In the aftermath of the last presidential election, a mere 10,000 votes could have shifted the outcome in Arizona, highlighting the importance of the state’s approximately 133,000 union members within the electorate. Union issues may prove critical in future elections.

Historically, Democrats have aligned closely with organized labor, promoting higher wages and the right to unionize. Michael Thornton, a 63-year-old diesel mechanic from Tucson and member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, emphasized, “They’re willing to fight for us.”

However, recent developments indicate a shift. The Teamsters, the largest union in the United States, chose not to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, marking a significant win for former President Donald Trump. Arizona Teamster Joe Shea expressed confidence in Trump, stating, “Under Trump, we had hope, we had opportunity, and we had results.”

Despite her strong record with unions, Harris’s influence appears to resonate more in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where union support historically plays a crucial role. In Arizona, unionization stands at just 4.2%, significantly lower than the national average.

Beyond votes, unions provide critical volunteer support for campaigns, according to Linda Lomo, president of the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans. Arizona’s major unions, including the Arizona AFL-CIO and the United Food & Commercial Workers, advocate for workers’ rights, fair wages, and improved conditions.

Harris has garnered endorsements from Teamster locals in key states, which could potentially sway the upcoming election. President Biden, often deemed the most pro-union president in history, notably joined striking workers on the picket line, a first for any sitting president.

Harris aims to continue this pro-union agenda. She pledges to create an “opportunity economy” that includes affordable housing and tax relief for the middle class. Notably, during her 2019 presidential campaign, she stood in solidarity with striking auto workers in Nevada.

Desi Navarro, a Tucson city employee and vice president of the Communications Workers of America local, believes a supportive administration is vital. “We need a friendly face in the White House that will help us expand rights rather than try to take them down,” she asserted.

Harris’s voting record with the AFL-CIO stands at an impressive 95%. She led a task force focused on enhancing worker organizing and advocated for the PRO Act to bolster collective bargaining rights, although House Republicans have stalled the bill.

Jacque Simon, public policy director at the American Federation of Government Employees, praised Harris’s unwavering support for union rights. “Ever since she’s been a politician, she has been an advocate of the right to join a union and organize a union,” she noted.

While many unions remain skeptical of Trump’s commitment to labor, the Fraternal Order of Police has voiced full support for him. During a recent rally, Justin Harris, president of the Arizona Police Association, echoed this sentiment, stating, “He always had our backs.”

However, Trump’s record includes weakening overtime protections and imposing restrictions on collective bargaining. His administration’s actions riled many unionized federal workers, including executive orders that made it easier to fire employees and capped time spent on union activities.

Trump, during his tenure, appointed justices who ruled against mandatory union dues, further complicating labor rights. As Trump criticizes the inflation seen in Biden’s era, he continues to assert that his policies would better serve working Americans.

Interestingly, polling data suggests that rank-and-file Teamsters prefer Trump over Harris, demonstrating a divide in union leadership versus membership sentiment. Tim Murtaugh, a senior adviser for the Trump campaign, highlighted this data, emphasizing discontent with paychecks under the current administration.

In a statement about the Teamsters’ recent non-endorsement of Trump, President Sean O’Brien highlighted the lack of serious commitments from either candidate regarding union support.

Although O’Brien made waves by appearing at the Republican National Convention, many union activists remain wary of Trump’s actual policies on labor issues. Harley Shaiken, a labor analyst, pointed out that “courting workers is very different from being pro-labor.”

With the election cycle heating up, both sides of the political spectrum are working diligently to secure union support, knowing it could be pivotal in the upcoming contests.