U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a celebration of the NCAA championship team on the South Lawn of the White House on July 22, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnick | Getty Images
The United Auto Workers union supports Vice President Kamala Harris over Republican presidential candidate former President Trump.
The union’s support comes as no surprise. UAW President Shawn Fain is an outspoken opponent of Trump. Detroit unions have also historically supported Democrats, including President Joe Biden.
Previously, Biden withdrew his re-election campaign and supported Harris as the Democratic candidate to fight Trump.
Fein and Trump have been at odds since being elected union leaders early last year – exchanging words publicly. Trump called for Fein to be fired during a speech at the Republican National Convention earlier this month.
The union issued a response, calling Trump ” “Scabs and billionaires,” continued “This is who he represents. We know whose side we’re on. None of this.
UAW President Shawn Fain and UAW endorse Biden for President-elect Joe President Biden celebrates with UAW President Shawn Fain.
Leah Millis | Reuters
Shortly after Biden dropped out of the race, the United Auto Workers union praised him and expressed support for Harris, who walked the picket line with union members during the 2019 strike.
“The path forward is clear: We will defeat Donald Trump and his billionaire agenda and elect a champion of the working class,” the union said in a July 21 statement after Biden dropped out of the 2024 race. The statement did not formally endorse Harris.
The UAW’s support is crucial for any candidate hoping to secure the battleground state of Michigan because of the UAW’s potential influence there. The Detroit-based union has about 370,000 active members and 580,000 retired members, many of whom live in the Midwest.
Michigan voters helped Biden and Trump win the White House in the past two presidential elections.
On September 27, 2023, former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was absent from the second Republican debate in Clinton Township, Michigan, where he was watched delivering a speech to auto workers.
Rebecca Cook | Reuters
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