For the first time in nearly three decades, the influential International Brotherhood of Teamsters has declined to endorse a U.S. presidential candidate.
The union, representing 1.3 million members across the U.S. and Canada, announced that neither Democratic nominee Kamala Harris nor Republican nominee Donald Trump had sufficiently addressed top Teamsters issues to secure an endorsement.
The union’s internal polling revealed no decisive support for either candidate, despite showing a tilt toward Trump in recent surveys. This decision is seen as a setback for the Harris campaign, which had been counting on union support to rally working-class voters in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Although the Teamsters’ leadership chose to remain neutral, some regional councils representing over 500,000 members, particularly in states such as Michigan and California, announced their endorsement of Harris. The Harris campaign emphasized that it continues to enjoy the backing of a majority of organized labor, noting that several Teamsters locals had also thrown their support behind her.
In a statement, Harris’ spokesperson, Lauren Hitt, highlighted the vice president’s pro-labor record, contrasting it with Trump’s stance on striking workers. “While Donald Trump says striking workers should be fired, Vice President Harris has literally walked the picket line and stood strong with organized labor,” Hitt stated.
Sean O’Brien, the Teamsters’ General President, has made inroads with Republican leaders since taking over in 2022, even meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year. O’Brien also became the first Teamsters leader to address the Republican National Convention (RNC), where he praised Trump but stopped short of endorsing him. O’Brien’s outreach to Republicans, however, has sparked internal divisions, with some members criticizing his approach.
In contrast, rank-and-file members, including the Teamsters National Black Caucus, have voiced frustration with O’Brien’s reluctance to endorse Harris. Some locals have independently endorsed the Democratic candidate.
Despite the union’s neutral stance, recent polling suggests Trump is favored among Teamsters, with 59.6% supporting his candidacy in one poll, compared to 34% backing Harris. However, the union stated that there was no universal backing for either candidate, leading to its decision not to issue a formal endorsement.
Trump’s campaign celebrated the poll results, claiming the union’s membership clearly wants Trump back in the White House. Meanwhile, Harris continues to court organized labor, hoping to strengthen her support base among union workers before election day.
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