Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Yvonne Wheeler

No. 88 Yvonne Wheeler

Yvonne Wheeler is the first Black woman elected president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO (LA Fed), the second-largest central labor body in the United States, with more than 300 affiliated unions representing more than 800,000 members. Wheeler also serves on the executive council of the California Labor Federation as first vice president, giving her influence that extends well beyond Los Angeles. She has become one of labor’s most trusted behind-the-scenes leaders, particularly when difficult negotiations require a steady hand and a practical approach. Wheeler has earned a reputation for bringing people together without sacrificing the priorities of working Californians. She’s soft-spoken, but in that steel magnolia way. You don’t rise to the top of organized labor without backbone, and you don’t stay there without knowing when to push and when to persuade. Wheeler is the daughter of a longtime union activist from Louisiana who was active during the Civil Rights Movement.

Updated Aug. 11, 2026