Second Major Union Declines to Endorse Harris: International Association of Firefighters Abstains

Teamsters Union Refrains from Endorsement

Two weeks prior, the Teamsters Union made the decision to refrain from endorsing a presidential candidate this year. This is the first time they have done so since 1996. This decision was made after internal polling revealed that 58% of its members support Trump, compared to 31% for Harris.

International Association of Firefighters Follows Suit

Following the Teamsters Union's decision, the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) has also chosen not to endorse a candidate. This is particularly significant as the IAFF was the first major union to endorse Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The decision to abstain from endorsing a candidate was made after the union took "unprecedented steps to hear our members' views on the candidates and the policy issues that matter most to them."

The IAFF represents over 300,000 career firefighters and emergency responders. IAFF General President Edward Kelly said in a statement, "The IAFF Executive Board determined that we are better able to advocate for our members and make progress on the issues that matter to them if we, as a union, are standing shoulder-to-shoulder. This decision, which we took very seriously, is the best way to preserve and strengthen our unity."

Significance of IAFF's Decision

As reported by Politico, the IAFF's decision to withhold endorsement is particularly significant. This is because votes are already being cast in some states and the union was the first to endorse President Joe Biden at the beginning of his campaign to defeat Donald Trump in 2019. This early endorsement was partly due to Biden’s long-standing ties with IAFF and its then-leader, Harold Schaitberger, who stepped down in 2021.

Under Schaitberger's leadership, the IAFF had also initially planned to endorse Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. However, they decided against it after considering the views of its membership, as reported by The New York Times in 2015.

Interestingly, Harris's campaign had previously mocked VP candidate JD Vance when he was booed by a few attendees at the firefighters union conference. However, it now appears that more IAFF members support Trump.

Bottom Line

It's clear that the decision of two major unions, the Teamsters Union and the International Association of Firefighters, not to endorse a presidential candidate this year is significant. It signals a shift in union politics and raises questions about the support base of the candidates. What are your thoughts on these developments? Share this article with your friends and let's get the conversation started. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, available every day at 6pm.