On Friday’s episode of Morning Joe, MSNBC co-host Joe Scarborough expressed concern for Vice President Kamala Harris, stating she “needs help” following a decision by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) not to endorse her candidacy for the upcoming election. This union, which previously supported President Biden in 2020, also chose not to back former President Donald Trump.
IAFF General President Edward Kelly announced that the union’s executive board had voted against endorsing any candidates in the 2024 presidential race, marking a narrow decision made by just 1.2%. Kelly emphasized that this choice aimed to uphold unity within the union, which represents nearly 350,000 firefighters and emergency responders across the U.S. and Canada. He encouraged union members and voters to actively participate in the election.
Scarborough pointed out that many union members, some of whom voted for Trump previously, expressed reluctance to support Harris. He indicated this lack of endorsement was particularly worrisome for her campaign. “The firefighters, who were Joe Biden’s strongest supporters, followed the Teamsters in opting out of the race entirely,” he noted, adding that the situation could have been more severe had the IAFF chosen to endorse a Republican candidate instead.
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This decision from IAFF mirrors a recent move by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which also refrained from endorsing any candidates after consistently supporting Democrats since 2000. Trump celebrated the Teamsters’ decision, framing it as an “honor” and highlighting the shift in traditional union support.
During the panel discussion, it was suggested that these union decisions reflect Harris’s struggle with male voters, particularly working-class demographics. Journalist Jonathan Lemire stressed the need for outreach to these groups, who have increasingly leaned towards Trump in recent years.
Harris has shown stronger backing from female voters, especially younger women, but faces challenges with male voters. Scarborough urged her campaign to strengthen its efforts in engaging this demographic. Although she hasn’t secured as much union endorsement as Biden, she has garnered support from several celebrities, including Bruce Springsteen, which could sway some voter opinions.
On the other hand, Trump’s candidacy has received endorsements from several police unions and the National Border Patrol Council, while Harris has gained backing from the AFL-CIO and other major labor unions.