The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has decided not to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in nearly three decades.

This decision came after internal polling showed that a majority of its members supported former President Trump over Vice President Harris.

Teamsters President Sean O’Brien stated that neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to the union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before big business.

The internal polling revealed that about 60% of members believed the union should endorse Trump, while 34% supported Harris, and 6% supported another candidate.

Trump expressed his gratitude for the support, stating that it was a great honor.

Harris met with Teamsters leaders on Monday, but O’Brien did not appear at the Democratic convention.

The Teamsters, which represent truck drivers, freight workers, and other workers, is the last major labor union to announce a presidential endorsement.

Other major labor organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers and the United Auto Workers, have backed Harris.

The last time the Teamsters sat out a presidential election was in 1996.

They endorsed Democratic nominees in the ensuing six elections, including Trump’s opponents Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Biden in 2020.

The union last backed a Republican presidential candidate in 1988, with an endorsement of George H.

W.

Bush.

Before Biden dropped out of the race, Teamsters officials had suggested that the union could remain politically neutral this cycle for the first time in decades.

O’Brien emphasized that the Teamsters are not interested in party affiliations but in what candidates are doing to help American workers.

An endorsement from the Teamsters, which has members across various industries and is heavily represented in critical swing states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, would have been crucial for either candidate.

The Harris campaign later touted support from local Teamsters’ chapters in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Nevada.

Meanwhile, the president of the Teamsters’ National Black Caucus questioned the union’s decision to withhold an endorsement and suggested that O’Brien was afraid to have “hard conversations” with members.

James “Curb” Curbeam, a member of Teamsters Local 480 in Nashville, expressed disappointment that the national leadership did not have the courage to stand up to Trump.

While union members are traditionally thought of as a Democratic voting bloc, Trump has been working to make inroads among rank-and-file members.

Biden had long enjoyed strong union support and became the first sitting president to join a picket line last September.

Harris has also begun using the line, “The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class,” in her speeches.

The Teamsters’ internal data also revealed that a town hall straw poll taken before Biden exited the race showed him with 44% of members’ support compared with Trump’s 36%.

The survey also included Robert F.

Kennedy Jr.

, who garnered about 6% of members’ support.

Kennedy has since suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump.

His running mate, Minnesota Gov.

Tim Walz, is himself a former union member as a public school teacher.