Teamsters President Backs Florida Republican Ashley Moody
Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters, said on November 1 that he had voted in Florida for Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, effectively endorsing her reelection campaign against Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon as the midterms approached. Moody is widely expected to win, though Florida Democrats have been competitive in the state more broadly.
O’Brien said Moody had worked with the union on protecting pensions, supporting good-paying jobs and funding apprenticeship programs. He also said the Teamsters hoped she would help move the Faster Labor Contracts Act through the Senate HELP panel.
Moody, a former Florida attorney general, said she was proud to have O’Brien’s support and pledged to defend workers and job training. Nixon responded on X with a photograph of herself with O’Brien, saying Moody had not walked a picket line with him and voicing support for rank-and-file Teamsters who backed her.
The endorsement drew criticism from some commenters, including over O’Brien’s Florida vote and support for a Republican. O’Brien has described himself as a lifelong Democrat and spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, saying at the time that Democrats had declined his request to address their convention. The endorsement came with polls set to open nationwide within hours.
Teamsters Leader Backs Moody Despite Nixon’s Union Appeal
A powerful union leader has given Republican Sen. Ashley Moody a timely boost in Florida, even as her Democratic challenger, state Rep. Angie Nixon, argues that Moody has not earned the support of workers on the ground.
Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said on November 1 that he voted for Moody, praising her work with the union on pensions, jobs and apprenticeship programs. He also said the Teamsters want her help advancing the Faster Labor Contracts Act through the Senate HELP Committee.
Moody, a former state attorney general, welcomed the endorsement and said she would fight for workers and training. Nixon answered on X with a photo of herself with O’Brien, saying Moody had never walked the line with him and expressing support for Teamsters members who would vote for her.
The endorsement puts a Republican incumbent’s relationship with union leadership in the spotlight just before midterm voting. O’Brien has called himself a lifelong Democrat, but he spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention after saying Democrats had not granted his request to speak at their convention. Some commenters criticized his endorsement and his Florida vote.
Teamsters President Delivers Moody a Surprise Union Endorsement
Republican Sen. Ashley Moody has secured a significant labor endorsement just before the midterms, with Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien saying he voted for her in Florida on November 1.
O’Brien praised Moody for working with the union to protect pensions, defend good-paying jobs and support apprenticeship programs. He said the Teamsters also want to work with her to move the Faster Labor Contracts Act through the Senate HELP panel.
Moody said she was proud to have his backing and pledged to support working Americans and job training. The endorsement stands out from the national union sentiment described as generally favoring Democrats, and from the assumption that union leaders will line up behind Democratic candidates.
Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon, Moody’s opponent, responded on X with a photograph of herself with O’Brien and said Moody had not walked the line with him. O’Brien has described himself as a lifelong Democrat, but spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention after saying Democrats had turned down his request to speak at their convention. Some commenters criticized his decision to vote in Florida and endorse Moody.
Reported by The Washington Examiner, Fox News, New York Post, CBS Miami, Local 10 Miami, Townhall, Hot Air.
