Teamsters President endorses Republican senator in surprise move

Sean O’Brien, General President of the Teamsters union, publicly backed Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., over the weekend. The union, with a membership of 1.3 million, is traditionally aligned with the Democratic Party.

“Just voted in the State of Florida for the first time, and very proud to have cast a ballot for Sen. Ashley Moody,” O’Brien announced on Sunday. He cited Moody’s support for Teamsters’ priorities, including protecting worker pensions, safeguarding jobs, and backing union apprenticeship programs. O’Brien also expressed hope for collaboration on the Faster Labor Contracts Act.

O’Brien, who previously spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, stated that the Democratic Party had denied his request to address their convention. “If the far-left want to criticize me and attack me, that’s OK. If the far-right wants to do the same, that’s great. I represent 1.3 million hardworking men and women,” he said.

Sen. Moody responded to the endorsement, saying, “I’ll always fight to protect hardworking Americans, strengthen good-paying jobs, and ensure resources are available to train our next generation. It’s been great to deliver for Florida’s working families.”

Angie Nixon, Moody’s Democratic opponent, reacted to the endorsement by sharing a past photo with O’Brien and asserting that Moody has not consistently supported workers. She encouraged Teamsters to vote for her.

O’Brien’s decision to vote in Florida has also drawn attention, sparking speculation about a potential relocation from Boston. Some critics have labeled his actions as crossing a symbolic picket line within the labor movement.