Major firefighters union declines to endorse presidential candidate for 2024 election

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The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has announced it will not endorse a candidate in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The decision, determined by a narrow margin of 1.2 percentage points following a membership vote, marks a shift for the union, which had previously backed President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

IAFF President Edward Kelly explained that the union's leadership took significant steps to gather members’ views on the candidates and key policy issues before making their decision. In a statement, Kelly noted that the IAFF believes standing united without endorsing a specific candidate will allow them to better advocate for their members' interests.

The IAFF’s decision follows a similar move by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who also declined to endorse a candidate after discussions with both major contenders. Despite this, some Teamsters chapters have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

The union’s choice is seen as a setback for Harris, who has already secured endorsements from other major labor groups, including the United Auto Workers union. President Biden, who has described himself as the "most pro-union president in history," had previously garnered strong union support.