The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, long a Democratic Party stronghold, is shaking up the political landscape by throwing support behind Republican candidates, as The Blaze reports.
Representing 1.3 million workers, the union’s shift comes after it broke a nearly 30-year tradition by refusing to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the last presidential race.
This move signals a growing frustration with progressive policies that many Teamsters feel ignore the working class.
The Teamsters’ decision to skip endorsing a Democrat for president last year was a seismic shift. It marked the first time in nearly three decades that the union didn’t back the Democratic Party candidate. President Sean O’Brien didn’t mince words: “I’m a Democrat, but they have f**ked us over for the last 40 years.”
O’Brien’s blunt assessment reflects a union fed up with being taken for granted by a party chasing woke ideals over workers’ needs. His speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee underscored this pivot. The Teamsters are done playing nice with a Democratic elite they see as out of touch.
The union’s political action committee, DRIVE PAC, is putting money where its mouth is, funneling $112,000 to Republican causes.
DRIVE PAC’s contributions include $5,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee and a hefty $50,000 to the Republican Attorneys General Association. Republican lawmakers like Reps. Rob Bresnahan, Mike Kelly, Nicole Malliotakis, and Chris Smith received direct support. Senators Deb Fischer, Lisa Murkowski, Jon Husted, and Dave McCormick also got a piece of the pie.
This isn’t pocket change -- it’s a calculated bet on candidates who prioritize jobs over ideology. The Teamsters see Republicans as better allies for workers drowning in progressive red tape. “Hardworking men and women are rallying behind Republicans because we fight for their jobs,” said NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella, and he’s not wrong.
Marinella’s claim that Democrats have “abandoned” workers for “radical policies” hits the nail on the head. The Teamsters’ cash flow to the GOP shows they’re ready to reward politicians who actually listen. Still, the union hasn’t completely abandoned Democrats, sending $200,000 to the Democratic Attorneys General Association and $100,000 to the Democratic Governors Association.
Despite the GOP donations, the Teamsters still give more to Democrats, showing they’re not all-in on one party. “Our members’ interests cut across party lines,” said Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz. That’s a polite way of saying they’re hedging their bets while the Democrats figure out how to stop alienating their base.
Deniz’s talk of avoiding a “bubble” where they only engage one side is refreshing. It’s a jab at the left’s echo chambers, where dissent is treated like heresy. The Teamsters are waking up to the reality that Republicans might better champion their cause.
The union’s bipartisan approach is pragmatic, but the GOP’s growing share of their support is telling. Workers are tired of being preached to by coastal elites pushing green dogma and social experiments. Republicans, for all their flaws, are at least talking about jobs and paychecks.
The Teamsters’ shift is a warning shot to Democrats: stop pandering to the woke crowd and start focusing on workers. O’Brien’s frustration echoes a broader sentiment among blue-collar Americans who feel ignored by a party obsessed with identity politics. If Democrats don’t course-correct, they’ll lose more unions to the GOP’s common-sense pitch.
Republicans aren’t perfect, but they’re capitalizing on this discontent. Marinella’s boast about “bringing these voters home” to grow the House majority shows the GOP smells blood in the water. The Teamsters’ move could inspire other unions to question their blind loyalty to Democrats.
This isn’t just about one union -- it’s a sign that working-class America is fed up with being patronized. The Teamsters are betting on Republicans to deliver where Democrats have failed. Time will tell if this gamble pays off, but it’s a bold step toward putting workers first.
