Machinists union launches 'workers v billionaires' midterm campaign against Trump
The 700,000-member IAM targets eight battleground states, citing inflation, healthcare costs, and broken economic promises as drivers of member defection.
What to know
- IAM, representing 700,000 workers, is targeting eight battleground states with a political campaign explicitly framed as 'workers v billionaires,' aiming to flip members toward pro-worker candidates in the midterms.
- Union members who voted for Trump in 2024 expecting economic relief now face inflation of 3.4%, soaring healthcare costs, and gas prices $1 higher than before his administration, driving visible defection.
- Local union leaders report cost of living and the economy as members' dominant concern, with explicit regret expressed over voting Republican in the last election.
- The campaign reflects a significant political realignment: a union that had supported Trump is now mobilizing its workforce against his party, with early success demonstrated by IAM-backed candidate Taylor Rehmet flipping a Trump+17 Texas state senate district.
“We've been conducting member-to-member engagement this summer, reaching out, asking members what matters to them. We heard them loud and clear. The No 1 thing was the economy, cost of living, fuel prices, healthcare and food costs.”
Shay Blodgett, Alaska Airlines worker, IAM Arizona leader · Guardian US ↗
Brian Bryant International president of IAMJason Gayler President of IAM local 776A in Fort Worth, TexasShay Blodgett Alaska Airlines worker and IAM Arizona political program leaderInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Labor union with 700,000 members
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts
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Texas and Arizona union leaders report members prioritize cost of living
Local IAM leaders in Texas and Arizona report that member engagement during summer 2026 identified economy and cost of living as the top concerns driving political decisions, with members expressing regret over voting for Republicans in the last election.
“The No 1 thing was the economy, cost of living, fuel prices, healthcare and food costs.”
— Shay Blodgett, Alaska Airlines worker and IAM Arizona political program leader -
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Bryant cites broken economic promises and inequality driving union message — IAM president Brian Bryant states the union is responding to an economy that favors billionaires over working people, and emphasizes that union members voted for Trump expecting economic improvement but instead face worsening affordability.
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IAM launches 'workers v billionaires' campaign across eight states — The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers launches a political campaign tour targeting members in Maine, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Illinois to encourage support for pro-worker candidates in the midterms.
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background
Inflation rises to 3.4% as healthcare and gas costs surge — Since Trump took office, inflation has increased from 3.0% to 3.4% by August 2026. Health insurance costs are soaring due to expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, and gas prices are on average $1 a gallon higher due to Trump's conflict with Iran.
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background
IAM candidate Taylor Rehmet flips Texas state senate district — Taylor Rehmet, president of the IAM's Texas state council, wins a special election in January, flipping a state senate district that Trump won by 17% in 2024. This represents the union's first rank-and-file member elected to the Texas senate.
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Trump takes office as inflation stands at 3.0% — Donald Trump becomes president with inflation at 3.0% in January 2025. Trump had promised during his 2024 campaign to immediately bring prices down starting on day one.