Kamala Harris just can’t seem to catch a break these days, and this latest blow from the nation’s largest firefighters union is yet another nail in the coffin for her 2024 campaign. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), one of the most politically powerful unions out there, announced on Thursday that they wouldn’t be endorsing any candidate this year. That’s right—the same union that has faithfully endorsed Democratic presidential nominees for decades is sitting this one out.
Firefighters union praised for ‘significant non-endorsement’ after backing Biden in 2020: ‘Huge win for Trump’ https://t.co/TDjDfEuz2W
— Ford O’Connell (@FordOConnell) October 4, 2024
Edward A. Kelly, the IAFF’s General President, made it clear that the decision wasn’t made lightly. The union spent a year listening to its members’ concerns and looking at the candidates on offer, only to decide that…well, none of them were worth backing. Talk about a cold shoulder! This is the same group that’s played a major role in shaping political campaigns with its massive Political Action Committee, FIREPAC, which ranks among the top PACs in the country. So, for them to say, “Nah, we’re good,” to Harris is a big deal—and it’s not a good one for her.
BREAKING: The International Association of Fire Fighters just followed the Teamsters’ example by NOT endorsing Kamala Harris even though they endorsed Biden in 2020. The Union has over 344,000 firefighters across the country
This is an UNPRECEDENTED WIN FOR TRUMP!
“Today, the… pic.twitter.com/GQj9QVJRWw
— George (@BehizyTweets) October 3, 2024
With 350,000 members across the U.S. and Canada, the IAFF represents the people who protect 85% of communities across both countries. That’s a lot of influence and a lot of boots on the ground in an election year. And let’s not forget, they’ve endorsed nearly every Democrat running for the White House in recent memory—except for Hillary Clinton, who they wisely avoided. Now, Harris joins that dubious club of Democrats who just can’t seem to get the unions on board.
This rejection stings even more because it’s not an isolated incident. Just last month, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, another heavyweight in the union world, also refused to endorse Harris. In fact, they haven’t refused to endorse a candidate in nearly 30 years, so it speaks volumes that they chose now to break that streak. Their decision followed internal polling showing that their members, who had narrowly favored Biden over Trump, shifted dramatically in support of Trump once Biden dropped out and Harris took the spotlight. Let that sink in for a second: once Biden exited the race, Teamsters went from 44.3% support for Biden to 59.6% backing Trump over Harris.
A statement from @IAFFPresident following today’s IAFF Executive Board meeting pic.twitter.com/D6K6eQFrF7
— International Association of Fire Fighters (@IAFFofficial) October 3, 2024
That kind of pivot isn’t just a fluke—it’s a glaring warning sign for Democrats. Harris, once seen as Biden’s heir apparent, now seems to be struggling to even maintain the base. And with numbers like those, it’s not hard to see why unions like the IAFF and Teamsters are stepping back from endorsing her. They’re hearing from their members loud and clear: Harris isn’t the candidate they want.
So, what does this mean for the Democrats heading into 2024? Well, losing the support of powerful unions like these is a serious blow. Not only do unions bring financial muscle to campaigns, but they also rally voters in critical swing states. With Harris losing ground among working-class voters, many of whom are turning to Trump, Democrats are going to have a hard time convincing the American people that they’re the party for the everyday worker.
It’s looking more and more like Kamala Harris has a major uphill battle on her hands—and judging by the latest rejections, it’s not one she’s likely to win.
