Candace Wagner announces Socialist Workers Party candidacy for Congress
Wagner joined the rally in Washington, D.C., “in support of Israel’s right to exist as a refuge for Jews and has joined local vigils demanding that Hamas’s hostages be released.”
Candace Wagner, a hotel housekeeper and active member of the UNITE HERE union in Pittsburgh, is running as the Socialist Workers Party candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 12th District.
Originally from a small town in Prince Georges County, Maryland, Wagner traces her political activity to eighth grade, when she skipped school to hand out flyers opposing the U.S. war in Vietnam, according to a news release. She then “became inspired by the Black struggle and read Malcolm X’s autobiography and saw film clips of his speeches. From Malcolm’s example, she decided that making a life working to change the world was the only thing that made sense.”
In 1973, she moved to New York City and joined the Young Socialist Alliance, the youth group affiliated with the Socialist Workers Party. Since then, she has engaged in efforts to respond to racism and in support of unions.
Wagner joined the Nov. 14 rally in Washington, D.C., “in support of Israel’s right to exist as a refuge for Jews and has joined local vigils demanding that Hamas’s hostages be released,” according to a news release. She also spoke before the Allegheny County Council in March, urging its members to vote against a resolution calling for Israel to cease its military operation in Gaza.
Wagner was the Socialist Workers Party candidate for governor of Pennsylvania in 2022.
In November’s general election, Wagner will likely face Republican James Hayes and the winner of the Democratic party’s April 23 primary, either incumbent Rep. Summer Lee or her challenger, Bhavini Patel. PJC
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