Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Joe Cruz

No. 29 Joe Cruz

Joseph Cruz will never be one of those folks who searches for the spotlight. The Executive Director of the California State Council of Laborers, the largest construction trade union in the state, Cruz lives by the Teddy Roosevelt mantra of “speak softly and carry a big stick.” For Cruz, that stick is the 75,000 construction workers his union counts as members. He didn’t just skydive into the role either. Cruz previously spent eleven years as Executive Director for the California Alliance for Jobs (over 100,000 construction workers & 5,000 contractors). From High Speed Rail & Prop 1A to numerous labor and management campaigns, Cruz has been at the forefront as a trusted leader on infrastructure, public finance, regulation and legislation. This year he was also one of Xavier Becerra’s biggest supporters, helping the Democratic gubernatorial nominee raise money and working tirelessly on his behalf to get other Big Labor groups behind him as well. And you know that is going to play well for his union should Becerra become California’s next governor.

Updated August 11, 2026