US President Biden and former President Donald Trump are vying for the votes of one of America's largest labor unions, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. They represent primarily truck drivers and warehouse workers. The support of their 1.3 million members could be key for both candidates in November. 

Washington

The 2024 United States presidential election, expected to be between Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump is set to take place this November. 

U.S. Presidential Election

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of America's largest labor unions primarily representing truck drivers and warehouse workers, is at the center of a political tug-of-war. Both current US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are actively seeking the support of the union's 1.3 million members. Their endorsement is seen as crucial for the candidates' success in the upcoming November elections.

With the November elections approaching, the competition between Biden and Trump for the Teamsters' endorsement highlights the significant influence labor unions have in American politics. The support of such a large membership base could play a pivotal role in swaying the electoral outcomes.



Transport workers union meets Joe Biden

The president on his way to the Teamsters union headquarters. The organization endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 election, but this election cycle the group is meeting with all the candidates before deciding. The man who's likely to stand against Biden held a meeting with the union last month, and figures indicate that between 30 and 40 percent of its members voted for Donald Trump, despite the union's endorsement of Biden. Aware of vote seepage from a critical election base, Biden is focusing on all the unions, calling out the United Auto Workers president, Sean Fain, during his recent State of the Union address. Sean, where are you? Stand up. The president relieved at this particular union's early endorsement, but it's not just in the labor movement that Biden may lose some votes. African-Americans have traditionally supported Democrats, as acknowledged at this Black History White House event. I am president and Kamala's vice president because of you. You've had my back, and we've had your back. Yet among some young blacks, there's concern about Biden's age, and also anger at being treated as a monolithic block whose support of a Democrat candidate is a given. We do not all think the same. We do not all look the same. I think that sometimes on Capitol Hill, they forget that. And with this political climate, I feel like my community is starting to understand the importance of not checking out that stereotypical box that they continue to put us in. Recent polls confirm there's a drop in support among the Democrats' traditional constituencies. One poll indicates that Biden's support among black voters has moved from 87% in 2020 to 76% now. Among Hispanic voters, it's moved from 65% to 53%. And while 57% of women voted for Biden in 2020, only 52% will vote that way now. But some experts point out that polls represent a snapshot, not necessarily a prediction. I think the Biden folks know that they have some work to do, and they're going to work on those particular groups. The task now facing the Biden campaign, to rebuild the unique coalition that brought him to power four years ago, and today's meeting with the Teamsters, just one step in this process. Mike Hanna, Al Jazeera, Washington.

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U.S. Presidential Election