Union Split: Abbott Scores Historic Private-Sector Labor Backing

In a notable shift for Texas politics, Governor Greg Abbott has secured a wave of endorsements from major private-sector labor unions for his 2026 reelection bid. Abbott, seeking an unprecedented fourth term, characterized the move as a “historic break” from the labor movement’s traditional alignment with the Democratic Party.+1

The Shift: Private vs. Public Sector

The endorsements reveal a growing divide between unions representing private-sector trades and those representing public-sector employees.

• The “Rightward” Move: Last Wednesday in Houston, Teamsters Joint Councils 58 and 80—representing 40,000 workers—threw their support behind Abbott. They were joined by the Plumbers Local Union 68, Pipefitters Local Union 211, and the International Longshoremen’s South Atlantic & Gulf Coast District.+1
• The Reasoning: Brent Taylor, a Teamsters vice president, emphasized an “open door” policy with the Abbott administration, citing the Governor’s focus on job growth and apprenticeship programs. “The Teamsters do not care if you have a D, an R, or an I next to your name,” Taylor said. “We’re interested in one thing: Are you ready to help us… improve the lives of working families?”

The Democratic Response: “Workers vs. Billionaires”

State Representative Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin), Abbott’s primary Democratic challenger, maintains the support of the state’s largest labor umbrellas and public-employee unions.

• The Core Coalition: Hinojosa is backed by the Texas AFL-CIO (250,000 members) and SEIU Texas.
• The Counter-Argument: AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar pushed back against the “historic break” narrative, framing the election as “workers vs. billionaires.” He argued that over a decade of Abbott’s leadership has weakened labor rights and favored “elite corporate interests.”+1
• Hinojosa’s Pitch: A former civil rights attorney and member of the CWA, Hinojosa has pledged to “stand on the picket line” and fight for the right to organize, contrasting her platform with Texas’s long-standing status as a right-to-work state.

Context: The 2026 Landscape

Political analysts suggest that while union leadership is divided, Abbott’s $100 million campaign war chest and the state’s robust economy make him a formidable incumbent.

The Trump Factor: This local split mirrors a national trend; in 2024, the National Teamsters declined to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in decades, signaling a significant shift in the political preferences of the “blue-collar” rank and file.

In a notable shift for Texas politics, Governor Greg Abbott has secured a wave of endorsements from major private-sector labor unions for his 2026 reelection bid. Abbott, seeking an unprecedented fourth term, characterized the move as a “historic break” from the labor movement’s traditional alignment with the Democratic Party.+1

The Shift: Private vs. Public Sector

The endorsements reveal a growing divide between unions representing private-sector trades and those representing public-sector employees.

• The “Rightward” Move: Last Wednesday in Houston, Teamsters Joint Councils 58 and 80—representing 40,000 workers—threw their support behind Abbott. They were joined by the Plumbers Local Union 68, Pipefitters Local Union 211, and the International Longshoremen’s South Atlantic & Gulf Coast District.+1
• The Reasoning: Brent Taylor, a Teamsters vice president, emphasized an “open door” policy with the Abbott administration, citing the Governor’s focus on job growth and apprenticeship programs. “The Teamsters do not care if you have a D, an R, or an I next to your name,” Taylor said. “We’re interested in one thing: Are you ready to help us… improve the lives of working families?”

The Democratic Response: “Workers vs. Billionaires”

State Representative Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin), Abbott’s primary Democratic challenger, maintains the support of the state’s largest labor umbrellas and public-employee unions.

• The Core Coalition: Hinojosa is backed by the Texas AFL-CIO (250,000 members) and SEIU Texas.
• The Counter-Argument: AFL-CIO President Leonard Aguilar pushed back against the “historic break” narrative, framing the election as “workers vs. billionaires.” He argued that over a decade of Abbott’s leadership has weakened labor rights and favored “elite corporate interests.”+1
• Hinojosa’s Pitch: A former civil rights attorney and member of the CWA, Hinojosa has pledged to “stand on the picket line” and fight for the right to organize, contrasting her platform with Texas’s long-standing status as a right-to-work state.

Context: The 2026 Landscape

Political analysts suggest that while union leadership is divided, Abbott’s $100 million campaign war chest and the state’s robust economy make him a formidable incumbent.

The Trump Factor: This local split mirrors a national trend; in 2024, the National Teamsters declined to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in decades, signaling a significant shift in the political preferences of the “blue-collar” rank and file.