(FreePressBeacon.com) – In a stunning rebuke to Kamala Harris, the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) has declined to endorse the Democrat presidential candidate for the 2024 election.
See the IAFF’s full statement down below.
This decision marks a breaking point for the association, which previously backed Joe Biden in 2020.
It also signals growing discontent with the Biden-Harris administration’s policies and raises questions about the Democrats’ ability to maintain union support.
The IAFF represents over 350,000 firefighters and emergency workers across the United States and Canada.
It announced its decision following a narrow 1.2% margin vote by its executive board. This marks a significant setback for Harris, who had actively sought the union’s endorsement.
IAFF General President Edward Kelly stated that they decided “by a margin of 1.2 percent…to not endorse a candidate.”
He urged members “to get out and make their voices heard in the upcoming election.” This careful neutrality underscores the deep divisions within the union and the broader working class over the current political landscape.
The Trump campaign wasted no time capitalizing on this development, labeling it “another crushing blow to Kamala” in a campaign email.
This sentiment echoes Trump’s previous criticisms of union leadership, which he has accused of not representing members’ true interests.
The IAFF’s decision follows a similar move by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which suggests a larger trend of union discontent with the Biden-Harris administration.
A recent Teamsters survey revealed that 60% of its members preferred Trump over Harris, a statistic that is alarming Democratic strategists.
While some unions like the AFL-CIO and United Auto Workers have endorsed Harris, these recent setbacks highlight the fragility of the Democrats’ labor support.
The administration’s handling of issues like the ongoing International Longshoremen’s Association strike, which is affecting East and Gulf Coast ports, may be partially causing support to fade.
Addressing the IAFF convention, Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance pledged firm support for firefighters regardless of their endorsement.
“Whether you ultimately endorse us or not, President Trump and I believe in our firefighters, we believe in our first responders, and we will never stop fighting for you. I am rooting for you, I am proud of you, I am thankful for you,” Vance stated.
Firefighters union opts not to issue presidential endorsement. Was there from the start of Joe Biden’s campaign in 2019 pic.twitter.com/qkOQBGIFPY
— Nick Niedzwiadek (@NickNiedz) October 3, 2024
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