For generations, unions were the Democratic Party’s most dependable ally. Not anymore. In 2024–25, labor’s political identity fractured — sparked by leadership walkouts at the DNC, the Teamsters’ embrace of Republicans, conditional endorsements in Nevada, open fights with Democratic governors, and a federal-level assault on collective bargaining rights. The old “labor = Democrats” formula looks shakier than ever.
The Teamsters’ Republican Turn
- Sean O’Brien became the first Teamsters president to address the Republican National Convention in 2024.
- The union refused to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since 1996.
- By 2025, the Teamsters’ PAC (D.R.I.V.E.) was sending money to GOP candidates, reflecting internal polling that showed 60% of members leaned toward Trump versus 34% for Harris.
This was not a stunt. It was a reset.
Union Leaders Walk Out of the DNC
Randi Weingarten (AFT) and Lee Saunders (AFSCME) resigned from the DNC’s executive leadership, blasting the party for ignoring working-class priorities and playing insider politics. Their exit underscored a clear point: Democrats no longer get a free pass from labor.
Governors in the Crosshairs
In California, Minnesota, and Colorado, unions are battling over labor issues with Democratic governors rumored to be 2028 presidential contenders. These are not abstract spats; they’re labor contract fights that could shape the next national race.
Conditional Loyalty in Nevada
The Culinary Union delivered a landmark Strip-wide deal with 32% raises over five years and full casino unionization. They also yanked endorsements from 17 Democratic lawmakers over hotel-cleaning rules. Support from labor now comes with strings attached.
Federal Workers Under Fire
Trump’s 2025 executive order sought to strip union rights from two-thirds of the federal workforce.
- Workers called it an attempt to silence them.
- A federal judge later blocked the order, but the fight is far from over, as SCOTUS allowed the terminations to proceed in July.
It’s a reminder that labor battles run straight through Washington.
Rebuilding Trust With Members
Union leaders know part of the problem is not just politics, but also credibility.
- Lee Saunders (AFSCME) is leaning into member engagement and working overtime to reconnect with their members: 70+ town halls, podcasts, TikTok filters, and partnerships with content creators to make labor relevant to push content to members, especially younger workers.
- Jimmy Williams (IUPAT) is pushing “Building Union Power,” a campaign that takes the union on the road to reconnect with members, retell the history of labor’s wins, and listen when members feel ignored. “Some people only hear from their union around Election Day,” Williams said. “If they’ve had a negative experience or felt ignored, we’re going to hear them out and work to make it right.”
Both efforts reflect a reality: if unions do not invest in rank-and-file trust, no political strategy will hold.
Where It’s Headed
- Labor will play on both sides.
O’Brien’s RNC debut showed unions are done being tied to one party. Expect more transactional politics: jobs, trade, and protections in exchange for political backing. - Democrats can no longer assume support.
DNC resignations, unendorsed candidates in Nevada, and statehouse disputes show every relationship must be earned. - Republicans see an opening.
Even as they advance policies less favorable to union leaders, GOP strategists see value in courting working-class voters and union dollars. - Members are driving the shift.
Polling and grassroots frustration explain why leadership is scrambling with podcasts, influencers, and campaigns like Building Union Power. - State-level fights will shape 2028.
Governors with presidential ambitions will need labor’s sign-off, and unions are not afraid to bruise their own party’s rising stars.
The Destination
We’re not headed toward a clean “labor = Republican” flip. Instead, unions are becoming political free agents: spreading bets, demanding results, and punishing politicians who don’t deliver.
- For Democrats, their oldest coalition partner is no longer automatic.
- For Republicans, an opportunity to attract new voters and allies like O’Brien.
- For employers, a warning: unions will likely be bolder, more political, and less predictable.
The big picture: labor has stopped being a partisan wingman. It’s becoming a free agent.
