The International Brotherhood of Teamsters made headlines when it announced that it would not be endorsing either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Trump in the 2024 White House race. This decision marked the first time in over a quarter century that the powerful union, which boasts over one million U.S. members, chose not to endorse a candidate. Trump used this move as ammunition to criticize Team Harris, as they became the only top ten labor organization in the nation not to endorse the vice president as a successor to President Biden.
The Harris campaign attempted to downplay the news by highlighting endorsements from various Teamsters locals and rank-and-file members. In response to the Teamsters’ decision, the campaign emphasized endorsements from Teamsters Joint Council 75, which represents members in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Despite these efforts, newly released numbers from a Teamsters survey conducted from July to September show that Trump has more support among rank-and-file members than Harris in crucial battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
The national Teamsters’ vote totals at the time of the endorsement announcement revealed a surge in support for Trump among rank-and-file members since Harris replaced Biden at the top of the Democratic Party’s ticket for the 2024 election. Prior to Biden dropping out, the union’s polling showed the president leading Trump among members, but Trump held a considerable advantage over Harris. Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien explained that neither major candidate made commitments to prioritize working people over Big Business, leading to the decision not to endorse. The Harris campaign defended the vice president’s union record and criticized Trump for his treatment of striking workers.
Biden, who is viewed as one of the most pro-union presidents in modern times, has a history of supporting organized labor by walking picket lines with striking workers. O’Brien stated that the Teamsters sought commitments from both Trump and Harris to refrain from interfering in union campaigns or core industries and to respect members’ right to strike. The lack of these commitments influenced the decision not to endorse either candidate. When asked about seeking more commitments before making an endorsement, Harris shifted the focus to criticizing Trump, accusing him of making unfulfilled promises during his administration. The Teamsters’ decision not to endorse either candidate underscores the importance of issues impacting working people in the upcoming election.
