'Like a knife in the back': 'Warning sign' for Dems as Teamsters ramp up donations to GOP

Teamsters President Sean O'Brien in Philadelphia in August 2022

Politico reports Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien is hedging his bets and supporting Republicans after years of buttressing Democrats.

“Our members are working people whose interests cut across party lines,” said Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz. “And there’s no value in living in a bubble … where you only talk to certain people to the exclusion of others.”

After nearly two decades of mostly backing Democrats, Politico reports the GOP donations “signify a marked shift in the pivotal labor union’s strategy since 2024,” when Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien delivered a historic address at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and his union began more seriously supporting Republicans.

This will mark the second year in a row the labor union’s political arm donated to the Republicans’ House campaign arm, says Politico, which reports the union’s D.R.I.V.E (Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education) political action committee gave the National Republican Congressional Committee $5,000 in the second quarter. In addition to giving to the NRCC, Teamsters gave a combined $62,000 to nearly two-dozen GOP congressional candidates, including those running in significant battleground districts.

The 23 Republicans Politico reports the union supported all went on to win their respective seats, suggesting the union donates to winners. This included Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) and Rep. Mike Lawler, (R-New York), among others.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Spokesperson Viet Shelton questioned union leaders’ loyalty to members.

“Congressional Republicans have betrayed America’s workers and union members by selling out our communities for the GOP’s billionaire backers,” said Shelton.

Twitter critics also complained of betrayal, pointing out that it was the Biden Admin that saved the pension fund Teamsters rely on “so their president showed his appreciation by supporting Republicans.”

“Not one damn Republican voted to save the hard-earned pensions of the Teamsters,” said At Our Table Show Host Jaime Harrison on Twitter. “Not one!”

“I helped canvas to defeat Right To Work, which [Sen.] Josh [Hawley (R-Mo.)] supported as AG and during his initial Senate campaign,” posted another commenter. “Now, with abortion on the line … the Teamsters are donating to him? Not gonna lie. This feels like a knife in the back.”

The group hasn’t forsaken Democrats, who still benefit from “far more contributions than Republicans,” reports Politico, but the shift does count as “a warning sign” for Democrats who continue to lose union support.

Read the full Politico report at this

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