(TheProudRepublic.com) – Kamala Harris received awful news after learning that a major U.S. transportation workers union chose not to endorse her for the upcoming presidential election, even though it has backed Democrat candidates in the past.
The Teamsters International decided not to endorse any candidate, but data suggested that most of its members prefer GOP nominee Donald Trump over Harris.
Before Joe Biden, the first sitting president to join a picket line in 2023, dropped out of the race, polling showed that Teamsters members favored Biden over Trump by 44.3% to 36.3%.
However, after Biden withdrew and endorsed Harris, 59.6% of members said they wanted the union to support Trump, compared to 34% for Harris.
This is the first time the Teamsters have decided not to endorse a candidate since 1996. The union has backed every Democrat candidate since 2000. The decision follows scrutiny of Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, who became the first union leader to speak at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in July.
John Palmer, vice-president at large of the Teamsters, criticized the decision to appear at the convention, calling it “unconscionable” due to Trump’s history of opposing labor unions.
Moreover, Harris met with the Teamsters this week for a roundtable discussion before their decision. Trump and Biden had also attended roundtables with the union earlier this year.
“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,” O’Brien said in a statement.
John Palmer also stated that 14 Teamsters board members voted against endorsing a candidate, while three voted for Harris, and none voted for Trump. Palmer, who was among those voting for Harris, described the decision not to endorse as “cowardice.”
In response to the union’s non-endorsement, the grassroots group Teamsters Against Trump announced plans to increase their efforts to support Kamala Harris.
Furthermore, the Trump campaign welcomed the Teamsters’ decision, as press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “While the Teamsters Executive Board is making no formal endorsement, the hardworking members of the Teamsters have been loud and clear.”
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