Democrats criticize 'misinformed' Teamsters after union issues historic non-endorsement

Several Democrats reacted overnight to the news that the Teamsters, led by General President Sean O’Brien, opted not to endorse any presidential candidate.

"Regrettably, neither of the major candidates was able to provide the firm commitments our union needs to guarantee that the interests of working people come before corporate profits," O’Brien said in a statement.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., who, like O'Brien, is from the Boston area, criticized former President Donald Trump, calling him "the most anti-labor president we've ever had."

“These workers are either misinformed or unaware of Trump’s labor record,” McGovern told the *Washington Times*, adding, “His loyalty doesn’t lie with working people.”

As the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, McGovern emphasized that Trump’s priorities clearly favor "the wealthy" over the working class.

The Teamsters haven't withheld an endorsement since the 1996 presidential race between Bill Clinton and Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan. Their last Republican endorsement was for George H.W. Bush over Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in 1988.

In contrast, Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., pointed out on Twitter that Vice President Harris cast the tie-breaking Senate vote to "protect Teamsters pensions."

Horsford shared that Nevada’s Teamsters councils had bucked the national organization and independently endorsed Harris.

"She’s fighting for us," Horsford said.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., echoed Horsford’s sentiments, highlighting that Nevada’s Teamsters "know Kamala Harris fights for union workers."

"I learned from my father, a Las Vegas Teamster: when we stand together, we win," Cortez Masto said.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., former Speaker of the House, called the Teamsters’ non-endorsement "disappointing."

"Donald Trump refused to support the pension bill for Teamsters. It was the Biden-Harris administration and Democrats who rescued Teamsters' pensions through the Butch Lewis Act under our American Rescue Plan — without a single Republican vote," she posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Meanwhile, Trump referred to the non-endorsement of Harris as a "great honor" for him.

"They’re not going to endorse the Democrats. That’s a big thing," Trump said while campaigning in New York City. The GOP nominee added that the internal Teamsters vote showed about 60% of national membership support his bid.

A leading progressive in Congress, Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, called the non-endorsement "unfortunate" while adding that the Evergreen State’s sub-council still supports Harris.

"I think you’re going to see more of that across the country," she told the Times.