North Las Vegas, Nevada — President Joe Biden reminded voters in Nevada of his pro-union stance Sunday as workers are poised to play a pivotal role in the 2024 election.
Biden told the crowd he is “the most pro-union president,” a claim he’s made several times before. He further touted his Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which he said created numerous high paying union jobs. The president also said his plans for clean energy and high speed rail will bring in additional union jobs.
Each of these statements elicited cheers from the crowd at Pearson Community Center, which featured a significant union presence, including members of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
“The union’s definitely for Biden,” one attendee, Mayo Sanchez, said. A member of LIUNA, Sanchez was donned in orange alongside his fellow union members. “We’re all union workers. We just settled a big contract.”
Biden’s swing through the Silver State is timed just ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary, where Biden will be on the ballot alongside author Marianne Williamson. Another primary challenger, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), skipped the first contest in the west. Biden is looking for a strong showing and to shore support among the state’s Hispanic and Latino voters, as well as union workers.
Former Democratic Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak emphasized the importance of unions for Biden in an interview with the Washington Examiner. “That’s his base, especially in Nevada,” he said. “He’s created a lot of jobs — a lot of them are unions jobs.”
Biden notably joined United Auto Workers union members in the picket line last year during their strike, making history as the first president to do so. However, his pro-union actions are challenged by former President Donald Trump’s own efforts to win over working-class voters.
Trump has been more than willing to court this demographic as political party demographics shift and workers are considered less solidly Democratic.
In January, Trump met twice with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which earned him criticism from his Republican opponent, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Despite Trump’s attempts, the UAW endorsed Biden. The group’s leadership doesn’t necessarily dictate how the rank-and-file members will vote, however.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Not only is Nevada a battleground state for presidential elections, but it’s also one of the states with the most union members. In 2020, Biden only won Nevada by a few points, 50.1% to Trump’s 47.7%.
Biden doesn’t seem willing to take Nevadan or union support for granted either, as he was reportedly considering joining Las Vegas hotel employees on the picket line Monday if they chose to strike. By late Sunday, however, the Culinary Union announced the strike was averted with a tentative agreement on a five-year contract.
