Teamsters Forego Presidential Endorsement Despite Seeming Strong Member Support for Trump
The influential labor union has strong ties to working-class voters in the Midwest and other key battleground states that may play a vital role in determining the results of November's election.
TroibNews 
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters opted not to issue a presidential endorsement on Wednesday, as stated by the union.
This influential labor organization has strong ties to working-class voters in key battleground states, who are likely to play a significant role in the upcoming November election. The union pointed to a lack of consensus among its over one million members for its decision, which represents a notable setback for Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly given the Biden administration's evident commitment to unions throughout his presidency.
“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 M. 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.”
The non-endorsement decision prevailed with a 14-3 vote, as confirmed by vice president at-large John Palmer in a conversation with PMG following the union's board meeting.
“It was cowardice,” said Palmer, who intends to run against O’Brien in 2026 and was among the three votes for Harris. He attributed the lack of support for the vice president to internal union politics.
Conversely, fellow vice president at-large Gregory Floyd remarked that this outcome was expected for the Teamsters, suggesting it may not significantly influence the presidential election. Floyd noted that during her roundtable interview on Monday, Harris stated, “I’m going to win without the Teamsters endorsement but I would love to have it,” which led to a standing ovation.
Floyd, who oversees the largest Teamsters local in New York City, cast his vote for no endorsement based on the results of a membership poll. However, he confirmed that his local, 237, will endorse Harris.
“The Teamsters are more conservative than other unions… we’re to the left of the building trades and to the right of everyone else,” Floyd explained to PMG. “The Teamsters are not a reflection of the rest of the country, and what’s going on.”
This decision comes shortly after Harris had met with Teamsters leaders and members at the union’s Washington headquarters, amid growing speculation about significant support for former President Donald Trump among the rank-and-file of organized labor.
Earlier that day, the union had released internal survey results indicating that nearly 60 percent of its members supported Trump. O’Brien stated that approximately 40,000 members participated in the online survey prompted by a magazine mailer.
The absence of an endorsement is particularly noteworthy in light of Trump's previous comments endorsing employers who fire striking workers, remarks that were met with strong criticism from O’Brien. This situation undermines Harris’ argument of being the rightful inheritor of Biden’s strongly pro-union legacy.
Nonetheless, Harris has received endorsements from nearly all other major unions, and the resulting backlash among O’Brien's fellow union leaders and Democrats is expected to be significant.
“While Donald Trump says striking workers should be fired, Vice President Harris has literally walked the picket line and stood strong with organized labor for her entire career,” campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt asserted in a statement. “The Vice President’s strong union record is why Teamsters locals across the country have already endorsed her — alongside the overwhelming majority of organized labor.”
An earlier straw poll indicated that Biden was leading Trump among Teamsters, garnering 46 percent to Trump's 37 percent, with former candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at 5 percent. Harris’ considerably lower support within this group raises concerns that other blue-collar unions may share similar hesitations about her.
"While the Teamsters Executive Board is making no formal endorsement, the hardworking members of the Teamsters have been loud and clear—they want President Trump back in the White House,” stated Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. “These hardworking men and women are the backbone of America and President Trump will strongly stand up for them when he’s back in the White House."
Speaking on Fox News, Trump characterized the lack of endorsement as “a great honor.”
Trump allies have expressed their belief that these numbers are validated by their observations.
“Trump is doing well among the members of the Teamsters or any other building and construction trades union, or law enforcement or first responders," noted Rep. Mike Lawler, whose battleground district is critical for House control. "Doesn’t surprise me at all.”
The Harris campaign plans to highlight other Teamster-affiliated groups that have supported her candidacy, including the Teamsters National Black Caucus and some local units, as well as her numerous endorsements from national labor organizations.
Harris' supporters contend that local Teamsters unions in pivotal swing states backing her will aid in persuading undecided members and mobilizing others to vote.
“I just had my local come in and they said, if this was a decision by all the locals, most of the locals are already backing Harris,” Rep. Mark Pocan reported.
O’Brien could encounter resistance within his ranks regarding the union’s non-endorsement. Some Teamsters officials and members have publicly expressed frustration about his management of the presidential race, arguing that it inadvertently supports an anti-union candidate.
“The local unions and the joint councils will be able to be autonomous, and do their own thing,” O’Brien observed in an interview outside the union’s headquarters. “Our job is to advise our members, not dictate to our members.”
Richard Hooker, leader of Teamsters Local 623 in Philadelphia, expressed his “frustration” over what he described as the “mind-boggling” non-endorsement.
"Trump has demonstrated his whole entire life on what labor means to him," he stated. "Not having strong collective bargaining rights weakens the collective. Not having somebody to support pensions weakens the collective. Not having somebody support strikes weakens the collective. Not having a pro-labor [National Labor Relations Board] weakens the collective. And all those things are on the ballot, and Trump has demonstrated how he feels about all those things."
Hooker, whose local endorsed Harris, also expressed skepticism about the poll’s results: "Right after I saw that, we started reaching out to our members and see if they got a phone bank call. And the folks that responded, none of them got a phone call. So who did they call and what part of the country?"
Historically, the Teamsters have toyed with non-endorsements, particularly in 2000 due to organized labor's discontent with the North American Free Trade Agreement. However, with the exception of a 1996 decision not to endorse Bill Clinton’s reelection, they have ultimately sided with the Democratic nominee.
Critics of O’Brien have privately suggested that he has approached the pension bailout funding—part of the American Rescue Plan, which Harris voted to support—more as a triumph for his predecessor, James Hoffa, than as an achievement for the Teamsters. The White House has indicated that over one million pensions have been secured as a result, with more than half being affiliated with the Teamsters.
When this issue arose during Harris’ interview, there was “more of a very subtle thank you,” Palmer observed regarding O’Brien’s acknowledgment of the pension funding. “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of pensions across the country—not just the Teamsters—so I felt like there should have been a better sense of gratitude. When you talk to Teamsters across the country, they get it."
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
This influential labor organization has strong ties to working-class voters in key battleground states, who are likely to play a significant role in the upcoming November election. The union pointed to a lack of consensus among its over one million members for its decision, which represents a notable setback for Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly given the Biden administration's evident commitment to unions throughout his presidency.
“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 M. 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.”
The non-endorsement decision prevailed with a 14-3 vote, as confirmed by vice president at-large John Palmer in a conversation with PMG following the union's board meeting.
“It was cowardice,” said Palmer, who intends to run against O’Brien in 2026 and was among the three votes for Harris. He attributed the lack of support for the vice president to internal union politics.
Conversely, fellow vice president at-large Gregory Floyd remarked that this outcome was expected for the Teamsters, suggesting it may not significantly influence the presidential election. Floyd noted that during her roundtable interview on Monday, Harris stated, “I’m going to win without the Teamsters endorsement but I would love to have it,” which led to a standing ovation.
Floyd, who oversees the largest Teamsters local in New York City, cast his vote for no endorsement based on the results of a membership poll. However, he confirmed that his local, 237, will endorse Harris.
“The Teamsters are more conservative than other unions… we’re to the left of the building trades and to the right of everyone else,” Floyd explained to PMG. “The Teamsters are not a reflection of the rest of the country, and what’s going on.”
This decision comes shortly after Harris had met with Teamsters leaders and members at the union’s Washington headquarters, amid growing speculation about significant support for former President Donald Trump among the rank-and-file of organized labor.
Earlier that day, the union had released internal survey results indicating that nearly 60 percent of its members supported Trump. O’Brien stated that approximately 40,000 members participated in the online survey prompted by a magazine mailer.
The absence of an endorsement is particularly noteworthy in light of Trump's previous comments endorsing employers who fire striking workers, remarks that were met with strong criticism from O’Brien. This situation undermines Harris’ argument of being the rightful inheritor of Biden’s strongly pro-union legacy.
Nonetheless, Harris has received endorsements from nearly all other major unions, and the resulting backlash among O’Brien's fellow union leaders and Democrats is expected to be significant.
“While Donald Trump says striking workers should be fired, Vice President Harris has literally walked the picket line and stood strong with organized labor for her entire career,” campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt asserted in a statement. “The Vice President’s strong union record is why Teamsters locals across the country have already endorsed her — alongside the overwhelming majority of organized labor.”
An earlier straw poll indicated that Biden was leading Trump among Teamsters, garnering 46 percent to Trump's 37 percent, with former candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at 5 percent. Harris’ considerably lower support within this group raises concerns that other blue-collar unions may share similar hesitations about her.
"While the Teamsters Executive Board is making no formal endorsement, the hardworking members of the Teamsters have been loud and clear—they want President Trump back in the White House,” stated Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. “These hardworking men and women are the backbone of America and President Trump will strongly stand up for them when he’s back in the White House."
Speaking on Fox News, Trump characterized the lack of endorsement as “a great honor.”
Trump allies have expressed their belief that these numbers are validated by their observations.
“Trump is doing well among the members of the Teamsters or any other building and construction trades union, or law enforcement or first responders," noted Rep. Mike Lawler, whose battleground district is critical for House control. "Doesn’t surprise me at all.”
The Harris campaign plans to highlight other Teamster-affiliated groups that have supported her candidacy, including the Teamsters National Black Caucus and some local units, as well as her numerous endorsements from national labor organizations.
Harris' supporters contend that local Teamsters unions in pivotal swing states backing her will aid in persuading undecided members and mobilizing others to vote.
“I just had my local come in and they said, if this was a decision by all the locals, most of the locals are already backing Harris,” Rep. Mark Pocan reported.
O’Brien could encounter resistance within his ranks regarding the union’s non-endorsement. Some Teamsters officials and members have publicly expressed frustration about his management of the presidential race, arguing that it inadvertently supports an anti-union candidate.
“The local unions and the joint councils will be able to be autonomous, and do their own thing,” O’Brien observed in an interview outside the union’s headquarters. “Our job is to advise our members, not dictate to our members.”
Richard Hooker, leader of Teamsters Local 623 in Philadelphia, expressed his “frustration” over what he described as the “mind-boggling” non-endorsement.
"Trump has demonstrated his whole entire life on what labor means to him," he stated. "Not having strong collective bargaining rights weakens the collective. Not having somebody to support pensions weakens the collective. Not having somebody support strikes weakens the collective. Not having a pro-labor [National Labor Relations Board] weakens the collective. And all those things are on the ballot, and Trump has demonstrated how he feels about all those things."
Hooker, whose local endorsed Harris, also expressed skepticism about the poll’s results: "Right after I saw that, we started reaching out to our members and see if they got a phone bank call. And the folks that responded, none of them got a phone call. So who did they call and what part of the country?"
Historically, the Teamsters have toyed with non-endorsements, particularly in 2000 due to organized labor's discontent with the North American Free Trade Agreement. However, with the exception of a 1996 decision not to endorse Bill Clinton’s reelection, they have ultimately sided with the Democratic nominee.
Critics of O’Brien have privately suggested that he has approached the pension bailout funding—part of the American Rescue Plan, which Harris voted to support—more as a triumph for his predecessor, James Hoffa, than as an achievement for the Teamsters. The White House has indicated that over one million pensions have been secured as a result, with more than half being affiliated with the Teamsters.
When this issue arose during Harris’ interview, there was “more of a very subtle thank you,” Palmer observed regarding O’Brien’s acknowledgment of the pension funding. “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of pensions across the country—not just the Teamsters—so I felt like there should have been a better sense of gratitude. When you talk to Teamsters across the country, they get it."
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
