Vice President Kamala Harris has confirmed her commitment to participate in a roundtable discussion with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters as part of her efforts to engage with working-class voters in the lead-up to the upcoming election.
The Teamsters, a prominent union representing 1.3 million members, is yet to endorse a candidate for the 2024 race, with a decision expected post-conventions. Some Democrats have expressed concerns over the union president's appearance at the Republican National Convention, despite seeking a similar role at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
While the Teamsters are anticipated to have a presence at the Democratic convention, the union president is not scheduled to speak at the event, according to a source familiar with the convention planning.
The Teamsters leadership extended an invitation to Vice President Harris to participate in a roundtable following her confirmation as the presumptive Democratic nominee. In a letter to her campaign, they expressed the desire for Harris to share her vision on issues impacting their members and families.
A spokesperson for the Harris campaign, Lauren Hitt, confirmed that the vice president has accepted the invitation to engage in a candidate roundtable. The discussion aims to highlight Harris's advocacy for the Teamsters and their families, as well as outline her vision for the future. The scheduling of the roundtable is expected to take place soon.
Kara Deniz, a spokesperson for the union, mentioned that they have received confirmation of Harris's acceptance but are yet to finalize a date for the roundtable.
Both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden engaged in roundtable discussions with the Teamsters earlier this year, underscoring the significance of such interactions in engaging with key voter demographics.
