With a major port strike in progress, International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) President Harold J. Daggett is in the spotlight, particularly as the upcoming election approaches. The ILA’s political action committee has largely supported Democratic candidates, though Daggett himself has only contributed to one Democratic campaign in years.
On Monday night, around 50,000 port workers went on strike after failing to reach a new six-year contract with the United States Maritime Alliance. This disruption could significantly impact U.S. imports, with Daggett warning that it could “crush” the economy. The strike’s timing is critical, just weeks before a closely contested presidential election.
As the leader of the strike, Daggett faces increased scrutiny over his relationships and his salary. A recently circulated photo of him with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago has sparked speculation about his political leanings, raising questions about potential support for the GOP candidate.
So far, neither Daggett nor the ILA has publicly endorsed a presidential candidate for the election. Notably, in 2020, both Daggett and the ILA backed President Joe Biden. This year, however, many unions, including the Teamsters—which represents 1.3 million workers—have opted not to endorse any candidates, a first since 1996.
Interestingly, Daggett has not made any political donations since 2013, when he contributed $1,500 to New Jersey state Senator Barbara Buona’s unsuccessful gubernatorial bid.
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While the ILA PAC usually leans Democratic, it does support some Republicans. In the current election cycle, the PAC has contributed $115,000 to Democratic candidates and $5,000 to Republicans, focusing more on U.S. House races rather than presidential campaigns. This is a stark contrast to their contributions in previous years; for example, in 2000, the PAC donated over $600,000 in total.
In addition to its political contributions, the ILA recently announced a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross for “Hurricane Helene Relief” and encouraged members to join in the effort to increase the donation.