During a recent campaign event in Pennsylvania, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff criticized the head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Sean O’Brien, for not endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris. Emhoff suggested that O’Brien was influenced by former President Donald Trump and lacked the courage to stand up to him.
Emhoff commended local Teamsters chapters in various states, including Pennsylvania, for independently endorsing Harris despite the union's decision not to formally endorse a candidate. He highlighted that despite Trump's attempts to prevent an endorsement, the Teamster locals, including those in Pennsylvania, chose to support Harris.
In response to Emhoff's remarks, O’Brien stated that the union opted not to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in thirty years. This decision was based on the candidates' failure to make substantial commitments to prioritize the interests of working people over big business. Internal data from the union revealed that a majority of members favored Trump over Harris.
The context of Emhoff's comments is significant as the Harris campaign aims to strengthen its relationship with union members nationwide. This effort is part of a strategy to secure support from working-class voters, who play a crucial role in determining the election outcome in key battleground states like Pennsylvania.
