Labor Union Endorses Neither Candidate After Trump Wins Poll

(Scypre.com) – Several prominent Democrats have expressed their dismay after the Teamsters, led by General President Sean O’Brien, opted not to endorse a candidate in the upcoming presidential race. O’Brien announced that the union could not endorse either candidate, citing a lack of serious commitments to prioritize working people’s interests over those of big business. “Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union,” he stated.

Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern, a close ally of O’Brien, strongly criticized former President Donald Trump, labeling him as “the most anti-labor president we have ever had.” McGovern argued that many workers are “misinformed or uninformed” about Trump’s labor record, asserting that Trump’s loyalty lies with the wealthy rather than with the working class.

The Teamsters’ decision is particularly significant, as it marks the first non-endorsement from the union since the 1996 presidential contest between President Bill Clinton and Republican Senator Bob Dole. The union has historically supported Democrats but did endorse Republican George H.W. Bush in 1988.

Other Democratic figures, such as Nevada’s Rep. Steven Horsford and Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto, stood by Vice President Kamala Harris, highlighting her contributions to securing union pensions. Horsford emphasized Harris’s key role in casting the tie-breaking vote to protect Teamsters pensions in the Senate. He also noted that Nevada’s Teamsters councils had diverged from the national stance, endorsing Harris independently. Cortez-Masto praised Harris’s commitment to union workers, saying, “The Silver State’s Teamsters know that Kamala Harris is a fighter for our union workers.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shared her disappointment over the Teamsters’ decision, calling attention to the Biden-Harris administration’s success in passing pension protection for the union under the Butch Lewis Act, which was part of the American Rescue Plan. Pelosi stressed that this legislation passed without a single Republican vote.

While Trump welcomed the Teamsters’ refusal to endorse Harris, calling it a “great honor,” he also claimed that internal votes showed about 60% of the union’s membership supported him. Trump highlighted that the non-endorsement reflects broader discontent with the Democratic Party.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a leading progressive voice, called the non-endorsement “unfortunate,” but pointed out that Harris still enjoys significant support from many local Teamster councils across the country. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took a more pointed stance, accusing O’Brien of “boosting Republicans” while backing anti-worker and anti-choice candidates. Reports have indicated that O’Brien has reached out to Republican lawmakers, including Senators Josh Hawley and JD Vance. However, it was another union, the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation union, that recently endorsed Hawley.

While O’Brien has refrained from making any endorsement, Harris has secured significant backing from various local Teamster groups. A council representing 35,000 Teamsters in Pennsylvania, a key swing state, broke from O’Brien’s national non-endorsement and threw its support behind Harris. The council’s president, Carl Bailey, emphasized that Harris was “the best for our locals and best for our unions,” further solidifying the Vice President’s strong standing within some labor circles.

Tensions surrounding the Teamsters’ political alignment have surfaced before, most notably in 2023 when O’Brien nearly engaged in a physical altercation with Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin during a congressional hearing. The two exchanged heated words before Sen. Bernie Sanders had to intervene to prevent the situation from escalating.