The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has made a surprising decision in the 2024 presidential race.
Fox Business reports that the Teamsters union has announced it will not endorse a candidate for president, despite internal polling showing strong support for former President Donald Trump among its members.
The decision came after the union had conducted extensive polling of its membership. The results revealed that Trump holds a substantial lead over Vice President Kamala Harris among Teamsters members, with nearly 60% favoring the former president compared to around 30% for Harris.
The Teamsters' internal polling highlights a notable shift in the political leanings of its members. Prior to President Biden's withdrawal from the race, he held a lead over Trump among union members. However, with Harris as the Democratic nominee, Trump's support has surged significantly.
In an online survey, 59.6% of Teamsters members favored Trump, while Harris received 34% support. A separate phone survey yielded similar results, with Trump garnering 58% support compared to Harris' 31%. These figures represent a dramatic reversal from earlier polling that showed Biden leading Trump 44.3% to 36.3%.
The union's decision not to endorse a candidate breaks with its recent history. Since 1992, the Teamsters have consistently endorsed the Democratic candidate for president. The last time the union backed a Republican was in 1988, making this year's non-endorsement particularly noteworthy.
Both the Trump and Harris campaigns have responded to the Teamsters' announcement. The Trump campaign was quick to highlight the support shown by rank-and-file members, issuing a statement titled "Union Workers Support President Donald Trump."
Karoline Leavitt, Trump's national press secretary, stated:
The hardworking members of the Teamsters have been loud and clear — they want President Trump back in the White House! These hardworking men and women are the backbone of America and President Trump will strongly stand up for them when he's back in the White House.
In contrast, the Harris campaign emphasized the Vice President's pro-union record. Campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt responded:
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. The Vice President's strong union record is why Teamsters locals across the country have already endorsed her — alongside the overwhelming majority of organized labor.
The Teamsters' decision not to endorse a candidate comes at a time of changing dynamics within the labor movement. In July, Teamsters President Sean O'Brien became the first in his position to address a Republican National Convention, a move that sparked controversy within the union.
This non-endorsement also sets the Teamsters apart from other major unions. It is currently the only union among the nation's top 10 that has not backed Harris in the race to succeed Biden. This decision could potentially influence other unions and labor organizations as they consider their own endorsements in the coming months.
The polling data and subsequent non-endorsement highlight the complex political landscape within the labor movement. While union leadership has traditionally aligned with the Democratic Party, rank-and-file members appear to be shifting their support, at least in this instance.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has decided not to endorse a presidential candidate for 2024 despite internal polling showing strong support for Donald Trump among its members. This decision breaks with the union's recent history of endorsing Democratic candidates. The move comes as polling shows Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris by a significant margin among Teamsters members. Both campaigns have responded to the announcement, with Trump highlighting member support and Harris emphasizing her pro-union record. This development could have broader implications for labor movement politics in the upcoming election.
