Teamsters release data showing Pennsylvania members overwhelmingly support Trump

While the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, union members who responded to an electronic poll overwhelmingly favored former President Donald Trump, according to data released by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Of Pennsylvania truckers who responded to an informal survey conducted by BallotPoint Election Services between July 24 and Sept. 15, more than 65% supported Trump, compared with more than 31% who preferred Harris. That’s consistent with national results that showed 60% of truckers chose Trump, compared with 34% who chose Harris.

The secure, member-only survey was published in Teamster Magazine, the union’s quarterly magazine, which was sent to every member household in July. It was also shared on social media and through mass text messaging, according to the union.

The union said 35,000 members took part in the voluntary electronic survey nationwide, a diminutive fraction of the union’s 1.3 million members. The number of Pennsylvanians who took part in the electronic survey was not disclosed.

The Pennsylvania Conference of Truck Drivers (CAD) represents approximately 95,000 workers in the key swing state and the neighboring states of Delaware, New Jersey and West Virginia.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has declined to officially endorse Harris as a candidate against Trump, while both the Pennsylvania conference and Philadelphia locals have made their support for Harris clear by issuing endorsements in the past few weeks.

The electronic survey results were released just days after the Pennsylvania Teamsters Professional Teamsters Conference announced its endorsement for vice president.

Bill Hamilton, vice president of the Teamsters Eastern Region, which includes Philadelphia, said the research process became complicated when the Democratic candidate changed over the summer and union meetings were suspended.

He challenged the results of the electronic survey.

“My members in Local 107 were actually pro-Trump [according to the electronic poll]” said Hamilton. “I can tell you that I find this disturbingly hard to believe, because the members who speak at my meetings have certainly not emphasized it in my presence.”

Despite Harris’ formal endorsements from Pennsylvania and Philadelphia unions, polls conducted at local union headquarters as part of monthly membership meetings have largely favored Trump. Polls conducted by Philadelphia’s 53-member Common Council and six Philadelphia local councils — 107, 115, 500, 628, 830 and 929 — all favored Trump, according to data released Monday. Only two Philadelphia local councils — 502, 623 — favored Harris in the polls.

“We are paid to lead,” Hamilton said. “That’s why members elect us. We need to tell them the truth and dispel all this nonsense on social media that Trump is a good union man. He is not.”

According to the union, more than 12,000 union members across the country participated in the polls conducted between April 9 and July 3.

President Joe Biden was narrowly favored by members in straw polls before dropping out of the race. Nationally, Biden carried the Teamsters in straw polls with 44% of the vote compared to 36% for Trump.

Leaders of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters decided not to endorse, citing that neither candidate had received enough support from the 1.3 million-member union that represents truck drivers, warehouse workers and other workers. The decision was seen as a blow to Harris’ campaign, while former President Trump saw it as a victory.

Sean O’Brien, the general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, spoke at the Republican National Convention in July — a striking move for a union leader. But he did not endorse Trump. O’Brien was not invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention.

Harris’ campaign touted her support among local Teamsters members, as well as endorsements from the Teamsters National Black Caucus and Teamsters Retirees.

In a press release in support of the Pennsylvania Teamsters union, the group called President Joe Biden and Harris’ administration “the most pro-union administration in history.”