In a surprising move, the Teamsters Union has decided not to support either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in the forthcoming presidential race. This decision comes after a poll revealed a significant portion of its membership leaning towards Trump. The poll, which was conducted electronically among union members, indicated that nearly 60% favored Trump, with only 34% showing support for Vice President Harris. A subsequent telephone survey echoed these findings, with Trump securing 58% of union member support compared to Harris's 31%.
This marks a notable departure from the union's long-standing tradition of endorsing Democratic candidates in each November election cycle, including its support for President Joe Biden in the 2020 elections. The pivot away from an endorsement this year is attributed to the overwhelming preference for Trump over Harris among union members, as reflected by the polling data.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien elaborated on the union's stance through an official statement. He expressed gratitude towards all political candidates who engaged directly with union members during their unique roundtable discussions. Despite these interactions, O’Brien noted that neither of the leading candidates sufficiently addressed the union’s priorities or committed to prioritizing workers' interests above those of large corporations.
O’Brien emphasized the diversity within their membership base, which includes Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike. He stressed the importance of representing and respecting all members' views within their collective bargaining unit. While encouraging members to participate actively in the electoral process and vote according to their convictions, O’Brien made it clear that no presidential candidate had secured the Teamsters’ coveted endorsement this election cycle due to a lack of commitment to labor issues central to their membership’s concerns.
