Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Sept. 20, 2024:
After months of internal polling of rank-and-file members, the General Executive Board of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union has elected not to endorse any candidate for president in 2024.
The union said it “was left with few commitments on top Teamsters issues from either former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris -- and found no definitive support among members for either party’s nominee.”
Polling data released by the Teamsters suggested strong support for former President Trump since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July. Prior to that, however, Teamsters polling indicated support for Biden.
From April 9-July 3, nearly 300 Teamsters local unions nationwide conducted town halls soliciting endorsement preferences from members via straw polls. The in-person voting was held prior to Biden’s withdrawal from the race. The Teamsters’ polling data shows members backed Biden 44.3% to Trump’s 36.3%.
[Related: Following the trucking money in Trump v. Harris and other races]
Following the Republican National Convention and Biden’s campaign exit, the Teamsters commissioned a national electronic poll of its 1.3 million members, overseen by an independent third party. During a voting window from July 24-Sept. 15, rank-and-file Teamsters voted 59.6% for the union to endorse Trump, compared to 34% for Harris.
