More than half of Teamsters members have expressed support for former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, according to a recent poll conducted among union members as the organization’s leadership considers an endorsement.
The Teamsters, one of the largest unions in the U.S., reported that a poll conducted after last week’s debate between Harris and Trump showed 58 percent of members backing Trump, while 31 percent supported Harris. The survey was carried out by Lake Research Partners.
“For the past year, the Teamsters Union has committed to holding the most inclusive, democratic, and transparent presidential endorsement process in our 121-year history — and today, we’re delivering on that promise to our members,” said Teamsters President Sean O’Brien in a statement.
“Our members are the union, and their opinions must guide everything we do. Our decision on a possible presidential endorsement will not be made lightly, but rest assured it will reflect the diverse voices of our membership,” O’Brien added.
The union’s leadership may announce an endorsement as early as Wednesday.
This recent poll reflects a notable shift in union support since President Biden ended his candidacy in late July. A previous survey conducted between April 9 and July 3 showed 44 percent of members supported Biden, while 36 percent favored Trump.
Trump has actively courted the Teamsters’ endorsement, meeting with union officials in January. Harris, meanwhile, met with Teamsters leadership in Washington, D.C., this past Monday.
Historically, the Teamsters union has backed Democratic presidential candidates, including endorsing Biden in 2020. However, since being elected in 2021, O’Brien has pushed back on the notion of automatic endorsements for Democrats, even before Biden withdrew from the race amid concerns about his age and mental acuity. O’Brien also notably spoke during the Republican National Convention, while not appearing at the Democratic convention.