2nd Major Union Dumps Harris As International Association Of Firefighters Votes No Endorsement

The International Association of Firefighters, representing over 300,000 career firefighters and emergency responders, has decided not to endorse a presidential candidate this year. This decision comes after the union took steps to hear its members' views on the candidates and policy issues. The IAFF's General President Edward Kelly stated that the decision was made to preserve and strengthen the union's unity. This is significant as the IAFF was the first major union to endorse Joe Biden in the 2020 election. The union's decision to abstain from endorsing a candidate carries weight given its history of supporting Biden. The IAFF's decision follows the Teamsters Union's announcement that it would not endorse a presidential candidate this year, with internal polling showing 58% of its members supporting Trump and 31% supporting Harris. The IAFF's late non-endorsement is notable as votes are already being cast in some states. The union's decision is seen as a way to advocate for its members and make progress on issues that matter to them. The IAFF's move is also a contrast to its initial plan to endorse Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, which was scuttled after taking stock of its membership. The decision is a blow to Harris's campaign, which had previously mocked a Republican candidate's reception at the firefighters union conference.