Entertainment Union Council: California Gubernatorial Meetings Update
A message from the Entertainment Union Coalition (EUC):
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The Entertainment Union Coalition (EUC), on behalf of our 167,000 members, has met with top California gubernatorial candidates to educate them about the work of our members, the challenges you face, and the need to protect, stabilize and grow film and television jobs throughout our state.
Central to this is a stronger California Film & Television Jobs Program.
The Entertainment Union Coalition is not an endorsing entity and these discussions were strictly educational. While each Hollywood union and guild has their own process for making decisions in key electoral races, candidates were made aware that we work collaboratively to educate and activate our members, especially when it comes to protecting and expanding jobs across our state.
Since January, the EUC has met as a group with the following candidates:
- Katie Porter
- Ian Calderon (No longer in the race)
- Antonio Villaraigosa
- Steve Hilton
- Tom Steyer
- Xavier Becerra
- Betty Yee
- Eric Swalwell (No longer in the race)
- Matt Mahan
We also reached out to the campaign team for Tony Thurmond and Chad Bianco; however, no concrete meeting date was set.
Our message was clear: the entertainment industry needs a partner in the Governor’s office who understands the importance of film and television production, not only for the jobs it creates, but for its broader impact on our state’s economy, including local businesses, tourism and hospitality.
While film and television helped put California on the global map, without strengthening the competitiveness of our incentive program, this is an industry we risk losing to other locations for good.
Additional topics from our meetings included:
- Competitive Jobs Program: To remain competitive, we must expand funding for our jobs program while removing hurdles that other industries, such as big tech, don’t face in their incentive structures. A modernized program will strengthen return on investment for the state and allow for a more comprehensive approach that includes all work, both behind and in front of the camera, also known as “above the line.”
- California Investment: The strength and vitality of California’s economy is tied to the health of the entertainment industry and the earning power of the hundreds of thousands of workers it supports. As the state faces potential federal funding cuts in the years ahead, sustaining strong union jobs, good benefits, and the tourism generated by our industry will be critical to bolster our economy.
- Avoiding Complacency: Governments around the world recognize the economic impact of film and television production and are actively working to attract it. As we continue efforts to secure a federal incentive, California must strengthen its own program representative of the size and significance of this homegrown industry. Until recently, California took for granted that “Hollywood” would always remain here. We cannot afford to slip back into that mindset and lose further ground.
- Challenges Ahead: Corporate consolidation, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, international production, and competition from Big Tech are among the major issues facing our members. Protecting their jobs in the face of these changes is our mission.
The role our governor plays in the advocacy and support of our industry by way of our jobs program cannot be understated. In 2025, Governor Newsom championed expanded funding and modernization of our program, an effort that proved critical to our success in a difficult fiscal and budget climate.
In a crowded governor race our responsibility remains to our members: to make certain that every candidate seeking our state’s highest office fully understands our industry, the challenges we face and the importance of investing in film and television production to strengthen our state’s economy.
Head to our www.KeepCaliforniaRolling.org website to learn more about how you can continue to support and be involved in this fight.
In Solidarity,
The Entertainment Union Council
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