Economy, Jobs and Trade

Gig worker status

16 public statements from 2026 candidates

§1The range of views

Why this matters: The label affects drivers' pay, benefits and flexibility, and what the app companies spend.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

Whether people who drive or deliver through ride-hailing and delivery apps count as independent contractors or as employees under the law, which decides whether federal minimum wage and overtime rules cover them.1

  1. Keep them as independent contractors
  2. Keep them as contractors, with portable benefits they carry between apps
  3. Classify more of them as employees

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Classify more of them as employees (4)

  • Scott Wiener CA-11
    His campaign website says he would create a federal test to stop companies from misclassifying gig workers as independent contractors.2
  • Mike Sell FL-4
    His campaign's platform calls for a federal ABC test for classifying workers, saying that misclassifying workers as contractors is a violation rather than a business model.3
  • John "Drew" Williams KY-1
    His campaign website says he would prevent worker misclassification by enforcing a three-point test for independent contractors and ensuring employees have access to core benefits such as wage protections, overtime pay and unemployment insurance.4
  • Ilhan Omar MN-5
    It says the legal definition of an employee should be widened so that workers are not wrongly classified as independent contractors.5

Statements that don't match one option (12)

  • Kevin Kiley CA-6
    His campaign website features his Modern Worker Empowerment Act, which it says would classify workers as independent contractors under federal wage and labor laws when they control how they do their work, and his official House biography says he is leading an effort to overturn a Department of Labor rule on independent contractors.6,7,8
  • Connie Chan CA-11
    Her campaign website says she would strengthen gig, app-based and independent contractor workers' right to organize and access to benefits.9
  • Ro Khanna CA-17
    His campaign website says gig and digital workers should be protected from being misclassified as independent contractors and that platforms should share more revenue with creators.10
  • Peter Coe Verbica CA-19
    His campaign website lists defending independent contractors among his goals, and his 25-point federal plan proposes a federal safe-harbor employment category for startups, gig workers and agricultural employees.11,12
  • Angela Gonzales-Torres CA-34
    Her campaign website calls for guaranteeing gig workers the right to organize and bargain collectively, portable benefits that follow workers from job to job, and clear worker classification laws.13
  • Kimberly Overman FL-12
    Her campaign platform says she supports requiring accurate classification of workers.14
  • Alexander Cooke FL-21
    His campaign website says he would defend independent contractors and 1099 workers.15,16
  • Dean Ocean Abrams FL Governor
    His campaign website says gig workers should get injury coverage and clear pay calculations and should not be misclassified in a way that serves the platform over the worker.17
  • Matt Day GA-2
    His campaign website’s American Investment Bill would require client companies to pay a $12 weekly fee for each 1099 worker toward future Social Security, Medicare and liability costs, and would audit large gig platforms for tax compliance.18
  • Megan Wingfield KY-2
    Her campaign website says she supports protecting gig workers.19
  • Pete Lynch KY-6
    His campaign website says he supports protecting gig economy workers and independent contractors.20
  • Chris Henry OR Senate
    His platform says gig workers and independent contractors should be protected from sham classifications.21