Sep 20, 2024 - Politics & Policy

Local Teamsters back Harris despite national union's refusal

April Rubin

Two people are visible holding strike signs and wearing red shirts with a truck in the background — Teamsters Union members picket at the Marathon Petroleum Detroit refinery on Sept. 4 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

More than 20 local Teamsters groups have parted ways with the national organization to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

Why it matters: That support represents one million members including councils in battleground states of Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, per the Harris campaign.

It also is at odds with the national organization's decision not to endorse a candidate even though the union representing 1.3 million members had historically endorsed Democrats. That includes President Biden in 2020.

What they're saying: Jim Hoffa, president emeritus of the union's Black caucus, called the national organization's decision "a critical error" and "a failure of leadership" on Thursday.

The union's Black caucus endorsed Harris in August, calling her "a tough and principled fighter for workers' rights" in a statement.
Michigan Teamsters celebrated Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for pension reform legislation advocacy, their economic plan and proposals related to social security and health care.

Yes, but: Teamsters president Sean O'Brien, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, said on Wednesday "neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before Big Business."

The union said in a news release it "found no definitive support among members for either party's nominee."

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Local Teamsters back Harris despite national union's refusal

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