International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien has publicly backed Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, delivering an unexpected show of support from one of the country’s most prominent labor leaders as she faces Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon in Tuesday’s election.

O’Brien announced Sunday that he had cast his ballot for Moody, marking the first time he had voted in Florida. In a post on X, he praised the senator for working with the Teamsters on issues affecting union members, including pension protections, wages and apprenticeship opportunities.

“Just voted in the State of Florida for the first time, and very proud to have cast a ballot for Sen. Ashley Moody,” O’Brien wrote.

He added that Moody had been helpful in protecting workers’ pensions, defending good-paying jobs and supporting well-funded union apprenticeship programs. O’Brien also said the Teamsters looked forward to working with her on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to advance the Faster Labor Contracts Act.

Moody welcomed the support, highlighting her commitment to workforce development and economic opportunity.

“I'm proud to have earned the support of the Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien!” Moody said in a campaign statement. “I'll always fight to protect hardworking Americans, support good-paying jobs, and ensure resources are available to train our next generation.”

The endorsement carries particular significance because Nixon previously worked as a union organizer and built part of her political career through labor advocacy. Her background includes work with organizations such as the Service Employees International Union and other Florida labor groups. O’Brien’s decision to personally support Moody therefore represents a setback for Nixon's effort to appeal to organized labor voters.

The two candidates are also connected to competing approaches to labor policy. Moody serves on the Senate HELP Committee, which has jurisdiction over labor and workforce issues. The Teamsters are seeking passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act, legislation intended to strengthen collective bargaining by establishing a process to help workers secure their first union contract after organizing.

A House version of the legislation, H.R. 5408, passed with support from 210 Democrats and 20 Republicans, demonstrating that the proposal has attracted backing across party lines. The measure now awaits further action in the Senate.

Moody has also introduced the TRADES Act, which would expand funding for career and technical education programs designed to prepare Americans for skilled jobs. The Teamsters have supported the legislation, giving O’Brien another policy reason for backing the Florida senator.

O’Brien's support for Moody follows his increasingly visible willingness to work with Republicans despite the Teamsters' historical ties to the Democratic Party. He drew national attention in 2024 when he addressed the Republican National Convention, becoming one of the most prominent labor leaders to appear at the gathering. The Teamsters ultimately declined to endorse either presidential candidate that year, although an internal member survey found that 58% of participating members supported Donald Trump, compared with 31% for Kamala Harris.

O’Brien was reelected to a second five-year term as Teamsters general president in June. His approach has emphasized working with lawmakers from both parties when their positions align with the union's priorities, rather than automatically supporting Democratic candidates.

Moody was appointed to the Senate by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in January 2025 after Marco Rubio left the seat to become secretary of state. She is now seeking election to complete the remainder of Rubio's term, which runs through January 2029.

With Election Day approaching, O’Brien's endorsement gives Moody backing from a nationally recognized union leader while highlighting the growing political divisions within organized labor over its relationship with Republicans.