Two weeks before the US presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris needs help with critical endorsements from male union members. This group must mobilise the Democratic left’s voters to deliver this election.

Harris and President Biden have traditionally been union allies, but the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, has made gains among union workers, potentially helping him in a very tight race.

 Male Union Support Fades Amid Bigger Issues

With its long-standing Democratic ties, Harris remains lukewarm in male support among unions like electricians and pipefitters. The voters are overwhelmingly white and male and have become incrementally more Trump-friendly, pointed out by labour officials because of both Harris’s positions on social issues and what some labour officials describe as an undercurrent of machismo. The AFL-CIO, representing 12.5 million workers, acknowledges the problem and is moving its outreach program to work sites rather than households to reach more people.

“Let’s be honest, some people dismiss a female candidate at face value,” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said. “This challenge is real, but we’re addressing it by meeting people where they work.”

Shifting Gender Dynamics Across Unions

While service unions with more diverse memberships report increasing levels of female support for Harris are offsetting declining male support, AFL-CIO’s door-to-door campaign in Pennsylvania cut back to concentrating on committed supporters in the wake of a last-minute shortfall of volunteers-a nod to lukewarm enthusiasm among some male members.

The shift reflects a more significant trend: polls show Harris gaining ground with women, particularly white women, while Trump’s appeal with male voters is rising.

“The men are the toughest doors. Aid one AFL-CIO canvasser. They want to argue, and there’s no agreement on the facts.”

 Polls Show Strong Support, but Union Endorsements Mixed

A new poll finds Harris leads Trump by a 47%-36% margin in union households. But key unions have mixed loyalties. While the United Auto Workers endorsed Harris, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters decided to sit out the contest, though it said Trump leads among its members by nearly 60%.

Nonetheless, in the traditional Democratic strongholds like Racine, Wisconsin, union enthusiasm for Harris remains high. For instance, Richard Glowacki, a local chairman for the UAW, reported great demand for yard signs and retirees rallying to support Harris.

 Union Support Critical in Key Battleground States

Union votes are especially critical in swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where one in five voters is a union member. Harris campaign spokesman Lauren Hitt noted a gender gap within unions. For example, while the numbers are trending among men, increases among non-college-educated women could offset the latter.

Jimmy Williams, who heads the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, was less diplomatic. He said, “Women in our ranks are strong Harris supporters.”.

As Election Day draws closer, both camps for Harris and Trump remain on the campaign trail hammering hard to win the most crucial voting block after realising that union endorsement will prove a vital swing factor in this hotly contested race.