Teamsters Union breaks tradition, declines to endorse Harris, Trump

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of the most powerful labor unions in the U.S., has declined to endorse either Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or Republican nominee Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election.

This marks the first time since 1996 that the 1.3 million-member union has refrained from endorsing a candidate, citing a lack of “commitments on top Teamsters issues” from both campaigns.

Union President Sean O’Brien revealed the decision after extensive polling of its diverse rank-and-file members, which showed no decisive support for either candidate, though Trump did show stronger backing in some surveys.

O’Brien noted that the union’s polling showed Trump leading Harris among Teamsters members in two polls—one after the Republican National Convention and another more recent poll—with the latter survey showing 58% support for Trump versus 31% for Harris. Despite these numbers, the union chose to remain neutral, stating that there was “no majority support” for either candidate.

Also Read: FBI disrupts chinese botnet targeting critical infrastructure

The decision is a significant setback for Harris, who has been working to rally labor support in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Losing an endorsement from the Teamsters—a key mobilizing force in these areas—could hinder her ability to galvanize working-class voters.

Harris’ campaign was quick to respond, touting her strong labor credentials. “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. Harris has received endorsements from many local Teamsters branches, even though the national union has held back.

O’Brien has made strides to build bridges with Republicans during his tenure, even meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate earlier this year and delivering a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention. Despite his outreach, O’Brien stopped short of formally endorsing Trump, leaving the door open for both campaigns to continue courting the union’s members.

The refusal to endorse either candidate signals a major shift in the Teamsters’ traditional alignment with the Democratic Party. While Harris may continue to garner support from other labor organizations, this decision underscores the challenges her campaign faces in swaying key working-class voters in the final weeks before election night.