The leader of the 1.3 million-member Teamsters union announced that he voted for Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, citing her support for workers’ pensions, union jobs and apprenticeship programs as the Florida Senate race enters its final days.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
WASHINGTON — International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O’Brien publicly endorsed Republican Sen. Ashley Moody on Sunday, Nov. 1, announcing that he had cast his first ballot as a Florida voter for the incumbent in a move that underscores his willingness to support Republican candidates despite organized labor’s longstanding ties to the Democratic Party.
O’Brien, who leads one of the nation’s largest labor unions, credited Moody with helping protect workers’ pensions, defending union jobs and supporting apprenticeship programs. He also expressed interest in working with the Florida senator to advance legislation strengthening collective bargaining rights.
“Just voted in the State of Florida for the first time, and very proud to have cast a ballot for Sen. Ashley Moody,” O’Brien announced in a statement published on X Sunday.
“Sen. Moody has been extremely helpful working with the Teamsters to protect workers’ pensions, defend good-paying jobs, and support well-funded union apprenticeship programs.”
O’Brien added that the union hopes to continue working with Moody through her membership on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
“The Teamsters look forward to working with Sen. Moody in her role on the Senate HELP Committee to pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act and get this critical legislation signed into law to protect American workers.”
The announcement came two days before Florida voters decide whether Moody will continue serving in the Senate seat previously held by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Moody faces Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon, a former labor organizer whose political background includes work with public employee unions and progressive advocacy organizations.
According to Florida Politics’ Nov. 2 report, O’Brien’s support represents a notable development because Nixon has built much of her political career around organized labor and workers’ rights.
The union leader’s announcement was a personal endorsement rather than a formally announced endorsement by the entire International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
That distinction matters because national union leadership, regional affiliates and individual members may support different candidates.
Moody welcomed O’Brien’s support, saying she intends to continue working on policies that protect American workers and expand employment opportunities.
The Republican senator has emphasized workforce development, job training and economic growth during her campaign.
O’Brien specifically highlighted the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a bipartisan proposal intended to accelerate negotiations between employers and newly organized unions.
Under the legislation, employers and unions would face specific deadlines for beginning collective bargaining after workers vote to establish union representation.
If an agreement could not be reached within a prescribed period, the legislation would provide mechanisms for mediation and potentially binding arbitration.
Supporters argue that the measure would prevent employers from delaying first contracts after employees successfully organize.
Opponents of mandatory arbitration provisions have raised concerns about government involvement in setting private employment terms.
The House passed a version of the Faster Labor Contracts Act, H.R. 5408, with substantial Democratic support and a smaller number of Republican votes.
The measure now awaits action in the Senate, where Moody’s committee has jurisdiction over labor and employment legislation.
O’Brien’s endorsement suggests that progress on the bill has become a factor in his evaluation of individual lawmakers, regardless of their party affiliation.
According to Florida’s Voice, the union president specifically credited Moody’s work on pensions and apprenticeship programs when explaining his decision.
Moody was appointed to the Senate by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in January 2025 after Rubio resigned to become secretary of state in President Donald Trump’s administration.
Before entering the Senate, Moody served as Florida attorney general from 2019 to 2025 and previously worked as a circuit court judge in Hillsborough County.
She is seeking election to serve the remainder of Rubio’s term, which expires in January 2029.
Her Democratic opponent, Nixon, was elected to the Florida House in 2020 and has worked with organizations including the Service Employees International Union and the Florida Public Service Union.
Nixon criticized O’Brien’s decision, arguing that her own record demonstrated support for union workers.
“Ashley Moody NEVER walked the line with you @TeamsterSOB. But ok brother,” Nixon wrote in response to the announcement.
“Shout out to all the rank & file Teamsters that are voting for me. I will ALWAYS STAND WITH YOU!”
The response illustrated divisions within organized labor over which candidates best represent workers’ interests.
While O’Brien supports Moody, Nixon has emphasized her experience working directly with unions and advocating for labor protections.
The competing positions also reflect broader disagreements over whether organized labor should continue maintaining close relationships with Democratic candidates or pursue more extensive cooperation with Republicans.
Historically, national labor organizations have supported Democrats in presidential and congressional elections, particularly over issues involving collective bargaining, workplace protections and union organizing rights.
However, Republican candidates have gained support among some union households, especially in manufacturing, construction, transportation and other industries where workers have expressed concerns about trade, immigration and economic policy.
O’Brien has become a prominent figure in that changing political environment.
In July 2024, he addressed the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, becoming the first Teamsters general president to speak at the event.
His appearance attracted national attention because of the union’s traditional political alignment.
During the speech, O’Brien emphasized that labor organizations should engage politicians from both parties and that workers should not be treated as automatically belonging to one political coalition.
The Teamsters subsequently declined to endorse either Trump or Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
The decision came after internal polling showed substantial support for Trump among participating Teamsters members.
The union reported that 58% of respondents supported Trump, compared with 31% who favored Harris.
However, several Teamsters regional and local organizations separately endorsed Harris.
Those developments illustrated that the union’s leadership and membership did not speak with a single political voice.
O’Brien has continued supporting selected Republican candidates during the 2026 election cycle.
He previously backed Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, also citing Marshall’s work on the Faster Labor Contracts Act.
The Teamsters leader has maintained that his support for candidates is tied to their actions on labor issues rather than political party membership.
His approach has nevertheless generated criticism from some union officials and progressive activists.
In September, The Guardian reported that the Teamsters’ increasingly visible support for certain Republican candidates had produced disagreements with local union affiliates supporting Democrats.
The report described divisions involving congressional endorsements in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio.
In some cases, national or state-level Teamsters organizations supported Republican candidates while local affiliates backed Democratic opponents.
O’Brien has defended his efforts to maintain relationships across party lines, emphasizing that labor legislation often requires bipartisan cooperation.
His relationship with the Trump administration has also changed considerably since a highly publicized confrontation with Markwayne Mullin, then a Republican senator from Oklahoma.
During a November 2023 Senate hearing, O’Brien and Mullin engaged in a heated exchange after the lawmaker challenged the union president to settle their differences physically.
The confrontation drew widespread attention and required intervention by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who was chairing the hearing.
Mullin subsequently became secretary of homeland security, and the two men have since developed a more cooperative relationship.
The episode illustrates O’Brien’s willingness to confront Republican politicians publicly while also working with them on policy issues.
His endorsement of Moody comes as Republicans seek to retain control of the Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Florida’s Senate contest is one of 35 races on the national ballot.
Although the state has supported Republican candidates in recent statewide elections, both parties are competing for votes among independents and working-class residents.
Moody has received endorsements from Trump, DeSantis, Republican Sen. Rick Scott and numerous conservative organizations.
Nixon has received support from Democratic officials, including former President Barack Obama, and organizations emphasizing labor, housing and economic issues.
The Florida race takes place alongside other competitive Senate contests in Michigan, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, Georgia, Texas and additional states.
Control of the Senate will determine committee leadership, the handling of federal legislation and the confirmation of presidential nominees during the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
For organized labor, the election also presents an opportunity to influence the direction of federal workplace policy.
Questions involving union organizing, retirement benefits, apprenticeship programs and collective bargaining remain subjects of congressional debate.
The Faster Labor Contracts Act has become particularly important for O’Brien because newly organized bargaining units can experience lengthy delays before securing their first contracts.
The Teamsters have argued that stronger federal procedures are necessary to ensure that union election victories lead to meaningful collective bargaining agreements.
O’Brien’s support for Moody indicates that he regards her Senate committee position and willingness to engage on the legislation as important considerations.
At the same time, Nixon’s response demonstrates that the endorsement has not persuaded all union supporters that Moody is the stronger advocate for organized labor.
The different positions underscore the political diversity among union members and leaders.
O’Brien was reelected to another term as Teamsters general president in June, continuing his leadership of an organization representing approximately 1.3 million workers in trucking, package delivery, warehouses, aviation, public services and other industries.
The union’s large membership and political organizing operations make its leadership influential in congressional campaigns, although individual members remain free to support candidates of their choosing.
Sunday’s endorsement does not establish how Florida Teamsters will vote or whether the national organization will make additional formal endorsements.
It does, however, add a prominent labor leader’s personal support to Moody’s campaign in the closing days of the election.
As Florida voters prepare to cast their final ballots Tuesday, O’Brien’s announcement illustrates the growing willingness of some union leaders to cross traditional party lines when assessing candidates’ records on labor legislation and workers’ economic interests.
Original article
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