Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien has thrown his support behind Republican Sen. Ashley Moody of Florida, a striking break from organized labor’s usual alliance with Democrats on the eve of the midterms.
“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 Sunday, Fox News reported. His union has about 1.3 million members.
In his post, O’Brien said Moody has been “extremely helpful working with the Teamsters to protect workers’ pensions, defend good-paying jobs, and support well-funded union apprenticeship programs.”
He said the union looks forward to working with Moody on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee “to pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act and get this critical legislation signed into law.”
Moody, a former Florida attorney general, welcomed the nod. “I’ll always fight to protect hardworking Americans, strengthen good-paying jobs, and ensure resources are available to train our next generation,” she said.
Her campaign also noted that the Teamsters endorsed her TRADES Act, which would increase funding for career and technical education programs that prepare students for skilled trades.
The Washington Examiner also reported the endorsement, which landed with polls set to open nationwide in a matter of hours.
Moody faces Democrat Angie Nixon, a state lawmaker from Jacksonville whose platform is considered aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York has endorsed Nixon, and former President Barack Obama has also waded into the race on her behalf.
“Ashley Moody never walked the line with you,” Nixon wrote on X, posting a photo of herself with O’Brien. “But ok brother. Shout out to all the rank and file Teamsters that are voting for me.”
Some union members were less gracious online. Critics noted O’Brien appeared to have moved from Boston to Florida, and some branded him a “scab,” labor slang for someone who crosses a picket line.
O’Brien, a self-described “lifelong Democrat,” has courted Republicans before. He spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention after saying Democrats had snubbed his request to address their convention.
The Teamsters declined to endorse either Kamala Harris or Trump in the 2024 presidential race after internal polling showed a majority of members backing Trump.
He once nearly came to blows with Markwayne Mullin, then a Republican senator from Oklahoma, during a Senate hearing. The two later became acquaintances, and Mullin is now secretary of homeland security.
Fox News has also reported growing frustration among some blue-collar union leaders with socialist-leaning Democratic candidates, with some warning of a labor exodus from the party.
Moody was appointed to the Senate in January 2025 to fill the seat Marco Rubio gave up to become secretary of state. Tuesday’s election will decide who holds it for the rest of the term.
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