Major US Labor Union Declines Presidential Endorsement: A Turning Point for the 2024 Election

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has announced it will not endorse either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, marking the first time since 1996 that the influential union has abstained from making a presidential endorsement. This decision poses a considerable challenge for Harris’s campaign, which is striving to engage working-class voters in crucial battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The Teamsters, representing approximately 1.3 million members across the US and Canada, cited a lack of substantial commitments on key issues for its members from both candidates. Internal polling revealed “no definitive support” for either nominee, although other polls indicated a notable preference for Trump among the rank-and-file. The absence of an endorsement not only diminishes Harris’s appeal among working-class voters but also creates an opening for Trump, who has shown increasing support among certain union members.

Shortly after the Teamsters’ announcement, several regional councils within the union, representing over half a million members in states including Michigan and Wisconsin, publicly endorsed Harris. This divergence highlights a fractured sentiment within the union ranks, reflecting a broader political diversity among its members, which includes freight drivers, warehouse workers, and airline pilots.

Harris’s campaign quickly emphasized its backing from “the overwhelming majority of organized labor,” pointing to support from various Teamsters locals. “While Donald Trump says striking workers should be fired, Vice-President Harris has literally walked the picket line and stood strong with organized labor for her entire career,” said campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt.

The Teamsters’ leadership, particularly under General President Sean O’Brien, has been exploring bipartisan outreach since O’Brien took the helm in 2022. His efforts have included engaging with Republican figures like Senators Josh Hawley and JD Vance, and even meeting privately with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. O’Brien’s leadership style has drawn mixed reactions, with some union members expressing frustration over his rightward shift and outreach to the GOP.

The Teamsters have historically been a strong ally for Democrats, but this year’s lack of endorsement is indicative of changing dynamics. In a surprising financial move, the union contributed $45,000 to both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, signaling a willingness to engage across party lines. O’Brien’s address at the Republican National Convention, where he praised Trump, further alienated some Democrats, resulting in his exclusion from the Democratic convention.

Despite the Teamsters’ leadership refraining from a formal endorsement, several local councils have broken ranks to support Harris, urging their members to back her candidacy. This internal division showcases the complexity of union politics and the challenges facing candidates in garnering the support of working-class voters.

During a recent roundtable with Teamsters leadership, Harris expressed her desire for their endorsement, reassuring them of her commitment to labor issues. However, O’Brien remarked that her responses were similar to those previously given by Biden, reflecting a potential stagnation in the Democratic approach to addressing union concerns.

While Biden has frequently highlighted his administration’s pro-labor policies, including supporting union organizing and walking picket lines, it remains unclear whether he will receive the Teamsters’ backing in the upcoming election. As the campaign season heats up, the decision by the Teamsters not to endorse either candidate signals a critical moment for labor unions and their role in shaping the political landscape. With the election just around the corner, both candidates must navigate this evolving terrain as they seek to secure the vital support of organized labor and working-class voters.