Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Oscar Lopez

58. Oscar Lopez

SEIU Political Director Oscar Lopez is used to being in the shadow of some of the far more public figures in Big Labor. But don’t sleep on him, because everyone at SEIU from Tia Orr on down knows just how critical he is to their success. Because all Lopez does is work every angle, foster every coalition and help create and implement virtually every strategy, rally and campaign SEIU puts together across this massive state. If it is about winning candidate elections or a ballot measure campaign – or maybe defeating one of those the SEIU doesn’t like – Lopez is there with dollars and manpower to help make it happen. And with 2026 bringing us the Congressional mid-terms, a gubernatorial race and statewide legislative elections, you can bet Lopez will continue to be the most anonymous and somehow yet most in-demand person in the California labor movement. Because if you are in any way trying to present yourself as pro-labor, you want him on that wall. You need him on that wall! (Apologies to Aaron Sorkin and Jack Nicholson.)

Updated August 26, 2025