Union’s historic mobilisation
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), a labour organisation representing almost 700,000 active and retired members across North America, has announced an ambitious political‑campaign tour. The initiative, branded “workers versus billionaires”, will target voters in eight key battleground states: Maine, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada and Illinois. According to IAM’s international president, Brian Bryant, the union is committing to a level of political engagement unprecedented in its history.
“We made a strategic commitment that we’re going to be the most engaged that we have ever been in the history of our union in working,” Bryant said. “We’re living in an economy that only favours billionaires and does not favour working people, and it’s time that Congress and this administration realise who they should be looking out for.”
Economic grievances fuel the campaign
The timing of the drive reflects mounting discontent among members over the cost of living. Inflation, which stood at 3.0% in January 2025, rose to 3.4% by August 2026. Health‑insurance premiums have surged after the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, while gasoline prices are roughly $1 a gallon higher following the Trump administration’s conflict with Iran. Many IAM members recall voting for Donald Trump in 2024 because of his promise: “When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on day one.”
“The most anti‑union president”: how Trump turned his back on US workers has become a rallying cry for the union’s leaders. Bryant warned that the status quo is “not acceptable” and that the administration “is going to have to stand up and pay attention to working people.”
State‑by‑state strategies and candidate endorsements
In Texas, Jason Gayler, president of IAM Local 776A in Fort Worth, described the state as “more purple than what people put out to be.” He noted that rising living costs in north Texas are prompting members to back candidates focused on the working class. The union recently elected its first rank‑and‑file member to the Texas Senate, Taylor Rehmet, who won a special election in January 2026 in a district Trump carried by 17% in 2024.
Arizona’s political programme, led by Shay Blodgett—an Alaska Airlines employee from Phoenix—has involved opposing Republican‑led legislation that would restrict public‑sector organising. Blodgett highlighted member feedback: “The No 1 thing was the economy, cost of living, fuel prices, healthcare and food costs.” He also pointed out that transportation workers are excluded from the temporary no‑tax‑on‑overtime deduction under the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The broader political landscape
Pennsylvania’s union leadership, including Rich Howell—former president of IAM Local 1776 and a Philadelphia International Airport worker—explained that IAM is endorsing Democrats who aim to flip four congressional districts and the state senate while preserving the governorship. Howell observed that billionaire spending in the 2026 midterms has exceeded $1.6 trillion, but insisted that “money doesn’t buy a race.” He added, “Trump put the tariffs on, cutting more jobs, hurting more people in our industry.”
The campaign also seeks to mobilise members in Michigan, Maine, Nevada, Georgia and Illinois, each with its own set of local issues but united by a common narrative of economic pressure and the perception that the current administration favours wealthy interests over ordinary workers.
Why it Matters
The IAM’s “workers versus billionaires” push signals a deepening polarisation in American politics, where labour organisations are increasingly taking an active role in electoral contests. By concentrating resources on eight swing states, the union aims to reshape the policy agenda around affordability, healthcare and job security—issues that resonate with millions of households. The outcome of this mobilisation could influence not only the balance of power in Congress but also the broader direction of US economic policy, potentially reshaping the relationship between corporate America, government and the working class.