At a United Auto Workers rally in Michigan, Representative Rashida Tlaib joined fellow House progressives, including Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to mobilize union members ahead of the impending election. While Jayapal and Ocasio-Cortez voiced their support for Vice President Kamala Harris, Tlaib notably refrained from endorsing her. Instead, Tlaib concentrated her remarks on supporting Michigan’s Democratic candidates, particularly those vying for state Supreme Court positions, such as Kimberly Thomas and Kyra Harris Bolden.
Tlaib’s stance highlights her critical view of the Biden-Harris administration’s foreign policy, especially regarding its support for Israel during the Gaza conflict. This position aligns with Michigan’s pro-Palestinian “Uncommitted” movement, co-chaired by Tlaib’s sister, Layla Elabed, which declined to endorse Harris earlier this year.
In her speech, Tlaib praised recent Michigan Supreme Court rulings advancing workers’ rights, such as those on paid sick leave and minimum wage increases, and urged union members to vote down-ballot to sustain such policies. “The Michigan Supreme Court made those decisions because people demanded it,” she stated, underscoring the necessity of Democratic leadership across all levels of government to resist corporate influence.
Jayapal, who leads the Progressive Caucus, gave her endorsement for Harris, encouraging union members to back the Biden-Harris ticket in Michigan’s close race, where former President Donald Trump remains a viable challenger. Jayapal celebrated the UAW’s recent contract victories with major automakers, crediting the strike as an example of “organizing against corporate greed.” She urged workers to support Harris, promoting labor-friendly initiatives like a $15 minimum wage.
Ocasio-Cortez delivered a rousing address, taking direct aim at Trump and declaring that Detroit, a city with a deep labor tradition, would not tolerate anti-union leadership in the White House. “Detroit will not allow a scab in the White House,” she proclaimed, applauding the city’s labor history and portraying the UAW as a key force in the fight against powerful interests. Just days before the election, Ocasio-Cortez voiced confidence in a “united working class.”
While Harris has significant support from union leaders, certain labor factions, such as the Teamsters, have withheld endorsements, signaling divisions within the labor movement.
Trump, for his part, asserts that he holds substantial support from rank-and-file union members, whom he believes could be decisive in securing Michigan’s crucial votes. A recent poll of Teamsters revealed that over half of the union’s membership will be backing the former president on Tuesday.
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