{"id":2222041,"date":"2024-04-16T07:26:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T11:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/teamsters-union-donates-to-another-gop-cause-what-does-it-mean-for-democrats\/"},"modified":"2024-04-16T07:28:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T11:28:53","slug":"teamsters-union-donates-to-another-gop-cause-what-does-it-mean-for-democrats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/teamsters-union-donates-to-another-gop-cause-what-does-it-mean-for-democrats\/","title":{"rendered":"How does the Teamsters union&#8217;s donation to a GOP cause impact Democrats?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fteamsters-union-donates-to-another-gop-cause-what-does-it-mean-for-democrats%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2222041&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, known for its support for Democratic\u200d causes, raised eyebrows by making \u2064donations \u2063to \u2064the GOP recently. This move, including contributions to Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), suggests a shift in allegiances within the\u200d labor \u2062movement.\u200b Despite their focus on\u200c issues rather than party lines, the\u200b donations mark a significant deviation from past trends. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, traditionally supporting \u200cDemocratic causes, surprised many with recent donations\u2062 to the GOP, including\u2063 funds for Sen. Josh Hawley\u200b (R-MO). This shift hints\u200b at changing loyalties in \u200cthe labor movement. While emphasizing concerns over party affiliations, these\u2064 contributions represent a notable departure from \u2062previous\u200c patterns.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>While most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/unions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Joe Biden\">unions<\/a> have already endorsed President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Joe Biden\">Joe Biden<\/a>, one big fish in the labor movement is spreading the love around and holding out its support.<\/p>\n<p>The International Brotherhood of Teamsters turned heads by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/2916820\/biden-meets-with-teamsters-as-trump-courts-union\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Josh Hawley\">donating<\/a> $45,000 to the Republican National Committee earlier this year, and has now made further GOP inroads by donating $5,000 to Sen. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-hawley\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Josh Hawley\">Josh Hawley<\/a> (R-MO).<\/p>\n<p>The union, which represents 1.3 million transportation workers at UPS and other companies, donated to Hawley in his reelection campaign against Lucas Kunce, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/04\/14\/teamsters-donation-josh-hawley-senate-republicans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"according\">according to<\/a> <em>Axios<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Hawley himself is unusual in some respects, having <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/delta-air-pilots-strike-for-better-contracts-as-flight-disruptions-pile-up\/\" title=\"Delta Air Pilots Strike for Better Contracts as Flight Disruptions Pile Up\">joined picket lines<\/a> with the Teamsters and the United Auto Workers in the St. Louis area. In 2022, he voted in favor of a measure from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to add seven <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/20-of-san-francisco-teachers-skip-school-to-protest-reopening-conditions\/\" title=\"20% of San Francisco Teachers Skip School to Protest Reopening Conditions\">paid sick days<\/a> to a contract for rail workers. <\/p>\n<p>The union says it\u2019s more focused on issues than party affiliation. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cRegardless of party, the Teamsters will work with elected officials who meaningfully take action to stand up for working people,\u201d spokeswoman Kara Deniz said, pointing to Hawley\u2019s help with the St. Louis strike. \u201cWhen you take steps to work in the best interests of working people and help us hold Corporate America accountable, the Teamsters will support you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said the voices of Teamsters members will be heard at both major parties\u2019 political conventions this summer. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWorking people face far too many challenges in this country today for labor unions not to be involved at every level,\u201d Deniz added.<\/p>\n<p>Still, for the union to donate to the GOP at all can be seen as unusual. The RNC donation was its first to the organization in 20 years.<\/p>\n<p>Most of the money donated by the Teamsters and its <a href=\"https:\/\/teamster.org\/about-drive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"DRIVE\">DRIVE<\/a> PAC this cycle has gone to Democrats, including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), and California state Sen. Scott Wiener.<\/p>\n<p>But Federal Election Commission records show a trickle of donations to Republican causes. The Teamsters gave $1,000 to Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and $5,000 to the Republican Main Street Partnership PAC in February.<\/p>\n<p>The Teamsters PAC gave $1.28 million to Democrats in 2022, compared to just $30,000 to Republicans in 2022, meaning it has already donated more to GOP causes this cycle than last.<\/p>\n<p>Dan Bowling, who teaches courses on labor unions at Georgia State University, says the Teamsters have always had an independent streak relative to other unions. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI promise you the teachers unions haven\u2019t donated to Josh Hawley,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Teamsters are more independent, maybe even a little more conservative. They\u2019re truckers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For his part, Hawley has courted Teamsters\u2019 support, including for his legislation to raise tariffs on autos imported from China. <\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>The RNC donation came the same day that Teamsters leaders met, for the second time this year, with former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a>, who has heavily courted union members despite lacking support from union leadership. Though the Teamsters made an equal donation to the Democratic National Committee, the split donations represented a departure from recent precedent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithin\u00a0the\u00a0union\u00a0itself,\u00a0I\u00a0have\u00a0tremendous\u00a0support,\u201d Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/2916820\/biden-meets-with-teamsters-as-trump-courts-union\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a> following his meeting with Teamsters President Sean O\u2019Brien. \u201cThey like what\u00a0I\u00a0do. They never had a better four years than they had during\u00a0the\u00a0Trump administration.\u00a0I\u00a0can say that for a lot of businesses and a lot of people, African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, they had\u00a0the\u00a0best four years they\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There has long been a gap between the political activity of union leaders and the voting habits of rank-and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-promises-booming-economy-and-seeks-uaw-endorsement-in-michigan\/\" title=\"Trump vows strong economy, courts UAW support in Michigan.\">-file union members<\/a>. Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/ropercenter.cornell.edu\/how-groups-voted-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">won<\/a> 56% of union votes in 2020 to Trump\u2019s 40%. But unions <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/industries\/contrib?cycle=2020&#038;ind=P04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gave<\/a> nearly 90% of their political contributions to Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>Biden\u00a0launched his 2020 presidential campaign at a Teamsters hall in\u00a0Pittsburgh, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/despite-president-joe-bidens-repeated-boasts-union-membership-continues-to-fall\/\" title=\"Union membership keeps declining, despite President Biden's claims.\">labor organizations contributing <\/a>.5 million to back his White House bid.<\/p>\n<p>But Trump has actively sought other union endorsements,\u00a0or at least the votes of union members,\u00a0during the current cycle. When Biden visited a United Auto Workers picket line in Michigan last September, Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2432678\/trump-promises-booming-economy-and-seeks-uaw-endorsement-in-michigan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">spoke at a nonunion shop<\/a> and promised he\u2019d be better for workers.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has also attacked electric vehicles as bad for workers, an issue that could be at play with the Teamsters.<\/p>\n<p>The Teamsters endorsed Biden during the 2020 election cycle and backed Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama before him. It last endorsed a Republican presidential candidate in 1988.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Bowling predicts the union will probably endorse Biden in the end, though he could also see it taking a \u201cmembers decide\u201d stance, and says there\u2019s maybe a 25% chance it endorses Trump. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think their membership will be very supportive of Trump, and will vote for Trump,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although many unions backed President Joe Biden, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters made waves. They donated $45,000 to the Republican National Committee initially and recently contributed $5,000 more. This shift raises questions about their allegiance and potential impact on the Democratic party, given their significant presence in the labor movement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2635,"featured_media":2222042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24031732428278-1024x590.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2222041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24031732428278-1024x590.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2222041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2635"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2222041"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2222041\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2222042"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2222041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2222041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2222041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}