Harris campaign grapples with labor challenges as another major union refuses to endorse her

Vice President Kamala Harris experienced another setback with the unions Thursday when the International Association of Fire Fighters refused to make a presidential endorsement.

It was the second labor union to sit out the presidential election rather than endorse Ms. Harris.

The IAFF, which represents over 300,000 career firefighters and emergency responders, traditionally backs Democratic candidates. This year, the IAFF Executive Board met and, by a narrow margin, decided against choosing a candidate, said General President Edward Kelly.

“The IAFF Executive Board determined that we are better able to advocate for our members and make progress on the issues that matter to them if we, as a union, are standing shoulder-to-shoulder,” he said in a statement. “This decision, which we took very seriously, is the best way to preserve and strengthen our unity.”

The Washington Times reached out to the Harris campaign for comment.

The Trump campaign said the IAFF’s non-endorsement sent a powerful message.

“Kamala clearly has a BIG problem with rank-and-file workers across the country, who know her policies — such as a fracking ban, electric vehicle mandate, and other left-wing lunacy — would be devastating. Workers also know President Trump and Senator JD Vance, the most pro-worker Republican ticket in history, have always had the backs of American workers — and always will,” the Trump campaign said in a statement.

Last month, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters also announced the union would not make a presidential endorsement.

Similar to the Teamsters, the IAFF said that its decision to withhold an endorsement was in part because of feedback from its membership.

“Over the past year, the IAFF took unprecedented steps to hear our members’ views on the candidates and the policy issues that matter most to them,” Mr. Kelly said.

The non-endorsement only adds to Ms. Harris’ union headache. She is on track to be the Democratic candidate with the “worst” performance with union voters in a generation, according to CNN.

Ms. Harris is only leading with union voters by 9 points compared to President Biden, who led by 19 points in 2020. Former President Bill Clinton won the union vote by 30 points. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won the union vote by 12 points in 2016, which was the lowest point since Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale ran against President Ronald Reagan in 1984, CNN reported.

The IAFF was the first union to endorse Mr. Biden’s 2020 campaign and has endorsed a Democrat in every presidential election since at least 1976, except for 2016, when the union also made no endorsement.

Although Ms. Harris has earned the endorsements of most unions, the IAFF is the third major union-related impediment in recent weeks for her campaign, which includes the looming economic blowback from the International Longshoremen’s Association members who are on strike at ports from Maine to Texas.