(DailyChive.com) – The Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union (MPFFU) has decided not to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming presidential election. This decision follows the lead of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), which also opted not to endorse Harris.
Matt Sahr, the president of the MPFFU, explained that the union followed the IAFF’s recommendation. However, he emphasized that the MPFFU’s leadership still considers Harris the best candidate to address labor issues affecting firefighters.
“We are following the IAFF recommendation on the presidential election,” Sahr stated. “However, we’ve communicated to our members that our executive board believes Harris is the best choice to support firefighter labor issues.”
The IAFF’s decision to avoid endorsing any candidate came after its General President, Edward Kelly, urged state firefighter unions to hold off on their endorsements. During a recent virtual meeting, Kelly warned that state-level endorsements might harm Harris’s campaign, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Arizona.
The IAFF executive board narrowly voted by a margin of 1.2 percent to refrain from backing a candidate in this election. “By a margin of 1.2 percent, the IAFF Executive Board voted to not endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election,” Kelly announced.
While the MPFFU and IAFF have withheld endorsements, the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) union has expressed their support for Harris. In a press release, CPF President Brian Rice praised Harris’s record with firefighters, noting that she has been a consistent ally in securing resources from her local leadership days to her current role as Vice President.
The IAFF and MPFFU’s non-endorsement aligns with a broader trend, as the Teamsters Union also declined to back any candidate. Although the Teamsters withheld their endorsement, polls indicate that nearly 60% of their members support former President Donald Trump, while 34% favor Harris.
The MPFFU’s decision reflects a complex political landscape, as unions balance competing priorities and uncertain outcomes in key battleground states.
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