WASHINGTON — Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien's surprise endorsement of Republican Sen. Ashley Moody of Florida underscores an unusual development in one of the nation's most closely watched Senate races just days before nationwide polls open.
O'Brien, a self-described lifelong Democrat who leads the 123-year-old union with approximately 1.3 million members, announced Sunday that he had cast his first Florida ballot for Moody, citing her support for workers' pensions, defense of good-paying jobs, and backing of well-funded union apprenticeship programs. The endorsement marks a major break from national union sentiment that has typically favored Democratic candidates.
The development is notable given O'Brien previously spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention after the Democratic Party snubbed his request to address the convention. At that time, O'Brien emphasized he represented 1.3 million hardworking men and women, saying "If the far-left want to criticize me and attack me, that's OK. If the far-right wants to do the same, that's great."
Moody, Florida's former attorney general appointed to the Senate in January 2025 by Gov. Ron DeSantis after Marco Rubio became U.S. Secretary of State, said she was proud to receive O'Brien's endorsement. "It's been great to deliver for Florida's working families," Moody said.
The endorsement adds a significant development to a race already notable for its unusual dynamics. Moody has maintained a deliberately low-profile campaign, declining to debate her opponent — Democratic socialist Angie Nixon — and avoiding unscripted situations with the press. Nixon, endorsed by Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has campaigned aggressively with large rallies and has nicknamed Moody "Absent Ashley" for her campaign trail evasion.
The race features a stark fundraising disparity: Moody has raised more than $20 million compared to Nixon's $8.5 million. Republicans have built a 1.5 million voter registration advantage over Democrats in Florida since 2020, and DeSantis appointed Moody to the Senate and has endorsed her. Despite Trump's declining approval in the state, political analysts say Moody can afford a guarded campaign approach given her advantages.
Nixon's campaign has sought to capitalize on Moody's evasion, but the Democratic nominee's effort to answer whether Cuba was living under a dictatorship in a recent CBS interview prompted backlash from both parties, including from Moody herself. With polls set to open nationwide in hours, the Moody-O'Brien endorsement adds another layer to a race that has defied conventional expectations.
