Harris Campaigns in Michigan Amid Shifting Union Support \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Kamala Harris visited a firehouse near Detroit, Michigan, to campaign for labor support. Despite the International Association of Firefighters declining to endorse any candidate, Harris remained focused on criticizing Donald Trump’s anti-union record. The vice president’s struggle for organized labor backing highlights shifting political loyalties among working-class voters, a critical group in Michigan’s battleground landscape.
Harris Seeks Michigan Labor Support Amid Shifting Union Loyalties: Quick Looks
- Michigan Firehouse Rally: Harris visited Redford Township’s firehouse for what could have been an endorsement event, but the International Association of Firefighters chose not to back any candidate.
- Criticism of Trump: Harris called Trump a “union-buster,” warning that he would launch an all-out attack on organized labor if elected.
- Shifting Voter Base: Harris and Trump are both vying for working-class support in Michigan, a state that could prove pivotal in the upcoming election.
- Labor Endorsements: Harris has secured support from major unions like the AFL-CIO, UAW, and national teachers unions, but struggles to lock down other key labor endorsements.
Deep Look
Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, campaigned in Redford Township, Michigan, on Friday, visiting a gleaming new firehouse to connect with working-class voters. Michigan is a key battleground state, and a campaign event at a firehouse seemed like the perfect venue to announce a major endorsement from the national firefighters union. However, by the time Harris arrived, there was no endorsement awaiting her.
The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), by a narrow vote, chose not to endorse any candidate in the upcoming election, leaving Harris without the backing she had hoped for. This was a stark reminder of the challenges she faces in securing the same level of union support that President Joe Biden garnered four years ago. Last month, the Teamsters also chose to hold back their endorsement, further complicating Harris’s efforts to secure a broad coalition of organized labor support.
Unions Split on Endorsements for Harris
Although Harris has faced setbacks with some unions, she is still receiving key endorsements. After Biden announced that he would not seek a second term, significant unions such as the national teachers unions, the building trades, the AFL-CIO, and the United Auto Workers (UAW) quickly threw their support behind Harris. At Friday’s event, Matthew Sahr, president of the Michigan firefighters union, appeared alongside Harris—not to bestow an endorsement but to show solidarity.
“We could have chosen to stay away. But what kind of message would that send?” Sahr said, underscoring the nuanced position many labor leaders are in. While some labor groups continue to support the Democratic Party, they are cautious about throwing their full weight behind any particular candidate too soon.
Harris Targets Trump as Anti-Union
In her remarks at the firehouse, Harris did not shy away from attacking her opponent, Donald Trump. She characterized Trump as a “union-buster” who would seek to undermine organized labor. “He has been a union-buster his entire career,” Harris said to the gathered audience, “and he would launch a full-on attack against organized labor if given the chance.” Harris was direct in linking Trump to policies that she argues hurt working-class Americans, mentioning his support for “right-to-work” laws—policies that typically make unionizing more difficult.
“We know, when union wages go up, all wages go up,” Harris told the crowd, which included several union representatives. “The bottom line is, when unions are strong, America is strong.” Harris pointed to Trump’s actions during his presidency, including executive orders in 2018 designed to limit the collective bargaining power of federal employee unions, as proof of his anti-union stance.
Trump, who has been campaigning in similar areas across Michigan, has portrayed himself as a champion of the working class. This rhetoric contrasts sharply with his previous actions as president, which included weakening federal employee unions. Harris addressed Trump’s mixed messaging, saying he was “making the same empty promises to the people of Michigan that he did before, hoping you will forget how he let you down.”
Recent Labor News: Dockworkers Strike Suspended
Harris’s remarks came just a day after U.S. dockworkers suspended their strike in an effort to negotiate a new contract, potentially averting an economic crisis. The tentative agreement that was reached included a raise in salaries, though other points of negotiation are still unresolved. Harris praised the power of collective bargaining, drawing a parallel between the dockworkers’ strike and her larger campaign message of supporting unions to create a fair economy.
Harris also planned additional campaign stops in Flint, Michigan, where she intended to continue her critique of Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. Notably, she highlighted Vance’s refusal, during a recent Michigan campaign appearance, to commit to continued federal support for General Motors’ plant in Lansing—an issue critical to Michigan’s workforce.
Working-Class Loyalties in Flux
Justin Pomerville, business manager for UA Local 85 in Michigan, explained some of the complexities Harris faces in securing union loyalty. While the Biden administration championed the CHIPS and Science Act, which brought billions of dollars to the semiconductor industry and helped secure jobs in high-tech facilities, the connection between these investments and individual worker’s livelihoods isn’t always clear. Pomerville pointed out that 70% of his members’ work hours are tied to the CHIPS Act. “Unless someone tells them they’re working because of that, they don’t know,” Pomerville said, highlighting the communications challenge facing Democrats.
The shifting political landscape among working-class voters is apparent as both Harris and Trump vie for their support. Democrats have been gaining ground among white-collar professionals while Republicans are attempting to make inroads with blue-collar workers, especially those without college degrees. During a rally in Saginaw, Michigan, on Thursday, Trump claimed that Republicans are now “the party of the American worker,” despite his previous anti-union actions. This framing attempts to capture voters frustrated by the current economic and political environment.
Pomerville, who is also president of the Tri-County Building and Construction Trades Council, noted that some union members are buying into Trump’s anti-establishment narrative. “Trump has done an amazing job at marketing false facts,” Pomerville said. His message resonates, especially among men who see him as a voice against the establishment and are tired of traditional politics. “When people try to talk about the election with them, you can watch some of their walls go up,” Pomerville explained, emphasizing the challenge that Harris faces in winning back those disillusioned by the system.
Trump Competes for Working-Class Support
While Harris was focusing on labor unions in Michigan, Trump spent his Friday in Georgia with Governor Brian Kemp. This appearance marked an important reconciliation between Trump and Kemp, whose relationship had previously been fraught due to Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election results in Georgia. Together, they stood before pallets of emergency supplies, including bottled water, diapers, and paper towels, in Evans, Georgia, to support those affected by recent storm damage. Later in the day, Trump held a campaign rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina—another storm-stricken region. His message was one of empathy and resilience, telling residents, “I have no doubt that whatever can be done is going to be done. It’s a very heartbreaking situation.”
Trump’s efforts to portray himself as a man of the people are aimed squarely at working-class voters who have traditionally leaned Democratic. In 2020, 56% of union households supported Biden, but Trump is pushing hard to shift that balance. He won 62% of white voters without a college degree in 2020, and he aims to expand that support base further in 2024.
Democrats Face Frustration Despite Economic Gains
Harris’s push for union support is happening against a backdrop of economic gains that Democrats hoped would solidify their base among working-class voters. The U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs in September, exceeding expectations, and labor markets have shown resilience despite fears of a downturn. President Biden’s strong support for unions was exemplified when he joined a United Auto Workers picket line last year—an unusual move for a sitting president and a sign of his commitment to labor issues.
Yet, for all these accomplishments, frustration remains within the party as Harris struggles to consolidate support among some unions. The shifting loyalties of working-class voters, combined with Trump’s efforts to appeal to their anti-establishment sentiments, mean that winning endorsements alone will not be enough to secure victory in key battleground states like Michigan.
Harris’s campaign in Michigan, including her stops in Redford Township and Flint, aims to remind voters of what she sees as the stakes of the upcoming election: the need to protect labor rights and to ensure continued investment in American workers. Whether these messages will resonate with a working class that increasingly feels let down by political leaders is the question that will shape the outcome of the 2024 race.
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