Largest local Texas Teamsters union endorses Harris before her rally

By Alex Gangitano

Texas’ largest Teamsters union, Local 988, endorsed Vice President Harris before her rally in Houston on Friday.

In a letter first obtained by The Hill, the union, which is based in Houston, said it surveyed more than 8,000 members before endorsing her. It cited the Biden administration’s protection of union pensions and Harris’s pledge to sign the PRO Act, which is pro-labor legislation, if elected.

“There’s no doubt that politics can get bitter, complicated, and confusing,” Local 988 president Robert Mele said in a statement. “But Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have a proven track record of supporting workers throughout their careers.”

“As organizing continues to gain momentum, the Teamsters need elected officials who will fight for us, not against us. Kamala Harris is that candidate,” he added.

Harris is set to travel to Texas on Friday for a rally, during which she will focus on the consequences of red states’ abortion bans in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced in September it would not issue an endorsement in the presidential election for the first time since 1996, and for only the third time since 1960. The Teamsters endorsed President Biden during the 2020 election and has consistently supported Democratic presidential nominees in recent election cycles.

Local Teamsters union, including in key battleground states, have since endorsed Harris. Local unions representing over 1.5 million active and retired Teamster members have endorsed Harris, according to her campaign.