The International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced Wednesday that it will not endorse either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump for president, citing insufficient commitments from both candidates on crucial labor issues. This marks the second time in recent elections the union has chosen to remain neutral.
“Unfortunately, neither major candidate made the serious commitments necessary to ensure the interests of working people would be prioritized over Big Business,” said Teamsters President Sean M. O’Brien. “We sought clear pledges from both Harris and Trump on matters like protecting the right to strike and safeguarding core Teamster industries, but neither could meet those expectations.”
The union’s refusal to endorse reflects internal divisions on political identity and policy, a microcosm of the larger national divide. While Vice President Harris has consistently backed organized labor and walked picket lines, former President Trump has appealed to many blue-collar workers despite his occasional disdain for unions. By opting not to endorse either, the Teamsters have signaled their dissatisfaction with both candidates as they head into the November election.
Harris’s campaign pointed out that many retired Teamsters have endorsed her, highlighting the passage of the Butch Lewis Act in 2021, which saved union pensions under her and President Joe Biden’s leadership. “Vice President Harris has stood with labor throughout her career, and that’s why she continues to have the support of Teamsters locals across the country,” said spokesperson Lauren Hitt.
In contrast, Trump’s campaign emphasized internal polling showing him with an edge among rank-and-file Teamsters members. “The rank-and-file supports Donald Trump, and it’s a great honor that the Teamsters are not endorsing the Democrats,” Trump said in response.
O’Brien met with both candidates—Harris recently, and Trump earlier this year at the Republican National Convention—but neither meeting yielded the commitments the union was seeking. In an interview with Fox News, O’Brien suggested that this should be a wake-up call for future candidates. “If you want the support of the most powerful union in North America, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, start backing the interests of our members,” he said.
The Teamsters’ decision comes just weeks before the November election, notably later than other major unions like the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers, which have endorsed Harris and are mobilizing resources for her campaign. However, the union’s internal divisions, exacerbated by O’Brien’s appearance at the Republican National Convention, made an official endorsement difficult.
Labor experts, like Art Wheaton of Cornell University, noted that Trump’s praise of figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has clashed with unions, made a Teamsters endorsement of Trump unlikely. Meanwhile, the union’s criticisms of Harris, including her support for the 2022 congressional-imposed contract on rail workers, indicated dissatisfaction on both sides.
“The union’s lack of endorsement is also a sign of broader discontent with the Biden-Harris administration despite their past support of union pension reforms,” said Marick Masters, a professor of labor studies at Wayne State University.
The Teamsters detailed their objections to both candidates, particularly their opposition to using the Railway Labor Act to resolve contract disputes. The union had hoped to secure a commitment from both Harris and Trump to avoid deploying the act, but both candidates kept the option open, which the Teamsters argue would weaken their bargaining power.
While Harris has committed to signing the PRO Act, which would bolster union protections, Trump did not commit to vetoing legislation that could weaken unionization efforts during his discussions with the Teamsters.
For additional information, contact the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
