Fran Drescher has won her bid for reelection in a landslide as president of SAG-AFTRA, with nearly five times the number of votes as her opponent Maya Gilbert-Dunbar; Drescher will begin her second two-year term soon. Drescher’s unity slate running-mate Joely Fisher also won her bid for secretary-treasurer in a landslide, defeating Peter Antico.
“I am honored to serve my union as president for another term,” Drescher said. “These are dynamic times and, as one member body, we will weather the storms, stand on our principles, and make sure our major contributions to this collaborative art form shall never again be diminished but rather be exalted. I want all members to be equal in all ways, and I will continue to fight against marginalization and discrimination within our union, from our employers, and the world at large.”
According to Drescher, her main goal as president is to “make sure everyone has equal opportunity to work” while watching “partisanship fade away as we develop a new culture of respect, patience, and understanding. Taking our time, speaking from the heart, and making decisions must be based on wisdom and not politics.
“Much has been accomplished in the past two years, but I feel great optimism that the next two will be our greatest ever!” she exclaimed “As we let go of tribalism and gain more empathy for one another, as we realize that with each experience comes opportunity to better ourselves on our journey of self-refinement, we will also enter a Golden Age for SAG-AFTRA.”
In 2021, Drescher was elected for her first term on the Unity for Strength ticket, while Joely Fisher was a part of the opposing MembershipFirst ticket. However, both parties formed a unity slate in June to announce the SAG-AFTRA strike. It is unclear when Drescher will be sworn in again as president, as the strike is ongoing.