Nevada Unions Urge Democrats to Reconnect Amid Republican Gains
Nevada’s Union leaders are urging Democrats to strengthen ties with working-class voters following the 2024 election, where many union members supported Donald Trump despite leadership endorsements for Kamala Harris.
This trend contributed to Trump's win in Nevada, marking the first Republican presidential victory in the state since 2004.
Nevada's economy relies heavily on hospitality, with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 representing 60,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno.
The union, which includes many immigrants and people of color, has historically supported Democrats and mobilized voters through canvassing. In 2024, it endorsed Harris and deployed 600 canvassers to focus on economic issues like housing costs and food prices.
Ted Pappageorge, the union's secretary-treasurer, emphasized the need for Democrats to address the housing crisis in Nevada. Exit polls showed union households in key states, including Nevada, splitting support between Harris and Trump. Nationally, Trump won non-college-educated union members by 6 points in 2020, a trend that continued. In Nevada, Trump gained among working-class voters, including Latinos, helping him secure 50.5% of the vote to Harris's 47.8%.
Trump proposed eliminating taxes on tips during a June 2024 rally in Las Vegas, targeting service workers. The Culinary Union initially called it a "wild campaign promise." Harris adopted a similar policy in August 2024, which the union supported. Some social media posts indicated rank-and-file members favored Trump's version, contributing to internal divisions.
Nevada Democrats, including Senator Jacky Rosen, highlighted union support in their campaigns. Rosen won re-election narrowly, praising her ties to workers.
As Nevada's unions continue to navigate internal divisions and external political pressures, the 2024 election outcomes highlight the challenges Democrats face in retaining working-class support. With leaders advocating for focused economic policies, the state's labor movement remains a key factor in future contests, potentially influencing national strategies for engaging union households.
