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Today, after an extensive member consultation process, the American Federation of Teachers voted to endorse Joe Biden for president and Kamala Harris for vice president in the 2024 Democratic primary. The move marks the AFT’s solidarity with the AFL-CIO in a labor movement-wide early endorsement of Biden and Harris.
The union’s executive council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to endorse Biden and Harris because of their understanding of the issues facing working families and their demonstrated track record of using government to improve lives and communities.
Prior to the vote, the AFT held several national and regional telephone town halls, in addition to state- and local-level town halls, to gather member feedback. A union poll showed that an overwhelming 92 percent of AFT members who identify as Democrats wanted the AFT to join with other unions in making an early primary endorsement of the Biden-Harris ticket.
“I am 100 percent behind joining the rest of the labor movement and endorsing President Biden early,” said Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, during a regional town hall on May 24. “I hope we take this route.”
AFT President Randi Weingarten noted in today’s endorsement announcement that “Biden and Harris have been leaders in defending our republic, fighting injustice and protecting our basic freedoms. They have stood up for reproductive rights, voting rights and racial justice; protected LGBTQIA+ freedoms; delivered the most aggressive climate and environmental justice agenda in history; and signed meaningful bipartisan gun violence reforms into law. They have appointed a record number of federal judges with diverse backgrounds, including the first Black female justice to the U.S. Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“This stellar record is exactly why the entire labor movement has come out to support Joe and Kamala today. It’s time to finish the job.”
Biden will join Weingarten, AFT members, the AFL-CIO and other unions in Philadelphia on Saturday for a labor rally in support of his campaign.
The AFT will not make an endorsement for the general election until its biennial convention in July 2024.