The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing over one million members, announced Wednesday that it will not endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

This decision marks the first time since 1996 that the powerful labor union has chosen to sit out a presidential race.

The move comes despite polling that shows a significant majority of rank-and-file Teamsters members support former President Donald Trump over Kamala Harris.

According to the most recent poll conducted among Teamsters members from September 9-15, 2024, 58% of respondents said they would vote for Trump, while only 31% backed Harris. About 6% of members remain undecided, and 5% were unsure.

These figures mirror similar results from polling conducted between July 24 and mid-September, which also showed strong support for Trump, with 59% favoring the former president and 34% supporting Harris.

These are horrendous (brutal, atrocious, pick your synonym for abysmal) numbers for Kamala Harris. I mean, good grief they’re bad. Would Teamsters leadership still endorse her knowing that would provoke a revolt among the rank-and-file? Might be best to stay neutral. https://t.co/JRW330RkJP

— Varad Mehta (@varadmehta) September 18, 2024

Despite these numbers, Teamsters leadership, including General President Sean O’Brien, opted not to officially endorse either candidate.

HUGE: Teamsters members heavily favor President Trump in a new poll showing 58% support pic.twitter.com/Qff5HxWbcs

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 18, 2024

In a statement, O’Brien explained the union’s decision, citing both candidates’ failure to meet the union’s demands on key labor issues.

“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. “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.”

This decision represents a significant setback for Harris, as labor unions have traditionally been a strong constituency for Democratic candidates.

The Teamsters’ refusal to endorse Harris underscores the growing divide between Democratic leadership and key segments of the working class, particularly in industries heavily represented by the Teamsters, such as trucking and package delivery.

O’Brien’s decision not to endorse came after he met with Harris earlier this week at the Teamsters’ Washington, D.C., headquarters.

The meeting did not result in the commitments the union was seeking. The announcement also follows O’Brien’s appearance at the Republican National Convention earlier this year, where he spoke at Trump’s invitation, a move that raised eyebrows in political circles.

BREAKING: Teamsters, one of the largest labor unions in the country, just released a poll showing that an overwhelming majority of their over 1.2 MILLION members support Trump over Kamala Harris

Trump: 58.5%
Harris: 32.5%

It looks like they may endorse Trump any day now,… pic.twitter.com/xmFzuChx10

— George (@BehizyTweets) September 18, 2024

For Trump, the lack of an official endorsement from the union leadership may be disappointing, but the overwhelming support from the Teamsters’ rank-and-file members is likely to bolster his campaign.

The Trump campaign released a statement in response to the union’s decision, noting that while the leadership chose not to endorse, the majority of working men and women in the organization favor Trump’s return to the White House.

“While the Executive Board of the Teamsters is making no formal endorsement, the vast majority of rank-and-file working men and women in this important organization want President Donald Trump back in the White House,” the Trump campaign said.

The polling data released by the Teamsters is significant in that it shows a major shift in support within the labor movement.

While Harris and the Democratic Party have traditionally enjoyed strong backing from labor unions, the poll reveals that many union members now see Trump as a better advocate for their interests.

Trump has long sought to win over union voters by emphasizing his commitment to preserving American jobs and domestic industries, particularly in sectors like manufacturing and energy.

Harris’s position at the top of the Democratic ticket came after President Joe Biden exited the race earlier this year.

Initial polling from before Biden’s withdrawal showed that he led Trump among Teamsters members, with 44.3% supporting Biden and 36.3% backing Trump.

However, once Harris replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee, Trump’s support among union members surged.

As the 2024 presidential race continues, the lack of a formal endorsement from the Teamsters union highlights the shifting political landscape among labor voters.

While labor unions have historically been a reliable base for Democratic candidates, this election cycle demonstrates that working-class voters, particularly in unions like the Teamsters, are increasingly drawn to Trump’s populist message.

The decision to withhold an endorsement may also signal deeper dissatisfaction within the labor movement toward both political parties.

As O’Brien stated in his announcement, the union’s primary focus is ensuring that the voices of its members are heard and that their concerns are addressed, regardless of partisan politics.

For now, both Trump and Harris will continue to campaign heavily for the support of working-class voters. However, the strong polling numbers in favor of Trump among Teamsters members suggest that the former president may have an edge with a key voting bloc in the 2024 race.

Read the full Trump Campaign statement below:

Union Workers Support President Donald Trump

The rank-and-file of the Teamsters Union supports Donald Trump for President.

While the Executive Board of the Teamsters is making no formal endorsement, the vast majority of rank-and-file working men and women in this important organization want President Donald Trump back in the White House.

Polling data released by the Teamsters Union Wednesday shows that 59.6% of its members say they support Trump for President.

President Trump fights for America’s working men and women. President Trump’s agenda will bring tax relief and reverse the inflation that hurts working families the most.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sean Parnell. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.