Across the country, over 14 million workers are members of unions, and that voting bloc is one politicians want to please. Of the top 15 states with employees represented by a union, three are expected to be major battlegrounds in November: Nevada, Pennsylvania and Michigan.Experts say there are two big reasons why union support is important to a political campaign

Nevada

In the United States, unions represent a significant voting bloc with over 14 million workers being members of such organizations. This demographic is highly sought after by politicians, especially considering that of the top 15 states with employees represented by unions, three—Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Michigan—are anticipated to be crucial battlegrounds in the upcoming November elections. The importance of union support in presidential elections is highlighted by experts who point to two major reasons why political campaigns vie for the backing of these groups.

Union members not only bring substantial numbers to the voting booth but their collective voice can significantly influence the political landscape. The focus on states like Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Michigan underscores the strategic importance of securing union support in areas that can tip the balance in close electoral contests. This deep dive into the role of union support showcases the pivotal function that organized labor plays in shaping election outcomes in the United States.



Why union support is so important in presidential elections

We will reelect Joe Biden in January, President Joe Biden got a powerful endorsement from the United Auto Workers. It's great to be home. A union representing 400,000 people around the country. We just came out of a strike, so 70% of Americans supported our strike, and we had a president who came out and supported our strike. So his actions pretty much swayed us in the way we needed to support someone because we wouldn't win the things that we have. LaShawn English is the director for Region one of the U. A. W. She and her members have met with President Biden, and she said she would run through a wall for him. Is there anything that would change your support for President Biden? No. So why is the union vote so important? Experts say it's twofold. It's about money, but it's also about organizing power. We will be actively doing whatever we can to get this man elected, getting our president elected, and that includes rallies that includes phone banks, that clues door knocking, um, billboards, whatever it's gonna take. You have to have the endorsement in order to get money from the union itself. So the former is the endorsement is a condition to getting the ladder, even though industrial unions aren't the largest in the U. S. That's the National Education Association. The work environment of industrial jobs gives the employees a greater sense of connection. The workplace is a place that people do coalesce. Um, unions tend to be not just workplace environments, but they tend to be broader communities. So they're good at rallying their troops. But an endorsement from the union leaders doesn't mean all the rank and file members agree. There are a lot of U. A. W. Members who are not thrilled about electrical vehicles and the transition to electrical vehicles, and they worry about their jobs. And they are also supportive of Trump because of the way he handled relations with China and trade. Another part of what makes unions politically powerful is where they're located of the top 15 states with employees represented by a union. Three are expected to be major battlegrounds in November, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Stephanie Liebergen, Scripps News, Warren, Michigan.

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