One of the largest labor unions in the nation, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, just dropped some jaw-dropping internal polling data from its members. Brace yourselves—the results are nothing short of astounding!
In an unprecedented move, the Teamsters announced their decision almost immediately after releasing the poll: for the first time since 1996, they won’t endorse anyone, including Kamala Harris! Even CNN had to admit their shock that President Trump managed to disrupt such a historically Democrat-aligned voting bloc—and not by a small margin! The Teamsters favor President Trump over Kamala nearly 2 to 1!
"This is something that hasn't happened in decades."
"Unions were a critical component of Biden's coalition in 2020."
CNN is left stunned by the Teamsters' announcement that they will NOT endorse Kamala Harris. pic.twitter.com/R6ohxe6NFZ
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) September 18, 2024
Union members tend to vote at much higher rates than average, so this could give us a serious preview of what election day might look like! CNN even provided some much-needed context: it’s the first time in nearly three decades that the union has not endorsed a presidential candidate.
This decision comes after the union’s board and President Sean O’Brien met with both Trump and Harris. O’Brien even spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, though he largely avoided partisan politics. Funny how he asked both major parties for a speaking slot, but only the Republicans accepted.
Before making their choice, the Teamsters shared internal data showing a majority of members favored Trump over Harris. An electronic poll initiated after Biden withdrew revealed that about 60% wanted the union to endorse Trump while only 34% backed Harris. A mere 6% supported another candidate.
JUST IN: Teamsters will *not* endorse for president after their member polling gave Donald Trump an overwhelming lead over Kamala Harris.
Electronic Member Poll:
Trump: 59.6%
Harris: 34.0%The decision comes just two days after union leaders and members met… pic.twitter.com/7RuPiO6dU2
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 18, 2024
https://twitter.com/BehizyTweets/status/1836477590774972690
Historically, the Teamsters have endorsed Trump’s opponents, Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020, but those decisions were made under previous leadership. While union members are often viewed as a solidly Democratic voting bloc, Trump has been making strides to win over the rank-and-file.
Not surprisingly, the Teamsters reported the largest legal donation to the Republican National Committee’s convention fund in January. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ political action committee reported a whopping $45,000 donation to the RNC’s convention fund last month—a clear departure from the union’s history of primarily backing Democrats. This PAC, known formally as Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education, earmarked the donation on January 25, just weeks after President Trump, the clear frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination, met with Teamsters President Sean O’Brien. This meeting was followed closely by another sit-down on January 31.
This donation is bound to raise eyebrows as Trump continues his push for Teamsters’ endorsement. After his latest chat with O’Brien, Trump told reporters their conversation was productive. He pointed out that while the union typically backs Democrats, “stranger things have happened,” adding that many rank-and-file members support him.
So, why would the Teamsters opt not to support President Trump with an official endorsement? It seems they’re trying to straddle the line, preserving their voting power while navigating the diverse political views within their membership. They may not have delivered a unified endorsement, but they certainly opened their wallets—and made their internal polling numbers public before announcing their no-endorsement decision this year.
Given the Teamsters Union’s past Democrat leanings, this is a colossal win for President Trump and a significant loss for Kamala and Walz.
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