The Teamsters’ decision to sit out this year’s presidential endorsement marks a seismic shift in labor politics, and it’s a sharp blow to Kamala Harris, who’s now struggling to win over union support.
For the first time since 1996, the powerful 1.3-million-member union will not back any candidate, despite the fact that its members are increasingly leaning toward Donald Trump. After Biden dropped out, the shift was dramatic: Trump surged to 59.6% support, leaving Harris with a mere 34%.
Let’s be clear—this isn’t just about internal union politics. It’s a loud message from working-class Americans who feel they’ve been let down by the so-called champions of labor. The Teamsters, who backed Biden in 2020, are turning their backs on Harris, who has been far from convincing on key issues like striking rights and resisting Big Business influence.
What does this mean for Harris? Well, it’s not just bad—it’s devastating. Unions have been a cornerstone of Democratic support for decades, and when one of the largest and most politically active unions refuses to back you, it signals that working-class America is far from sold on the Harris campaign.
Sure, the Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien blamed both candidates for not making “serious commitments” to labor, but the reality is that Trump’s message is resonating. Members are rejecting Harris in droves, a shift that shows just how badly the Democrats have fumbled their relationship with workers.
The refusal to endorse is a major win for Trump, who’s steadily pulling in union support despite the GOP’s traditionally rocky relationship with organized labor.
While the Democrats pretend to be the party of the working class, here you have union members flat-out rejecting their candidate in favor of the man they supposedly despise. Trump didn’t get the “universal” support required for an endorsement, but don’t be fooled—the writing’s on the wall.
The numbers don’t lie, folks. Union members are tired of being taken for granted. They’re looking for someone who’ll stand up for them against Big Business and Washington elites, and Harris just isn’t cutting it.
It’s no surprise that the last time the Teamsters backed a Republican was for George H.W. Bush in 1988. Fast forward to today, and the union is again fed up with the empty promises of the left.