Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, has not yet endorsed a candidate for the 2024 presidential race because he has not met with Vice President Kamala Harris. The Teamsters, with 1.3 million members, are the only one of the top 10 largest unions in the United States that have not endorsed Harris. O’Brien stated that the organization historically endorses a candidate after both the Democratic and Republican conventions, but this election cycle is different. O’Brien previously spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, the first leader in the organization’s history to do so.
O’Brien emphasized the importance of meeting with all presidential candidates, citing the split in political affiliation among Teamsters members. He stated that half of their members are Republicans and half are Democrats, requiring a balanced approach. The Teamsters have already met with Harris’ opponent, former President Donald Trump, as well as President Biden earlier in the year. O’Brien expressed the need for Harris to commit to meeting with the organization before they make a determination on their endorsement. The Harris-Walz campaign stated that Harris has agreed to participate in a candidate roundtable with the Teamsters to discuss her record of fighting for labor issues and address specific concerns of the organization.
During his speech at the Republican National Convention, O’Brien delivered an anti-big business message, signaling a shift within the GOP towards a more worker-friendly tone since Trump’s election in 2016. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing American workers over party affiliations and stated that the Teamsters are willing to work with a bipartisan coalition to benefit the American worker. O’Brien clarified that his appearance at the RNC was not an endorsement of any specific candidate, but rather a platform to highlight the importance of American workers and the Teamsters’ role in advocating for their rights.
O’Brien mentioned that he had requested to speak at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, but only the RNC responded. He expressed disappointment that the DNC did not provide the same opportunity, despite efforts to reach out to both parties simultaneously. O’Brien denied that his appearance at the RNC indicated a preference for Trump over other Republican nominees in terms of labor policy. He reiterated that his focus was on promoting the value and importance of American workers, regardless of political affiliations.
The Teamsters president highlighted the organization’s commitment to representing the interests of its diverse membership and engaging with political candidates to address specific labor issues. O’Brien stressed the need for Harris to participate in a meeting with the Teamsters to discuss their concerns and priorities before making a decision on an endorsement. The focus of the organization remains on advocating for the rights and well-being of American workers, regardless of party lines, and collaborating with both parties to achieve meaningful outcomes. O’Brien’s stance reflects a broader shift towards prioritizing worker-centric policies and bipartisan cooperation within the labor movement.
