The Ohio Conference of Teamsters endorsed Republican Sen. Rob Portman on Monday despite the organization’s history backing Democrats

The union endorsement is a coup for Portman, considering that the group backed Portman’s Democratic opponent Ted Strickland in his successful bid for governor in 2006 and his unsuccessful bid for re-election four years later.

[



Portman’s Trump Trade Bind



]

“Rob is fighting for middle-class jobs and higher wages for the people of Ohio, and he has fought with us to protect our pensions,” said Pat Darrow, president of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters. “We look forward to supporting Rob and continuing to work with him in the U.S. Senate.”

In its endorsement, the union cited Portman’s opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and his work to protect pensions.