Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Tia Orr

6. Tia Orr

Tia Orr may be the most powerful unelected woman in California politics. The first African American woman and just the second Latina to serve as the executive director of the 700,000 member SEIU California, Orr is simply a force of nature. And good thing, as there is no major negotiation involving labor of which she is not an integral part. Opponents and allies alike describe her with words like “tireless” and “fearless” in her efforts on behalf of workers. And the results are indisputable. She had such an enormous year in 2023 – including shepherding legislation to raise the minimum wage for fast food and health care workers – it was hard to imagine she could top it in 2024. 
But while SEIU’s winning streak wasn’t as public or as obvious as last year, those in the know say several of this year’s biggest political deals – PAGA reform comes to mind – would not have come together without SEIU in general and Tia Orr in specific.

Updated Aug. 7, 2024