UAW Endorses Kamala Harris for President, Boosting her Campaign in Michigan
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the U.S. presidency, providing a significant boost to her campaign, especially in the swing state of Michigan. UAW President Shawn Fain praised Harris for her commitment to the working class and her track record of delivering for them. The endorsement comes after the UAW had previously endorsed President Joe Biden’s reelection bid earlier this year.
The UAW’s endorsement of Harris is significant due to the number of UAW members residing and working in Michigan, where the union is headquartered. Michigan is a crucial state in presidential elections, and both Biden and former President Donald Trump have made campaign appearances there. By securing the UAW’s support, Harris can solidify her standing among the state’s working-class voters.
Fain emphasized Harris’s efforts in fighting corporate price-gouging, profiteering, and unfair trade deals, noting that she had even joined auto workers on the picket line during a strike in 2019. In a statement, Fain also mentioned that Harris is expected to rally with UAW members in Detroit on August 7th, further demonstrating their partnership.
While the Trump campaign has not yet commented on the UAW’s endorsement of Harris, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that Harris currently holds a slight lead over Trump, narrowing the gap that had widened when Biden dropped out of the race. This shift in support from the UAW could be a major factor in Harris’s growing advantage.
Fain has been a vocal critic of President Trump, stating that his presidency would be detrimental to the working class. In response, Trump called for Fain to be fired and criticized the UAW for failing to prevent Chinese automakers from building factories in Mexico to export products to the U.S.
The UAW’s endorsement of Democratic candidates is not unprecedented, but their relationship with Biden has deepened, particularly when he walked the picket line during a strike in Detroit last year. As a result of the strike, the UAW secured several record deals, including a significant wage increase and the restoration of cost-of-living adjustments.
It is worth noting that some other prominent unions have switched their endorsements from Biden to Harris, although others have been slower to do so. The Teamsters, representing 1.3 million workers in various industries, including packing and shipping, have not yet made an endorsement. The union has reached out to Harris but has not received a response.
In a separate event, President Trump shared his views on electric vehicle policy at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago. Trump mentioned that although Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, endorsed him, he opposes widespread adoption of electric cars.
Overall, the UAW’s endorsement of Kamala Harris provides her with a significant advantage in Michigan and further solidifies her support among working-class voters. This endorsement, along with others switching their support from Biden to Harris, indicates a growing shift in the political landscape as the campaign progresses. The upcoming rally in Detroit and Harris’s track record of advocating for the working class are likely to resonate with UAW members and potentially sway their votes in the upcoming election.
