America’s largest labor union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, has made history by deciding not to endorse a U.S. presidential candidate for the first time since 1996. With approximately 1.3 million members across the United States and Canada, the union cited “few commitments on top Teamsters issues” from either Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Polling among its rank-and-file members indicated “no definitive support” for either candidate, although some surveys showed a significant preference for Trump. The absence of an endorsement represents a considerable setback for Harris’s campaign, particularly in securing the support of working-class voters just weeks before the election.
An endorsement from the Teamsters could have galvanized thousands of members in pivotal battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Despite this, the Harris campaign highlighted its backing from “the overwhelming majority of organized labor,” noting that several Teamsters locals have endorsed her candidacy.
General President Sean O’Brien has actively sought to engage with both political parties since taking leadership in 2022, including outreach to more populist Republicans. Notably, he has met with Trump and other party leaders, which raised eyebrows among Democrats. This has included a first-ever Teamsters address at the Republican National Convention, where O’Brien praised Trump while stopping short of offering an endorsement.
Tension within the union has surfaced, as some members oppose O’Brien’s strategy of courting right-wing figures. Last month, the Teamsters National Black Caucus and several union locals broke ranks to endorse Harris independently.
In recent polling, Teamsters members indicated a preference for Trump with results showing 59.6% in favor of endorsing him compared to 34% for Harris. Although the union did not issue a formal endorsement, they expressed that polling revealed “no majority support” for Harris and a lack of universal support for Trump. The Trump campaign responded positively to the polling data, emphasizing a strong desire among Teamsters members for his return to the White House.
