Fran Drescher Won’t Seek Another Term as SAG-AFTRA President

After four years in charge, Fran Drescher will not seek another term as president of SAG-AFTRA.

Drescher’s decision has been known within the union for some time. But it was made official on Friday when the union released the list of candidates for the upcoming election.

Sean Astin, who has served on the negotiating committee and the national and local boards, will run for president against Chuck Slavin, a member of the local board in New England.

Drescher took the helm of SAG-AFTRA in 2021 with the goal of uniting an organization that had been riven by factional politics. She largely did that, in part by taking the union on strike against the major film and TV companies for the first time in four decades.

Drescher had little to no experience in union politics before taking the top job. She was re-elected in 2023 on a “unity ticket,” as the two primary factions — Unite for Strength and Membership First — chose to put aside their differences amid the strike.

Michelle Hurd and Peter Antico will run for secretary-treasurer.

Astin and Hurd are running together under a new slate called “The Coalition.” Antico and Slavin are running as “independent” candidates. Antico ran for secretary-treasurer against incumbent Joely Fisher in 2023, losing by a tally of 70%-30%.

Slavin supported Maya Gilbert-Dunbar in the 2023 election for president. She got about 19% of the vote, to Drescher’s 81%.

Another round of negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers is set for next year. Both campaigns are focused on issues like health and pension benefits, streaming residuals and protections against generative AI.

Ballots are set to go out to members on Aug. 13, and are due to be returned by Sept. 12. The union has elections for national officer positions as well as the national board and numerous local boards.