Kamala Harris Loses Key Union Endorsement That Has Backed Democrats For Decades

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters labor union declined to endorse a candidate for the 2024 United States presidential race on Wednesday, ending decades of backing the Democratic nominee.

The decision comes 2 days after they met with Vice President Kamala Harris while assessing both candidates for a potential endorsement.

This marks the first time the union has not backed a candidate in a U.S. presidential race in decades.

The Teamsters union has traditionally endorsed the Democratic presidential ticket, including Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000.

The union also publicized polling data collected from its membership regarding support for a presidential candidate. It stated that its members overwhelmingly demonstrated support for the Trump campaign, with 59.6% of rank-and-file membership voting for the union to endorse former President Donald Trump.

"Following the Republican National Convention and Biden's campaign exit, the Teamsters commissioned a national electronic poll of its 1.3 million members, overseen by an independent third party." said a press release posted to the union's website. "During a voting window from July 24-Sept. 15, rank-and-file Teamsters voted 59.6 percent for the union to endorse Trump, compared to 34 percent for Harris."

Despite the fact that the last Republican candidate to be endorsed by the union was George H. W. Bush in 1988, Teamsters president Sean O'Brien spoke at the Republican National Convention in July. His speech focused on anti-big business rhetoric; he was not invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention in August.

"Today, the Teamsters are here to say we are not beholden to anyone or any party," O'Brien said at the RNC. "We will create an agenda and work with a bipartisan coalition, ready to accomplish something real for the American worker. And I don't care about getting criticized."

The union justified its' decision alongside its announcement, stating that neither candidate demonstrated a firm commitment "not to interfere in critical union campaigns or core Teamsters industries—and to honor our members' right to strike."