former District 65 DFL Vice Chair Darren Tobolt, who helped oversee caucus operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, said he does not agree with characterizations of “significant fraud.”

“Fraud is such a strong word, especially right now,” Tobolt said. “There were people who didn’t understand the process — no one really did at the time, because we were building it in real time. But by the time we held the convention, everyone there had been credentialed. I don’t remember anyone who wasn’t a legitimate delegate.”

Tobolt acknowledged there were early concerns about how to verify participants in a fully virtual system but said those challenges were ultimately resolved. Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-65) also does not believe there were any irregularities in the Senate District 65 precinct caucus and convention process. 

“There was a misunderstanding with some individuals who signed non-attendance forms but didn't live in the district. Because they were not SD65 residents, they were disqualified from becoming delegates,” said Pappas. “I know the individuals who were in charge of the process, and they are honest and responsible volunteers doing the best they can.”

Hussein said talk of fraud echos fear-based political rhetoric we have seen nationally.

“I want to be clear: there has been no evidence of widespread fraud in Senate District 65, and our community deserves better than accusations that discourage people from participating in democracy,” he said.

A request for comment was sent to Jamie Gulley on Wednesday seeking clarification on his fraud claims, opposition to virtual caucusing, and the SEIU endorsement process. He did not respond by publication.

Next in the process, the District 65 DFL Convention on March 29, where party delegates will weigh in on the race.