In the wake of President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, construction is starting to see some follow-on developments, but industry officials caution that the impacts of Biden’s move remain to be seen .
Brian Turmail, vice president of public affairs and labor for the Associated General Contractors of America, says, “It’s unclear at this point what changes to expect now that Vice President Harris is running for president.”
Turmail said in emailed comments to ENR: “There haven’t been many opportunities for her to distinguish her own policies from those of the president she continues to serve.”
He adds: “Now that she’s running on her own, we may see some different approaches emerge, but it’s too early to tell.”
About 24 hours after news broke of Biden’s July 21 announcement in Washington, Associated Builders and Contractors made an announcement of its own, saying it was endorsing the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
ABC President and CEO Michael D. Bellaman and Buddy Henley, chairman of the association’s board of directors through 2024, said in a joint statement: “After nearly four years of anti-competitive, inflationary policies and divisive statements by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris that undermine taxpayer investments in America’s infrastructure, ABC is looking forward to working with a president who is willing to welcome the entire American construction industry to rebuild America.”
Construction unions, which had lined up in support of Biden, praised the president’s past record, and several construction unions formally endorsed or issued strong statements endorsing Harris for president.
For example, the president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers International, Kenneth Cooper, said on July 22 that he had called a special meeting of union officers that day, which voted unanimously in favor of Harris.
Construction unions across North America also announced their support for Harris, saying, “There is only one person who has stood shoulder to shoulder with Joe Biden.”
