WASHINGTON D.C. — The United Auto Workers (UAW) officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential race on Wednesday, opposing Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.
The endorsement by the UAW, led by President Shawn Fain, is in line with the union’s historic support for Democratic candidates, including now-President Joe Biden. Fain has been a vocal critic of Trump, and that stance has been reinforced with the recent endorsement.
“Our mission in this election is to defeat Donald Trump and support Kamala Harris, who has a proven track record of standing up for the working class,” Fain said. “We face a choice: reinstate a billionaire who opposes the values of our union or elect Kamala Harris, who will fight alongside us against corporate greed.”
The endorsement follows Biden’s decision to withdraw from the re-election campaign and endorse Harris as the Democratic nominee against Trump.
Tensions between Fain and Trump have been ongoing since Fain was elected UAW president last year. Trump even called for Fain’s firing during a speech at the Republican National Convention earlier this month. In response, the UAW labeled Trump a “scab and billionaire” in a public statement, emphasizing its opposition to his representation.
Earlier this year, President Joe Biden received the UAW’s endorsement at a legislative conference in Washington, D.C. After Biden dropped out of the race, the union praised his support and shifted its endorsement to Harris, who had shown solidarity with union members during a 2019 strike.
“The path forward is clear: We will defeat Donald Trump and his billionaire-backed agenda and elect a champion of the working class to the highest office in this country,” the union said in a statement after Biden’s withdrawal. That statement, however, initially stopped short of formally endorsing Harris.
The UAW’s endorsement is critical for any candidate aiming to win Michigan, a key presidential state. The Detroit-based union represents about 370,000 active members and 580,000 retirees, many of whom live in the Midwest.
“For our 1 million active and retired members, the decision is simple: We will elect Kamala Harris as our next president this November,” Fain said Wednesday.
Michigan’s auto industry workforce has played a significant role in Biden and Trump’s previous election victories.
