National Nurses United Union Votes To Endorse Kamala Harris For President
Disclaimer: The endorsement has been announced by the National Nurses United Union, not by Nurse.org.
The executive council for the country’s largest union of Registered Nurses, the National Nurses United (NNU), has voted to endorse Democratic Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. This endorsement comes days after President Joe Biden dropped out of the election.
Why NNU Endorsed Kamila Harris
NNU’s press release announcing their official endorsement cites her “strong track record of support” for the union and that her record “stands in stark contrast to the right-wing threats and anti-worker agenda of Donald Trump.”
“Nurses across the country are proud and excited to endorse Kamala Harris to be the next president of the United States because we know she is the right choice to protect our patients' health and safety,” the NNU declared in a post on Facebook.
How NNU Says Harris Could Support Nurses
National Nurses United listed four key bullet points in their press release summarizing Harris’ track record and policies that they say will support nurses.
According to NNU’s press release, Vice President Harris has been a strong advocate for working families, casting tie-breaking votes for significant legislation like the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act. She has supported union workers by saving pensions, backing striking workers, and promoting key labor laws. In healthcare, Harris has defended the Affordable Care Act, supported reducing medical debt, and championed staffing standards and Covid protections. Throughout her career, she has consistently backed legislation to protect patients and nurses, including safe staffing limits and workplace violence prevention.
How Nurses Feel About the NNU’s Decision
The announcement of their endorsement on NNU’s Instagram account received an abundance of comments from nurses themselves. Read all the comments here, but the vast majority of nurses commenting are against the union’s endorsement.
Some supported the move in a public way--
“This proud union nurse is happy to support Madame President Harris!!” commented one nurse.
Others sided on the side of the Republican Candidate, former President Trump --
“NO !! This ER Nurse does not support Kamala Harris! 90% of the employees in our ER are voting for TRUMP! TRUMP 2024!!” wrote another.
Other nurses voiced discontent over the political post --
“Your members do NOT support you pushing this political propaganda,” read another comment.
As the 2024 election cycle heats up, Nurse.org will continue to provide updates on the key issues that matter most to nurses.
