Democrats seethe over Teamsters’ decision to not endorse Harris

House Democrats expressed disappointment and said they felt betrayed by the Teamsters union, which decided it would not endorse a presidential candidate this cycle.

The traditionally pro-Democratic Party union was on the receiving end of the party’s ire Wednesday after announcing its nonendorsement decision and releasing its national electronic poll of its 1.3 million members showing the rank-and-file overwhelmingly support former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris, 59.6% to 34%.

The decision to withhold a presidential endorsement will be the first time since 1996 that the union has not supported a candidate in a race for the White House.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said she was “disappointed” with the leadership of Teamsters President Sean O’Brien. She blasted him for his relationship with Mr. Trump. Mr. O’Brien addressed the Republican National Convention back in July.

She called the Teamsters’ decision “confusing” and an “aberration.”

“I find [Mr. O’Brien’s] behavior, especially after he went out to eat at Mar-a-Lago with Donald Trump, to be a questionable change in his pattern,” she said. “At the end of the day, we know that when the Teamsters are in trouble, who do they call when they need to make sure that Teamsters pensions are bailed out?”

She added, “When they need to make sure that they have a fair shake at the negotiating table? It was Sean O’Brien calling Democrats for help.”

Mr. O’Brien shot back at the New York Democrat on Thursday, saying Ms. Ocasio-Cortez should look in her district to “find out what the problem is.”

“In our polling, her district voted overwhelmingly Republican for former president Trump, so she may want to focus on her job instead of mine,” he said on CNN.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Progressive Caucus Chair, said she was also disappointed. She noted that her Teamsters state joint council, however, had endorsed Ms. Harris.

“They understand that it’s Democrats that saved Teamsters pensions, it’s Democrats that have been fighting for union organizing,” she said. “And I think it’s really unfortunate, but I’m excited about my own state council, and I think you’re going to see more of that across the country.”

Rep. James McGovern of Massachusetts said Ms. Harris deserved the endorsement, and the poll only shows that Teamsters members are uninformed about Mr. Trump.

“It’s clear that these workers are misinformed or uninformed about Trump’s record on labor. He is the most anti-labor president we have ever had, and his allegiance isn’t toward working people,” he said. “Look at his plans for a tax cut. I mean tax cuts for rich people, but not for people in the middle class.”

Meanwhile, the Trump campaign cheered the Teamsters’ decision not to break with the rank-and-file truck drivers and warehouse workers.

“The rank-and-file of the Teamsters Union supports Donald Trump for president,” the campaign said after the union snubbed Ms. Harris. “President Trump fights for America’s working men and women. President Trump’s agenda will bring tax relief and reverse the inflation that hurts working families the most.”

Correction: In a previous version of the story, Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s first name was misspelled.