UAW Endorses Harris for President: Will It Help Her Win Michigan?

By Nora Eckert

DETROIT – U.S. presidential candidate Kamala Harris secured the endorsement of the United Auto Workers (UAW) last week, but now faces the significant challenge of winning over its nearly 400,000 members.

Harris’ campaign has garnered renewed enthusiasm among Democrats following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the re-election race after a lackluster debate performance in June. Current polls indicate she holds a slight national lead over Republican Donald Trump heading into the November 5 election. However, securing UAW votes in Michigan, a key battleground state, is crucial in what is expected to be a closely contested race.

Polling data shows that households with union members in Michigan have historically leaned more toward Democrats compared to the national average across the past three presidential elections. Union members in the state tend to support Democratic candidates more than non-union households.

In response, Trump has made efforts to attract union members and blue-collar workers across the country. Notably, Sean O’Brien, head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention last month, although the union has not yet endorsed any candidate.

Harris is set to meet with union workers in Detroit and hold a rally with UAW President Shawn Fain, who has commended her efforts against corporate price-gouging, profiteering, and unfair trade deals. Fain has also expressed support for Harris’ vice-presidential pick, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

"We know whose side Kamala Harris is on and we know whose side Donald Trump is on. Kamala Harris has stood with working people; Donald Trump stands with the billionaire class and the corporate class," Fain stated during a fundraiser livestream.

In the 2020 election, 62% of Michigan households with union members supported Biden, contributing to his victory in the state. In contrast, union households split their votes 53% to 40% in favor of Hillary Clinton in 2016, during which she narrowly lost both the state and the national race.

Historically, UAW member support for Democratic candidates has consistently exceeded 60% in presidential elections since at least 2008, while support for Republican candidates has never surpassed 35%. Observers believe this trend will continue into the 2024 election.

"I see a lot of energy and re-engagement in the process among UAW Democrats since Harris launched her campaign," said Todd Dunn, president of a prominent UAW local in Kentucky.

The UAW’s endorsement comes from its executive board rather than the broader membership. While it does not guarantee rank-and-file support, it is a significant boost for Harris’ campaign. Experts believe the endorsement signals that the UAW will mobilize its political resources, which include financial backing and voter mobilization efforts, as it has historically played an influential role in elections.

The Trump campaign did not provide a comment in response to requests.

A spokesperson for Harris’ campaign pointed out that thousands more auto workers are currently employed under the Biden-Harris administration compared to the Trump era. They asserted that "Donald Trump is lying to workers to cover up his record of costing Michigan three auto plant closures and thousands of auto jobs."

On the other side, Chris Vitale, a UAW member for three decades and an employee at Jeep manufacturer Stellantis, believes that support for Trump among the membership is stronger than what UAW leadership publicly recognizes. Vitale plans to vote for Trump, citing his record on trade and tax policies affecting the auto industry, despite having previously supported Democrats, including Barack Obama.

Vitale is involved with a group called "Auto Workers for Trump," which is organizing an event near Harris’ Detroit rally. "We’ve got two people to choose from… I’m throwing in with the one who at least has a record of being interested in manufacturing and preserving it in this country," he remarked regarding his support for Trump.

Manufacturing employment in Michigan initially grew during Trump’s presidency, adding 11,600 jobs in the first two years, but this growth slowed before a significant decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Biden took office, the state has seen a net increase of 21,400 manufacturing jobs.

When it comes to electric vehicles, Trump has previously criticized Biden’s policies, claiming that consumers are being forced into battery-powered vehicles. However, he has recently softened his stance following an endorsement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, stating, "I’m for electric cars. I have to be because, you know, Elon endorsed me very strongly."

Some auto workers support both Trump and electric vehicles. "Electric vehicles, in a sense, are putting food on my table right now," Vitale noted, while also expressing concerns about rushing EVs to market before consumers are ready.

Elija-Blu Lampkin, who works at a Stellantis stamping facility near Detroit, is curious to learn more from Harris about her plans to maintain jobs in Michigan during the transition to electric vehicles. Nevertheless, he has already decided to support her. "There’s no way that I can go the other way," he declared.