The International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to issue a presidential endorsement Wednesday, according to a statement from the union.
The powerful labor union is deeply connected to working-class voters in the Midwest and other battleground states that could be crucial to the outcome of November’s election. It cited a lack of consensus among its million-plus members, and the nonendorsement is a sizable blow for Vice President Kamala Harris given the Biden administration’s unabashed union loyalty during his term.
“The Teamsters thank all candidates for meeting with members face-to-face during our unprecedented roundtables. Unfortunately, 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,” said Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien. “We sought commitments from both Trump and Harris not to interfere in critical union campaigns or core Teamsters industries — and to honor our members’ right to strike — but were unable to secure those pledges.”
No endorsement won out in a 14-3 vote, vice president at-large John Palmer told POLITICO after the union’s board meeting.
