UAW expected to support Harris
The leadership of the union expressed intense frustration with the White House following the debate that took place last month.
TroibNews 
The United Auto Workers (UAW) is on the verge of officially endorsing Kamala Harris for president, which would significantly aid her campaign’s efforts to mobilize blue-collar voters in key battleground states.
According to three sources familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity to speak about private discussions, the endorsement is expected within days. A recent call between Harris and UAW President Shawn Fain played a pivotal role in healing a previously undisclosed rift between Biden and Fain, ultimately securing the support of this influential labor organization.
Securing the endorsement — and Fain’s backing — is particularly noteworthy given the union leader’s recent frustration with President Joe Biden and his team.
Following Biden’s problematic debate performance in June, which caused the UAW to doubt his chances against Trump, Fain was promised a call from Biden himself, which never came, according to two sources.
Fain was incensed by this apparent oversight. Subsequent discussions between Biden’s team and the UAW exacerbated concerns about the campaign’s trajectory, one of the sources said, to the extent that UAW leadership privately indicated Biden needed to outline a clear victory strategy soon.
The union’s dissatisfaction led some Democrats to worry that it might consider retracting its endorsement of Biden, though no such steps were taken, according to two sources.
Biden has since exited the race. With Harris stepping in as the new Democratic frontrunner, her recent conversations with Fain appear to have mended relations.
In a July 26 MSNBC interview, Fain described a recent conversation with Harris as a “really good conversation.” He has also reportedly conveyed to other Democrats that his discussions with Harris have been positive, according to one source.
However, Fain has not yet publicly endorsed Harris, citing ongoing deliberations within the UAW regarding her candidacy. The UAW’s executive board plans to meet about endorsements this week.
“We have a process we follow when we do this,” Fain said on MSNBC. “When we make an endorsement, we’ll make that announcement on our time — nobody else’s.”
The UAW has declined to comment on the endorsement, and the exact timing remains uncertain. Still, one source said the endorsement is likely to be accompanied by plans for rallies or other actions to engage working-class voters.
Fain, in a statement, praised Biden as "the best president of my lifetime."
"I've got a deep personal respect for Joe and we've had a great relationship while fighting shoulder to shoulder for the working class," he said. "Joe did what Trump would never do. He passed the torch to keep winning for the working class, putting his country above himself, and we've got his back 100 percent in that decision."
The Harris campaign also declined to comment.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates called Biden "the most pro-union president in American history" and cited his decision to join the UAW picket line as proof of his commitment to working people.
"President Biden is proud of his strong relationship with the United Auto Workers," Bates said.
The support of the UAW, headquartered in Detroit, would significantly enhance Harris’s labor credentials in Michigan. The union’s organizational strength could be crucial for a campaign focusing on winning over working-class voters ahead of an election likely to be decided by narrow margins in Rust Belt states.
Harris, who declared her candidacy after Biden’s exit nine days ago, narrowly trails former President Donald Trump in recent polling in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
The UAW initially endorsed Biden in January after he made concerted efforts to win their support, including appearing on a UAW picket line. Fain has often praised Biden to close allies and vowed to make his reelection the union’s top priority, frequently criticizing Trump as an opponent of working-class interests.
Following Biden’s debate performance in late June, Fain’s speech at the Netroots Nation conference on July 12 criticized Trump and lauded the "incredible gains over the past three-and-a-half years with this president," but notably omitted Biden’s name and any reference to the UAW’s endorsement.
Democratic allies have spent weeks attempting to ease tensions between the UAW and Biden’s team, and one source emphasized that Fain continues to support the Biden administration’s agenda.
Harris reached out to Fain soon after announcing her candidacy, a move that two sources said was crucial to gaining support from union leadership and demonstrating that her campaign has a viable plan to win in November, while also remaining committed to blue-collar workers represented by the UAW.
The vice president has highlighted her strong labor credentials in the initial days of her campaign, emphasizing the administration's pro-union policies and her work with labor leaders as head of the White House’s task force on worker organizing and empowerment. Major labor organizations like the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and American Federation of Teachers have since endorsed her.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to three sources familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity to speak about private discussions, the endorsement is expected within days. A recent call between Harris and UAW President Shawn Fain played a pivotal role in healing a previously undisclosed rift between Biden and Fain, ultimately securing the support of this influential labor organization.
Securing the endorsement — and Fain’s backing — is particularly noteworthy given the union leader’s recent frustration with President Joe Biden and his team.
Following Biden’s problematic debate performance in June, which caused the UAW to doubt his chances against Trump, Fain was promised a call from Biden himself, which never came, according to two sources.
Fain was incensed by this apparent oversight. Subsequent discussions between Biden’s team and the UAW exacerbated concerns about the campaign’s trajectory, one of the sources said, to the extent that UAW leadership privately indicated Biden needed to outline a clear victory strategy soon.
The union’s dissatisfaction led some Democrats to worry that it might consider retracting its endorsement of Biden, though no such steps were taken, according to two sources.
Biden has since exited the race. With Harris stepping in as the new Democratic frontrunner, her recent conversations with Fain appear to have mended relations.
In a July 26 MSNBC interview, Fain described a recent conversation with Harris as a “really good conversation.” He has also reportedly conveyed to other Democrats that his discussions with Harris have been positive, according to one source.
However, Fain has not yet publicly endorsed Harris, citing ongoing deliberations within the UAW regarding her candidacy. The UAW’s executive board plans to meet about endorsements this week.
“We have a process we follow when we do this,” Fain said on MSNBC. “When we make an endorsement, we’ll make that announcement on our time — nobody else’s.”
The UAW has declined to comment on the endorsement, and the exact timing remains uncertain. Still, one source said the endorsement is likely to be accompanied by plans for rallies or other actions to engage working-class voters.
Fain, in a statement, praised Biden as "the best president of my lifetime."
"I've got a deep personal respect for Joe and we've had a great relationship while fighting shoulder to shoulder for the working class," he said. "Joe did what Trump would never do. He passed the torch to keep winning for the working class, putting his country above himself, and we've got his back 100 percent in that decision."
The Harris campaign also declined to comment.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates called Biden "the most pro-union president in American history" and cited his decision to join the UAW picket line as proof of his commitment to working people.
"President Biden is proud of his strong relationship with the United Auto Workers," Bates said.
The support of the UAW, headquartered in Detroit, would significantly enhance Harris’s labor credentials in Michigan. The union’s organizational strength could be crucial for a campaign focusing on winning over working-class voters ahead of an election likely to be decided by narrow margins in Rust Belt states.
Harris, who declared her candidacy after Biden’s exit nine days ago, narrowly trails former President Donald Trump in recent polling in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
The UAW initially endorsed Biden in January after he made concerted efforts to win their support, including appearing on a UAW picket line. Fain has often praised Biden to close allies and vowed to make his reelection the union’s top priority, frequently criticizing Trump as an opponent of working-class interests.
Following Biden’s debate performance in late June, Fain’s speech at the Netroots Nation conference on July 12 criticized Trump and lauded the "incredible gains over the past three-and-a-half years with this president," but notably omitted Biden’s name and any reference to the UAW’s endorsement.
Democratic allies have spent weeks attempting to ease tensions between the UAW and Biden’s team, and one source emphasized that Fain continues to support the Biden administration’s agenda.
Harris reached out to Fain soon after announcing her candidacy, a move that two sources said was crucial to gaining support from union leadership and demonstrating that her campaign has a viable plan to win in November, while also remaining committed to blue-collar workers represented by the UAW.
The vice president has highlighted her strong labor credentials in the initial days of her campaign, emphasizing the administration's pro-union policies and her work with labor leaders as head of the White House’s task force on worker organizing and empowerment. Major labor organizations like the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and American Federation of Teachers have since endorsed her.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
