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Kelly went on to explain that the union’s leadership felt this decision was in the best interest of its members. “As we have over our 106-year history, the IAFF will continue its work to improve the lives of firefighters and their families. 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,” he added.
The decision marks a notable departure from the union’s behavior in 2020, when it threw its weight behind Joe Biden early in the Democratic primary. The IAFF’s endorsement of Biden in April 2019 was seen as a key moment in securing the firefighter vote for the now-president. Biden, in turn, has consistently voiced his support for the union, even speaking at their 2023 legislative conference, where he reassured members, “I have your back.”
The IAFF’s decision not to endorse a candidate is particularly significant when viewed alongside the recent actions of another prominent labor organization, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Just a few weeks ago, the Teamsters also announced that they would not be endorsing a candidate, marking a similar shift for a historically pro-Democratic union.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien garnered attention when he appeared at the Republican National Convention earlier this year, a move that hinted at a possible shift in the union’s political alliances. O’Brien expressed a desire to speak at the Democratic National Convention as well but was notably not invited. “Under our leadership, we’ve brought every single candidate to the table in front of our rank-and-file members and our general executive board, and we’re waiting on Vice President Harris to commit, to come meet with us,” O’Brien said in an interview with CBS News on Labor Day.
O’Brien later announced that the union, traditionally aligned with Democrats, would not be endorsing Harris. “We don’t just represent registered Democrats, we represent registered Republicans and independents, so we have to take [that] into consideration,” O’Brien explained.
Internal polling conducted by the Teamsters revealed a potential disaster for the Harris-Walz campaign. The polling data indicated that former President Donald Trump had garnered significant support among union members, with 58% of respondents expressing support for Trump, compared to just 31% for Harris.
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The decision by both the IAFF and the Teamsters not to endorse any candidate highlights a growing divide between labor unions and the Democratic Party, a shift that could have far-reaching implications for the 2024 election. Both unions had enthusiastically supported Joe Biden in 2020, but now seem reluctant to throw their support behind Vice President Harris.
As the race between Trump and Harris heats up, these non-endorsements signal a potential fracture in the traditional labor-Democrat alliance, one that could play a decisive role in the outcome of the election. Both the IAFF and the Teamsters’ decisions demonstrate that, for these unions, representing a diverse range of political views among their members may take precedence over traditional political loyalties.
