The Teamsters Union’s decision not to endorse a candidate in the upcoming presidential election has sparked a wave of reactions from prominent Democrats, with some expressing disappointment and others doubling down on support for Vice President Kamala Harris. Sean O’Brien, the Teamsters’ General President, explained that neither Donald Trump nor Harris made sufficient commitments to working people, marking the first time since 1996 that the union has chosen not to endorse a candidate.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) was among the most vocal critics, calling Trump the “most anti-labor president we have ever had” and suggesting that workers backing him are “misinformed or uninformed.” He argued that Trump’s policies favor the wealthy over the working class, a sentiment echoed by other Democrats.
In 2021, @KamalaHarris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate to protect Teamsters’ pensions.
As a co-chair of the House Labor Caucus, I couldn’t be more proud to see our Nevada Teamsters endorse Kamala Harris for President.
She’s fighting for us. pic.twitter.com/1t76gub490
— Steven Horsford (@StevenHorsford) September 18, 2024
Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) took to Twitter to highlight Harris’s role in casting the Senate’s tie-breaking vote to protect Teamsters’ pensions, adding that some of Nevada’s Teamsters locals have independently endorsed her. His fellow Nevadan, Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto, emphasized Harris’s commitment to unions, stating that her support for labor is ingrained from her family history.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed her disappointment, referencing the passage of the Butch Lewis Act under the Biden-Harris administration, which safeguarded Teamsters’ pensions without Republican support. For many Democrats, Harris’s pro-labor record is a key reason they believe she should have received the union’s backing.
Sean O’Brien has been boosting Republicans all year while supporting anti-worker, anti-choice Senate candidates.
Meanwhile, @KamalaHarris cast the tie-breaking vote to save Teamster pensions nationwide.
Listen to your local.
They know the score.
Thank you @CalTeamstersPAC https://t.co/u2hLTOrgHb— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 18, 2024
Despite the union’s non-endorsement, Trump welcomed the decision as a “great honor,” noting that around 60% of the Teamsters membership supported him in internal votes. His campaign highlighted this as a sign of growing support among union workers who traditionally vote Democrat.
Meanwhile, progressive lawmakers like Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) acknowledged the non-endorsement but pointed out that state-level sub-councils, like in Washington and Pennsylvania, still backed Harris. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) took a more direct shot at O’Brien, accusing him of boosting Republicans and supporting candidates opposed to labor and abortion rights.
KJP on the Teamsters not endorsing Kamala Harris:
“So look, I — I’m not going to get into endorsements — uh — from any organization including today the Teamsters. That is certainly something that the campaign could speak to. Uh — as you know, this is a President and a Vice… pic.twitter.com/XiR8WsKYIr
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 18, 2024
Interestingly, the decision comes amid reports of O’Brien engaging with Republican lawmakers like Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and JD Vance (R-Ohio). However, it’s worth noting that other unions, like the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation union, endorsed Hawley.
As the union’s leadership holds firm on its non-endorsement, various Teamsters locals have broken ranks. In Pennsylvania, a key swing state, Teamsters Joint Council 40, representing 35,000 members, defied O’Brien’s stance and endorsed Harris. Council president Carl Bailey said Harris was the best candidate for their locals and unions.
