As the 2024 election gears up, Vice President Kamala Harris is intensifying her outreach to union voters in key swing states. With their vital role in states like Pennsylvania and Michigan—home to some of the nation’s highest union populations—both Harris and former President Donald Trump are positioning themselves as champions of the working class.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump extended Labor Day wishes, praising American workers while attributing rising costs to Harris’s policies. Meanwhile, Harris celebrated the holiday on the campaign trail, connecting with labor leaders in Detroit and Pittsburgh.
During her speech at Northwestern High School, she emphasized the importance of unions, stating, “Even if you’re not a union member, you should thank a union member for the five-day work week, sick leave, and vacation time.”
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Harris’ Union Strategy
Republicans have made strides with union members in recent elections, challenging the traditional Democratic stronghold among this group. In 2016, union households leaned only 8 points towards Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, a drop from the 18-point lead seen in 2012. President Biden did better in 2020, winning union households by 16 points.
However, recent polling indicates a tighter race, with Biden and Trump neck-and-neck for union voter support ahead of the upcoming election. Harris, though, has secured endorsements from major unions like the United Auto Workers and the American Federation of Teachers, highlighting her commitment to labor rights at her rally in Detroit.
She stated, “Unions helped build America and the middle class,” reinforcing her stance to advocate for union workers if elected.
Recent Emerson College polling shows Harris pulling ahead among union voters in Pennsylvania, with a 14.8 percentage point lead over Trump. In Michigan, she leads Trump by 10.1 points among union households. Despite this positive momentum, polling remains tight; RealClearPolling shows her with a narrow lead in both Michigan and Pennsylvania by less than 1.5 points.
“We can’t get complacent,” Harris reminded her supporters, urging them to approach the election as underdogs ready to fight for their cause.
President Biden is expected to join Harris in Pittsburgh later for the city’s Labor Day festivities, further rallying local Democratic support.