MADISON, Wis. — Union workers could be critical to winning some of the biggest swing states during the upcoming presidential election, and Wisconsin is no exception.

So far, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have all endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

However, one of the nation’s largest unions, the Teamsters, is still holding out.

What You Need To Know

  • Union workers could be critical in key battleground states during the upcoming presidential election

  • Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters, spoke at last month’s RNC, while various union members gave speeches during last week’s DNC

  • So far, the AFL-CIO, SEIU, AFSCME, and AFT have all endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris

  • The Teamsters have yet to endorse a candidate for president and have not backed a Republican for the nation’s highest office since 1988

The president of the Teamsters, Sean O’Brien, said he asked to speak at both political conventions and would hold off on endorsing, if at all, until both major nominating events wrapped up, per tradition.

Last week, from the convention stage in Chicago, Kenneth Stribling, a retired Teamster from Milwaukee used the platform to share his support for the Democratic ticket.

“I found out, in 2025, my monthly pension benefit was going to be reduced in half,” Stribling told delegates. “They saved over one million pensions, including 33,000 from my state, Wisconsin.”

Meanwhile, Republicans are trying to make inroads too. Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Brian Schimming feels right now is the perfect time to turn a voter bloc, which has traditionally supported Democrats, in their favor.

“We have a record number of people who are living paycheck to paycheck right now, you have record amounts of consumer debt right now, you have record amounts of people who say that if they were to lose their job for a month, even a month, they wouldn’t be able to pay their bills, so that directly affects working people clear across the state, of all shapes and sizes, of all political demographics, that is a massive opportunity for Republicans,” Schimming said.

Last month was reportedly the first time a Teamsters leader has spoken at the Republican National Convention (RNC).

“President Trump is a candidate who is not afraid of hearing from new, loud, and often critical voices,” Sean O’Brien, who serves as president of the union, said during his convention remarks.

While in Milwaukee for the RNC, O’Brien told Spectrum News the union was staying on the sidelines for the time being but would have conversations at the very least.

“I represent 1.3 million members, a very diverse membership,” O’Brien explained. “We’ve got a lot of Republicans, we’ve got a lot of Democrats, we’ve got some independents, so we have an obligation to do our due diligence and just not serve one part of our membership. We’ve got to hear from all of our membership.”

O’Brien said the Teamsters’ decision on a possible endorsement ultimately depends on the results of a membership survey.

The Teamsters last endorsed a Republican for president in 1988.

Related Stories