Ohio Teamsters split the ticket with their endorsements in the state’s two major races, keeping the truckers’ union in the middle of the road between America’s warring political parties.
The Ohio Conference of Teamsters endorsed Democrat Sherrod Brown’s comeback Senate bid on Friday, while also backing Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign.
“The Teamsters support political candidates who stand with us and fight for the interests of workers,” International Brotherhood of Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz told The Washington Times. “Partisan media outlets, on both the left and the right, continue to demand loyalty to a broken system that serves corporate interests rather than the American people — seeking to fuel division to sell more subscriptions.”
The Ohio Teamsters also split the ticket in races across the state, endorsing five Democrats and five Republicans in various House races. All their picks were incumbents.
“We’ve endorsed this bipartisan coalition of candidates because they’ve proven they’re willing to take on Corporate America and advocate on behalf of our members in Congress,” Pat Darrow, President of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters, said when announcing the endorsements.
Mr. Darrow added, “We don’t care about party affiliation — we care about whether our elected officials will empower workers and create middle-class union jobs.”
In picking Mr. Brown, the Teamsters cited his support of the Railway Safety Act, which overhauled freight rail safety in response to the 2023 Palestine, Ohio, train derailment, as well as his pledge to back the Faster Labor Contracts Act that would speed up collective bargaining agreements for newly formed unions.
“I will continue to stand with the Teamsters for fair contracts and to protect the benefits that they have earned,” Mr. Brown said in a statement thanking the conference.
In backing Mr. Brown, the Teamsters also split with other labor unions in deep-red Ohio that have backed Republican incumbent Sen. Jon Husted.
The Ohio chapters of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, the Northwest Ohio Building and Trades Council, as well as multiple chapters of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Ohio, have endorsed Mr. Husted, despite the labor movement’s historic ties to the Democratic Party.
The Husted campaign insisted that he is the one who fights for union members.
“Jon Husted has earned more labor endorsements than any Republican Senate candidate in the last 10 years, including from four labor groups that previously backed Sherrod Brown,” Amy Natoce, a campaign spokesperson, said in a statement. “After 32 years in Washington, Brown has drifted so far left that even longtime allies are walking away.”
The Times reached out for comment from Mr. Brown’s campaign.
Mr. Husted was appointed by the Ohio governor to fill the Senate seat vacated by Vice President J.D. Vance.
Mr. Brown represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate for 18 years before voters tossed him out in 2024 in favor of Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Republican.
The special election in November will determine who completes Mr. Vance’s term, which ends in 2029.
The Teamsters also backed Mr. Brown’s failed 2024 reelection bid.
The Ohio Teamsters have a history of playing both sides. In 2022, the union endorsed Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s successful reelection bid, while also backing Democrat Tim Ryan’s failed run against Mr. Vance for Senate.
The Teamsters nationwide have been veering away from the labor movement’s traditional Democratic allegiance.
In 2024, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters did not issue a presidential endorsement – the first time since 1996. The union had endorsed the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 2000.
An internal poll of union members had revealed nearly 60% supported President Trump, with 31% supporting Vice President Kamala Harris.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien later spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, the first leader of the union to ever do so. He did not endorse Mr. Trump but applauded “a growing group” of Republican politicians willing to speak with unions.
