WASHINGTON − On Thursday, the International Association of Fire Fighters announced that they will not endorse any candidate in the 2024 presidential election, a decision that impacts Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been highlighting her labor support during her campaign.

The union, representing over 350,000 firefighters and other emergency responders, was the first to back President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

In a statement, the IAFF shared that its executive board voted against endorsing either former President Donald Trump or Harris, with a slim margin of “1.2%.”

“The IAFF Executive Board believes that we can more effectively advocate for our members and make progress on essential issues only if we remain united,” the IAFF stated. “This serious decision is the best way to maintain and enhance our unity.”

“We urge our members and all eligible voters to participate actively in the upcoming elections,” the statement added.

This decision from the firefighters union coincides with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ recent choice to remain neutral, marking their first non-endorsement since 1996.

“This is another significant setback for Kamala Harris’ struggling campaign,” stated Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s national press secretary.

Both the Harris and Trump campaigns sought the support of the firefighters union, with Harris’ running mate Tim Walz and Trump’s running mate JD Vance addressing the IAFF convention last month in Boston. Vance faced significant backlash, being booed by union members during his address.

Despite the firefighters union and Teamsters’ neutrality in this election, Harris retains support from nine of the ten largest unions in the U.S., including the United Auto Workers, AFL-CIO, and United Steelworkers.