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What makes this move even more striking is that both the Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters and the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters have also endorsed Democrat Sherrod Brown’s Senate campaign in the past. Brown, who branded himself as a “pro-labor” champion, was defeated last year by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno. Brown has since launched a comeback attempt, hoping to reclaim his seat in a high-stakes Senate battle expected to draw national attention.
For Ramaswamy, the support from organized labor isn’t just symbolic — it’s a powerful boost that aligns him with a growing movement of working-class voters frustrated with Democratic leadership. His campaign has already earned endorsements from President Donald Trump and the Ohio Republican Party, positioning him as the heavy favorite to secure the GOP nomination.
The Teamsters’ backing is especially significant. The Ohio chapter represents more than 50,000 workers statewide and has traditionally supported Democrats like former Rep. Tim Ryan. In 2022, the union supported Ryan in his unsuccessful Senate race against JD Vance. But this year, the tide has clearly turned.
Ramaswamy’s campaign told Fox News it has already collected more than $200,000 in contributions from former Ryan supporters — a remarkable financial and political flip.
“The Teamsters are proud to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor of Ohio. Our members want a leader who will fight for good-paying jobs and strengthen the future for Ohio’s working families,” said Patrick J. Darrow, president of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters. “Vivek has demonstrated a commitment to listening to labor and partnering with us to deliver real results, and we look forward to working with him.”
The Republican candidate expressed gratitude for the endorsement and emphasized his campaign’s focus on restoring dignity to work.
“This isn’t about left vs. right, it’s about up vs. down,” he said. “We are building a movement that restores dignity to work, rewards those who keep our economy moving, and ensures every Ohioan has a fair shot at the American Dream. Together, we will make Ohio the best place in America to work, raise a family, and pursue a better life for the next generation.”
The union’s decision follows a growing national trend of labor organizations pivoting away from Democrats. In recent years, major unions such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have praised President Trump’s tariff policies and economic agenda, signaling a shifting political landscape within organized labor.
Last year, Teamsters President Sean O’Brien stunned Democrats by becoming the first in his position to speak at the Republican National Convention. O’Brien used his speech to thank Republicans, including Trump, for engaging with organized labor and opening doors that Democrats long took for granted.
O’Brien also revealed to Tucker Carlson that Vice President Kamala Harris flatly refused to sit for a full interview with union representatives — something considered standard for any candidate seeking their endorsement. Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and others completed the interview process without issue. President Biden, however, managed to answer only four questions before his aides abruptly ended the meeting. O’Brien said union leadership concluded Biden “wasn’t the same man” and showed clear signs of cognitive decline.
When Biden eventually dropped out of the race, Harris assumed the Teamsters would back her without question. She delayed her interview for weeks and, when she finally sat down with union leaders, she smugly told them she would win “with to without” their endorsement.
“It was insane behavior,” O’Brien said.
That moment marked a turning point. The once-reliable Democratic support from unions like the Teamsters has begun to fracture, and Vivek Ramaswamy is now one of the clearest beneficiaries of that shift. If these trends continue, Ohio could become a political battleground where union voters help carry a Republican candidate to victory.
