In early September, Ryan Sanders, the president of the Erie-Crawford Central Labor Council, said he would likely make his presidential pick when he walked into the voting booth.
But in the last few weeks, he decided to cast his vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. Sanders is just one Pennsylvania voter, but he represents a key constituency that former President Donald Trump and Vice President Harris are both vying for: union members.
Sanders identifies as a moderate but leans conservative. Typical of many swing voters, he is troubled by Trump’s temperament. But last month, he said he was unfamiliar enough with Harris to have felt hesitant about supporting her. Union leaders typically support Democrats. But Sanders is new to leadership and labor: As an apprentice, he was elected Central Labor Council president in April.
His indecision became a media moment, prompting MSNBC to open a segment with his story: what he describes as his “15 minutes of fame.”
Sanders said that seeing the labor movement mobilize behind Harris, along with discussions within his own Sheet Metal Workers Local 12, helped solidify his support for her. He also credits Harris’ appearance on Fox News as a factor in his decision.
We connected with Sanders to learn more about how he came to his decision.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Capital & Main: Can you walk me through your decision to support Kamala Harris?
Ryan Sanders: She went and talked to Fox News, and for me that was a big deal. I look for someone who’s going to fight. A lot of people said she didn’t do very well on that Fox interview. But that made me like her more, because it was nice to see her get beat up and stand up again.
I think it was very bold [of Harris] to say that she wouldn’t change anything that Biden did. I think Trump really screwed up during the pandemic. I think Biden did some things that weren’t exactly correct. But you’ve got to stand with those choices.
Was there anything specifically that Harris discussed that moved you?
The labor movement. The middle class. The working guy — and gal.
I actually went to a couple of great union meetings after we originally spoke, and I learned some things. I’m not perfect, and I am very [new] to this, especially being an apprentice. I have opinions, but I have a lot to learn, and I was able to learn more about what it is for unions to support specific candidates who support us moving forward.
And, you know, [people] get fired up on the hot button issues. I think there’s two genders. But at the end of the day, does me thinking there are two genders get the tractor that just broke down fixed? Sure doesn’t, but my paycheck does.
Tell me about the union meetings you went to.
Down in Pittsburgh, we had this huge union meeting for the Local 12. When [the leaders] spoke it wasn’t, “We hate Donald Trump.” That’s not what they said. It was, “There are hot button issues that we understand you all have. And we don’t want you to run away from those things. But we want to tell you what has been done for labor. Here’s who supports labor and then go vote.” There wasn’t anything like, “We’re going to wring your neck if you don’t vote how we want you to vote.”
What did you learn at the union meetings?
We talked about Joe Biden being one of the most pro-union presidents. And one thing that I learned about is our pensions. Our pensions struggled because we’re not pulling in union members [as fast as] they’re leaving, so the pension money has been a little wonky for a while. But [the Biden administration] stepped in, helped us out, and now we’re back in the [black].
I hope politicians who say they support us know that we need people in our unions. I hope they have plans about pushing people our way to keep us strong and our [pensions] funded. When I’m [retired], I want to know that all the hard work I did means something for me and my wife in retirement, and also for the kids who are coming through.
When did you make up your mind about Harris?
The canvassing event [in September] did quite a bit for me. We had about 40 people out of Boston, Buffalo and obviously Erie.
You know, these aren’t my favorite candidates in the whole world. But I support the one that supports me. And to watch the unions mobilize and move behind one candidate? Just to watch it work was spectacular. So if that is what Kamala Harris has behind her? Sweet.
