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The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has opted not to endorse any candidate in the upcoming US presidential election, indicating a potential shift in the Democrats’ traditional support towards Donald Trump. This powerful union, which includes 1.3 million members such as UPS drivers, railroad workers, and nurses, made this decision based on a phone poll where 58 percent of respondents preferred endorsing the Republican former president over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Union president Sean O’Brien stated that neither major candidate made significant commitments to prioritize the interests of working people over Big Business. Both Trump and Harris were asked to pledge not to interfere with union activities, including the right to strike, but no satisfactory assurances were received.
In contrast to other major unions like the United Auto Workers, United Steelworkers, and American Federation of Teachers, which supported Harris early in her campaign, the Teamsters chose a different path. They conducted roundtable meetings with candidates and internal polls, aiming to enhance the democratic nature of their political activities.
This marks the first time the union has abstained from endorsing a candidate in 28 years. The Teamsters had previously endorsed Joe Biden and Harris in 2020 and last supported a Republican in 1988. The announcement followed a private meeting between Harris and union leaders and a prior meeting between Trump and the Teamsters’ leadership.
While union leaders express concerns about Trump’s increasing influence among working-class voters, polls indicate a shift in support within their ranks. The latest Financial Times-University of Michigan Ross School of Business poll showed 45 percent of registered voters believed Harris better represented union members’ interests, compared to 35 percent for Trump.
The decision not to endorse has caused division within the union. John Palmer, the International Vice-President of the Teamsters, indicated that the general executive board largely agreed with O’Brien’s suggestion not to endorse, though Palmer and two others supported Vice President Harris. Palmer accused the move of being politically motivated to appease membership, potentially benefiting Trump.
The Trump campaign welcomed the news, with national press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasizing the members’ desire for Trump’s return to the White House. Trump himself expressed satisfaction, interpreting the decision as a significant move away from automatic Democratic support.
Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, highlighted the Vice President’s strong union advocacy throughout her career, citing endorsements from Teamsters locals and broader organized labor support. The White House refrained from commenting directly on whether the Teamsters’ poll reflected on the administration, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterating Biden and Harris’s commitment to unions.
The union’s National Black Caucus had endorsed Harris in August, describing her as a key partner in a pro-labor administration and dismissing Trump as insincerely pro-union.
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