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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Striking Boeing workers voted in favor of a 38% pay rise.</li><li>The latest big victory for US labor unions could inspire others despite the tense process.</li></ul>After seven weeks and billions of dollars in expected losses for the company, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-strike-rising-tension-complaint-union-nlrb-2024-10">strike at Boeing</a> is over.Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted in favor of a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-workers-approve-labor-contract-end-strike-2024-11">contract that includes a 38% general wage</a> increase over four years and a $12,000 ratification bonus."For many frontline Boeing workers in the IAM Union, the terms of this contract will be life-changing," said Gary R. Allen, general vice president of IAM Western Territory.Boeing said the average pay for machinists, currently $75,608, would rise to $119,309 by the end of the contract. The 38% wage increase compounds to around 43% over the term of the deal.The machinists' victory is the latest to highlight the power of labor unions in the US.Last year, the Teamsters secured a deal that would see the average <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-workers-comments-170k-ups-driver-deal-anger-admiration-2023-8">UPS driver make about $170,000</a> in annual pay and benefits. Then, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ford-uaw-strike-deal-workers-sometimes-get-what-they-want-2023-10">United Auto Workers union</a> took on all the US' big three automakers simultaneously for the first time, securing a 25% pay rise."Over the last four years, we've shown collective bargaining works," President Joe Biden said in a Monday statement. "Good contracts benefit workers, businesses, and consumers — and are key to growing the American economy from the middle out and the bottom up."It has been a tense road for the roughly 33,000 unionized Boeing workers who began their strike on September 13. The strike started after the union's members overwhelmingly voted down Boeing's first offer of a 25% pay increase.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-strike-negotiations-union-leaders-break-down-after-two-days-2024-10">Negotiations later fell apart</a>, before each side lodged complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the other of bargaining in bad faith.Acting US <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-strike-us-labor-secretary-traveled-julie-su-negotiate-union-2024-10">Labor Secretary Julie Su flew to Seattle</a> to help mediate discussions, leading to the accepted offer.The union didn't win a return to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-terrible-24-hours-turnaround-analysts-union-vote-production-backlog-2024-10">traditional pension plan</a> lost in 2014 negotiations — a key point for many on the picket lines — but did secure numerous improvements to the 401(k) plan.Despite the arduous process and heated negotiations, it resulted in another strong pay rise for union members. That may only grow more common as workers find inspiration from others' victories, something noted by the president of the Boeing union."A contract like this sends an inspiring message to all workers in the United States who are seeking to join unions or who have been shortchanged by their employer," said IAM International President Brian Bryant.

Boeing machinists' bumper pay packet is just the latest win for unionized workers

No expert committee has been set up for extending <keyword id="19923745" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-benefits" source="keywords">health benefits</keyword> to cover citizens aged 70 and above under <keyword id="19913233" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ayushman-Bharat" source="keywords">Ayushman Bharat</keyword>, <keyword id="22556022" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Minister-of-State-for-Health" source="keywords">Union Minister of State for Health</keyword> Prataprao Jadhav told the Lok Sabha on Friday. He was responding to a question on whether the government proposed to cover citizens aged 70 and above by expanding Ayushman Bharat through the launch of a <keyword id="21782708" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Health-Claims-Exchange" source="keywords">national health claims exchange</keyword> and if an expert panel had been set up to strengthen the format of the scheme for the planned expansion. Jadhav, in a written reply, said all members of eligible families, irrespective of age, were covered under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. The scheme provides <keyword id="19894985" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="health-insurance" source="keywords">health insurance</keyword> cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 55 crore individuals, corresponding to 12.34 crore families, he said. "No expert committee has been set up for extending the health benefits to cover <keyword id="19894991" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="senior-citizens" source="keywords">senior citizens</keyword> aged 70 and above," he stated. Responding to another question, Jadhav said 34 insurers and third-party administrators were live and approximately 300 hospitals ramping up to start sending their claims on the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), which aims to streamline and fasten health <keyword id="35450" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Insurance" source="Orion">insurance</keyword> claim processing, as on July 21. Jadhav said the government built the NHCX gateway under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. It aims to streamline and standardise health insurance claim processing, enhance efficiency in the insurance industry and improve patient experience. It serves as a gateway for exchanging health claim information among insurers, third party audit, healthcare providers, beneficiaries and other relevant entities and ensures interoperability, machine-readability, auditability and verifiability, making the information exchange accurate and trustworthy, the minister said. This system will enhance efficiency and transparency in the insurance industry, benefiting policyholders and patients, he added. Supported by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India and the General Insurance Council, the NHCX will enable standardised and faster health insurance claim processing, Jadhav said.

No panel formed for extending benefits to cover citizens above 70 under Ayushman Bharat, says govt

With Indians rushing to file their ITRs ahead of the July 31st deadline that's coming up tomorrow, did you know that residents of just one Indian state are exempt from filing <keyword id="19901478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="income-tax" source="keywords">income tax</keyword> returns, or paying taxes at all? Yes, <keyword id="19903425" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sikkim" source="keywords">Sikkim</keyword> is the only state in the country where the residents do not have to pay income tax. But why is that the case? Let's delve into it. An erstwhile princely kingdom for almost 333 years prior to its amalgamation, Sikkim merged into independent India in 1975, thereby becoming the country's 22nd state. But this happened on one condition- that it will be allowed to continue with its old <keyword id="21152786" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tax-laws" source="keywords">tax laws</keyword> post the merger. Sikkim has its own income tax manual, which stipulated that no resident of Sikkim was to pay taxes to the center. Hence, honoring the merger agreement, the Indian government granted a special tax exemption to Sikkimese residents from Indian income tax regulations. This changed in 2008, when the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union budget</keyword> repealed the state's tax laws. However, to maintain the exemption status enjoyed by the state's residents, it inserted section 10 (26AAA). Under this section, any income generated by a Sikkimese, be it from a source within the state, or by way of dividend or interest on securities, would be tax-exempt. At present, any individual who has been domiciled (noted as having fixed, principal and permanent residence) in Sikkim as of April 26, 1975 would be considered a Sikkimese, and hence, exempt from paying income tax. As per data from PRS Legislative Research, the state's estimated own tax revenue for 2023-24 stood at Rs 1,727 crore. However, if a Sikkimese has rental income from properties situated outside of the state, or has an income from source that is not located in Sikkim, it will be subject to relevant taxes. Nevertheless, the provisions of tax exemptions would not apply to any Sikkimese woman, who marries a non-Sikkimese or an outsider, on or after April 1, 2008. Market regulator SEBI has also exempted residents of Sikkim from mandatorily having a PAN card for investing in Indian stock markets, equities, cash market and even mutual funds. <h2>Decoding Section 10 (26) of the IT Act</h2>All these income-tax exemptions also extend to a few other regions in the country, but only if you are a member of the scheduled tribes. Section 10(26) of the Income Tax Act applies to Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and <keyword id="19919396" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tripura" source="keywords">Tripura</keyword>, along with the North Cashar hills district, Karbi Anglang district, Chakma district, Mara district, and Lai District. Simply put, it stipulates that if you belong to the scheduled tribes and generate any income, the source of which lies in the above mentioned regions, or by way of dividend or interest on securities, your income would be tax-exempt. But any income generated outside of these regions would be taxable.

Did you know about the only Indian state exempt from paying any income tax? Know all about it here

Union Finance Minister <keyword id="129243" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="Orion">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Saturday morning chaired a <keyword id="20255269" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pre-budget-meeting" source="keywords">pre-budget meeting</keyword> with Finance Ministers of all States and Union Territories. The Pre-Budget Meeting is organised by the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs with Finance Ministers of all the States and Union Territories (with Legislature) to take suggestions for the upcoming <keyword id="20387181" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024-25" source="keywords">Union Budget 2024-25</keyword>. Ministers of State along with other stakeholders are participating in the meeting and visuals showed Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, and finance minister of Rajasthan Diya Kumari at the Bharat Mandapam venue before the meeting commenced this morning. The Union Finance Ministry had begun consultations on the budget a few days ago with different stakeholders of economy. Sitharaman has met economists, finance and capital market experts and industry bodies. Sitharaman chaired the first pre-budget consultations with leading economists on June 19. The meeting was attended by Union minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, the finance secretary, secretaries of the departments of economic affairs, revenue, financial services and corporate affairs and the chief economic adviser. Meanwhile, Sitharaman will also chair the 53rd <keyword id="19922145" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Goods-and-Services-Tax" source="keywords">Goods and Services Tax</keyword> (GST) Council Meeting scheduled in the second half of the day. This is the first meeting of the <keyword id="19994390" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="GST-Council" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="GST Council" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="GST Council">GST council</keyword> after the formation of the new government. State finance ministers will also be present at the 53rd meeting of the Goods and Services Tax Council. As is the norm, the GST Council gets together to discuss issues pertaining to the GST regime, such as tax rates, modifications to policies, and administrative challenges. The Council is a key player in shaping India's indirect tax system, making sure that it facilitates company and citizen tax relief while also being in line with the country's economic objectives. The information on the agenda of Council meeting is not yet in public domain. However, the decisions and recommendations arising from the 53rd GST Council meeting will be closely watched by various stakeholders, including businesses, policymakers, and the general public, as they have the potential to influence taxation, trade, and overall dynamics. Goods and Services Tax was introduced in the country with effect from July 1, 2017, and states were assured compensation for loss of any revenue arising on account of the implementation of GST as per the provisions of the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 for five years. Meanwhile, preparation has commenced for the Union budget 2024-25, the first for the third term of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led <keyword id="22141478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Democratic-Alliance-government" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="National Democratic Alliance government" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="National Democratic Alliance government">National Democratic Alliance government</keyword>.

Union Finance Minister Sitharaman chairs pre-budget meeting with finance ministers of states, UTs; GST Council to meet later today

Photos show the biggest moments from the State of the Union

Highlights from Biden's fiery State of the Union address

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Joe Biden is set to give his third State of the Union address on Thursday.</li><li>He needs the speech more than he ever has before.</li></ul>President <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-net-worth-lifestyle-real-estate-family-wealth-assets-2020-1">Joe Biden</a> may never have a moment like this again.On Thursday, Biden is set to deliver his State of the Union address to what could be his largest audience before Election Day. Polling indicates he'll speak to a nation that not only is skeptical of some of his policies but also questions his ability to physically do the job. The special counsel Robert Hur's recent conclusion about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/special-counsel-report-biden-age-poor-memory-reason-no-charges-2024-2">Biden's memory</a> (a finding Biden has strongly disputed) has elevated concerns about the president's standing.No matter what Biden has accomplished as president, he has yet to assuage Americans' worries that he can fulfill what one of former President Ronald Reagan's biographers deemed "the role of a lifetime." Fairly or unfairly, every flub, gaffe, and stumble is taken as further evidence of the thesis that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-age-2020-election-voters-too-old-presidency-trump-2024-3">Biden can't perform his duties</a>.In this sense, Biden's speech comes with additional pressure. Regardless of whether he addresses questions about his age directly, the topic is set to loom over the evening, just as it has for most of his first term.It's an undeniable fact that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2023/27-3-million-watched-the-2023-state-of-the-union-address/#:~:text=NEW%20YORK%20%E2%80%93%20February%208%2C%202023,to%2010%3A22%20PM%20ET.&amp;text=73%25%20of%20viewers%20were%20aged%2055%20and%20older.">fewer Americans watch the speech</a> than a generation ago, according to Nielsen's historical ratings that go back to 1993. But even in the peak streaming era, the address remains one of the few events that tens of millions of Americans still watch live, a distinction that's almost exclusively shared with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-tv-ratings-playoffs-super-bowl-streaming-broadcast-americans-culture-2024-2">NFL football games</a>. Usually, an incumbent president running for reelection could also bank on the fall debates. As of now, it <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-trump-presidential-debates-election-clash-2024-2">remains unclear</a> whether a debate will happen this fall. On Wednesday, Trump distanced himself from the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/04/14/rnc-debates-commission/">Republican National Committee's previous withdrawal</a> from the nonprofit organization that has hosted every presidential debate since 1988. Trump wrote on his social-media platform that he was calling for debates "ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!"The State of the Union is not an explicit campaign speech.Unlike Biden, most incumbent presidents delivered their addresses far earlier in the primary calendar. After former UN Ambassador <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nikki-haley-wsj-drops-out-2024-race-leaving-only-trump-2024-2">Nikki Haley's decision to drop out</a> of the GOP race, both the Democratic and the Republican primaries are now effectively over. Timing aside, presidents preparing for November have used the address to extoll their achievements and frame the broad outlines of their reelection campaigns.Fellow Democrats have, in the words of <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DanaBashCNN/status/1765172810068951084?s=20">Sen. Elizabeth Warren</a> of Massachusetts, urged Biden to "brag more" about his record. It makes sense then that you'll probably hear him talk about the major bipartisan bills he's signed into law on infrastructure, domestic superconductor production, and gun control.But bragging more may not be enough.Polling suggests Americans are deeply unhappy with the Biden administration's handling of immigration. Despite the economy showing signs of improvement, a recent <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/voters-are-more-upbeat-on-economy-but-biden-gets-little-benefit-wsj-poll-shows-8e608db8">Wall Street Journal poll</a> found that only 40% of respondents approved of Biden's handling of the issue.Sen. Bernie Sanders privately offered slightly different advice, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/03/06/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-2024/">The Washington Post</a> reported. Sanders urged Biden to confront this reality not by trying to sell his record more but by pointing out how big business and other boogeymen were trying to thwart his agenda, the Post said.The White House communications director, Ben LaBolt, said Biden would tout his economic record."I think the president is going to make the case that we've rebuilt the strongest economy in the world and done it in a way that benefited the average American," LaBolt told CNN on Wednesday evening. "Wages are up. Inflation is down by two-thirds. Fifteen million jobs have been created, more jobs than under any president or any administration."Biden is also facing pressures within his own party over his handling of Israel's response to Hamas' October 7 terrorist attack. Some progressives have promoted a campaign urging Democrats <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-uncommitted-campaign-north-carolina-minnesota-2024-3">to vote "uncommitted"</a> as an unmistakable sign that they're unhappy with Biden's position on the war.Thursday night's speech will not be the end of any of these discussions. But now that his 2024 campaign has essentially begun, Biden will have the opportunity to lay out his vision for what's ahead.He needs this moment more than he ever has before.

The State of the Union is Biden's biggest moment before the election

<ul class="summary-list"><li>President Joe Biden delivered the most political State of the Union in recent memory.</li><li>He repeatedly tore into Donald Trump, criticizing "my predecessor" throughout the high-energy speech.</li></ul>President <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-net-worth-lifestyle-real-estate-family-wealth-assets-2020-1">Joe Biden</a> delivered a State of the Union unlike any in recent memory. He tore into former President Donald Trump, lighting into his predecessor over his handling of issues as varied as the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration, gun control, and China.Biden seized what may be his <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/state-of-the-union-is-bidens-biggest-moment-before-election-2024-3">largest audience</a> of the election to make the opening argument in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-versus-biden-election-polling-trump-has-upper-hand-2024-3">rematch</a> that's likely to be uglier and more costly than the 2020 showdown. It didn't even cost his campaign a penny, though he already has more money stockpiled than Trump.Biden referenced "my predecessor" about a dozen times throughout his roughly 67-minute speech. Speaker <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mike-johnson-personal-finances-net-worth-stocks-debt-house-speaker-2023-10">Mike Johnson</a> could be seen rolling his eyes and deeply sighing numerous times throughout the address.When Republicans in the House chamber pushed back at times, Biden welcomed their jeers and boos."Oh no, you guys don't want another $2 trillion tax cut? I kind of thought that was what your plan was," Biden said to shouts of "liar" as he described the GOP's future tax plans. "Well, that's good to hear."Biden's White House communications director later confirmed that <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/WHCommsDir/status/1765938973262713053">getting under the GOP's skin</a> was part of the point, in reference to Biden's attacks on Trump's signature tax law.The president was unsparing in his criticism of Trump. He said Trump's pandemic response showed he didn't care about Americans."My predecessor failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to the American people, the duty to care," Biden said. "I think that's unforgivable."Trump wasted little time to vent his fury."That may be the Angriest, Least Compassionate, and Worst State of the Union Speech ever made," he wrote on Truth, his social-media platform. "It was an Embarrassment to our Country!"Fellow Republicans responded to Biden by taking their gripes to social media."That was by far the most disastrous State of the Union address I've ever witnessed — in my 52 years on this planet," Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, wrote on X.Biden also called out Trump's recent comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said during a February rally that as president, he told NATO allies he would <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-nato-withdraw-congress-defense-bill-2023-12">"encourage" Russia to invade</a> them if their nations hadn't spent the necessary funds on their own defense to meet the alliance's benchmark."My message to Putin is simple: We will not walk away. I will not bow down," Biden said.

Biden turned his State of the Union into an anti-Trump blitz

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Both Harris and Trump are courting the union vote, as blue-collar workers are key in swing states.</li><li>Experts told Business Insider that a Harris-Walz presidency would be much better for unions.</li></ul>On Wednesday, vice presidential nominee <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-vice-president-tim-walz-career-facts-2024-8#tim-walz-was-born-in-rural-west-point-nebraska-in-1964-1">Tim Walz</a> spoke to a group of firefighter union members and said that Kamala Harris would protect their rights far more than her opponent.On Thursday, vice presidential nominee <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jd-vance-donut-shop-video-comment-georgia-2024-8">JD Vance</a> stood before the same crowd and said that when it came to worker protections, Trump was the way to go.The Democratic and Republican tickets are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-jd-vance-kamala-harris-tim-walz-union-support-2024-8">each courting the union vote</a> aggressively this election as blue-collar workers are a crucial voting bloc in battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Union membership <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/2023-year-of-the-strike-unions-sag-aftra-uaw-2023-12">fell to an historic low</a> last year, but a <a target="_blank" href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/12751/labor-unions.aspx">recent Gallup poll</a> found that support for unions is at a near record high, with 70% of Americans approving.Though union members have historically been loyal Democrats, Trump has made inroads with rank-and-file members, stoking fears that a once-stable demographic is slipping away."The Democratic Party in 2016 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-hillary-clinton-wisconsin-rally-dnc-message-2024-8">took the worker vote for granted</a>," Robert Forrant, a labor historian, said. "They just thought it was a given that voters, that working class voters and union voters, would stay true to the Democratic Party. It doesn't work that way anymore."While most of the major unions have endorsed Harris, the influential Teamsters and International Association of Fire Fighters haven't yet thrown their support behind a candidate. And endorsements aside, rank-and-file members are more than welcome to buck their leadership when it comes to voting.For all the focus on wooing the working class this election, Harris and Trump presidencies would mean <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/obama-harris-trump-dnc-speech-economy-inequality-wealth-tax-cuts-2024-8">very different things for union members</a>, experts told Business Insider. They agreed that a Harris-Walz administration would support organized labor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-comments-musk-strike-could-hurt-him-swing-states-2024-8">far more than a Trump-Vance White House</a>.Experts stressed the importance of the National Labor Relations Board, the independent federal agency that oversees labor relations and protects workers' rights. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-administration-wants-good-jobs-fair-pay-touring-swing-states-2024-6">Presidents get to appoint </a>a general counsel and board members, who together decide what issues to prioritize and investigate."Those really swing back and forth from one administration to the next," Harry Holzer, the former chief economist at the US Department of Labor and a professor of public policy at Georgetown University, said of the appointments. "They are like the Supreme Court of labor law. Their interpretations and where they choose to do investigations — that matters a lot."Holzer said that the Biden-Harris appointees were significantly more pro-union and willing to investigate claims of labor law violations compared to Trump's."Broadly, the NLRB during Trump narrowed the scope of unions and union protections, and under Biden either those decisions were reversed and the role of unions was restored, or in some cases further expanded," Deborah Kobes, a senior fellow at Urban Institute's Center on Labor, Human Services, Population, told Business Insider.Kobes said that Trump's appointments restricted union elections, on-site picketing, and how dues are collected. She also noted that the Biden administration increased funding for the NLRB and significantly raised the re-hiring rate for illegally fired workers.Though Biden has a longstanding relationship with unions and the working class— he's been known as "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.notus.org/harris-2024/kamala-harris-has-a-scranton-problem">Scranton Joe</a>" throughout his years in the Senate and White House — Harris doesn't benefit from the same history. Still, experts said that she has a solid pro-union record and anticipate that she will enact relatively similar policies as the president."In the spirit of how they think about the role of the labor movement and the right to collective bargaining, there is no daylight," said Sharon Block, a board member of the NLRB under Barack Obama and current executive director at the Center for Labor and a Just Economy at Harvard Law School. Block said that Harris' decision to choose <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-walz-midwest-fashion-experts-harris-campaign-2024-8">Walz, a former union member</a>, as her running mate also signals her focus on workers' rights.As a Senator, Harris worked to strengthen protections for workers in extreme heat and, as Vice President, briefly chaired a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/07/harris-blue-collar-labor-detroit-00173066">task force focused on worker empowerment</a>. In her role as chair, she spearheaded an effort to loosen federal barriers to organizing, which Block said indicates that "she believes strongly in the right to collective bargaining."Trump focuses on worker protections rhetorically — he's been saying he wants to support American labor at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/27/business/trump-labor-record/index.html">rallies since September</a> — but experts are skeptical that his policies align with his words.As president, he passed a series of executive orders that limited collective bargaining among federal workers that Biden quickly reversed, Forrant said. Several experts pointed out that neither he nor Vance support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, a piece of legislation that is stalled in the Senate and considered the crown jewel of pro-union labor efforts."It really sets out its goal explicitly about being intended to expand various labor protections related to employees, rights to organize and to collectively bargain in the workplace," Kobes said. "It includes a variety of provisions that really would work towards that, whether it's prohibiting companies from holding required anti-union meetings, to establishing penalties for companies that violate worker rights."Holzer and Forrant both said that the PRO Act is the top legislative priority for the labor movement. Harris supports the law, which is also included in the Democratic Party's platform. Beyond NLRB appointments and the PRO Act, Holzer said that the Biden-Harris administration has turned pro-union stances into legislation like the infrastructure bill.Trump also has policies that are not explicitly related to unions but nonetheless impact members. Holzer said some of his economic policies moving forward risk eroding union power — the proposed tariffs would likely be inflationary and recessionary, and the mass deportations would generally upend the economy."Most economists would say the things Trump thinks are good for the union workers really are not because they're bad for the economy, bad for the labor market," Holzer told Business Insider.The strength of organized labor ripples beyond union members as well, as Kobes said lots of evidence suggests that increasing their wages also increases non-union wages.Overall, the experts Business Insider spoke to concluded that a Harris administration would be better for union workers, and some said that a second Trump term could be worse than a first for workers' rights."There were at least a few guardrails in the first Trump administration," Holzer said. "I think those would likely be gone, both on domestic policy and foreign policy."He fears that NLRB appointments will be more "punitive" and that Trump might engage in "retribution" against the union leaders supporting Harris."I think we also have to remember that union members still overwhelmingly voted for President Biden and I have no reason to think that Vice President Harris won't do as well or better with union members in this election," Block said. "She is running as part of an administration that fairly calls itself the most pro-union administration in history, or at least since the Roosevelt administration."Despite their assessments, Trump maintains a hold on some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-middle-class-jd-vance-tim-walz-are-targeting-2024-8">rank-and-file members</a> for reasons both cultural and economic."People haven't done enough nitty-gritty polling, but my suspicion is some of it is connected to religion, to Evangelical voters who are union members and workers, but also vote with respect to cultural issues, religion, abortion, things like that," Forrant said. "I think that an element of Donald Trump's appeal also comes from the very hard line he takes on immigration."

What would a Harris and Trump presidency each mean for union workers?

The <keyword id="19895876" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Election-Commission-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Election Commission of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Election Commission of India">Election Commission of India</keyword> (ECI) has officially announced the schedules for the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, setting the stage for crucial state elections next month. Here’s what voters in these states can expect: <h2>Maharashtra: Single-phase voting on November 20</h2>Maharashtra will head to the polls in a single phase on November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23. This election will see a high-stakes contest between two major coalitions: the <keyword id="19924537" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maha-Vikas-Aghadi" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maha Vikas Aghadi" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Maha Vikas Aghadi">Maha Vikas Aghadi</keyword> (MVA) and the <keyword id="21555670" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maha-Yuti-Alliance" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Maha Yuti Alliance" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Maha Yuti Alliance">Maha Yuti Alliance</keyword>. The MVA consists of <keyword id="19905331" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uddhav-Thackeray" source="keywords">Uddhav Thackeray</keyword>'s Shiv Sena (UBT), the <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword>, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under Sharad Pawar. Meanwhile, the Maha Yuti Alliance brings together the <keyword id="19931558" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bharatiya Janata Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bharatiya Janata Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP), Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP. This intense battle for control over the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly follows the end of the current term on November 26. The model code of conduct has come into immediate effect in Maharashtra, guiding political parties on appropriate campaigning practices and ensuring fair elections. <h2>Jharkhand: Two-phase voting on November 13 and 20</h2>In Jharkhand, voting will occur in two phases: the first on November 13 and the second on November 20. The results will be declared on November 23, alongside Maharashtra’s. This election focuses on the 81-seat Assembly, with a fierce competition expected between the ruling <keyword id="20028356" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jharkhand-Mukti-Morcha" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Jharkhand Mukti Morcha" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Jharkhand Mukti Morcha">Jharkhand Mukti Morcha</keyword> (JMM)-Congress alliance and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes the BJP, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), and Janata Dal (United). Jharkhand’s current Assembly term expires on January 5, 2025. The elections will feature 29,562 polling stations across urban and rural areas to accommodate the state’s 2.6 crore registered voters. This diverse electorate includes 66.84 lakh young voters and 11.84 lakh first-time voters, with special arrangements for 3.67 lakh persons with disabilities. <h2>Pre-election preparations</h2>The ECI’s preparations for the elections began in September, with teams visiting both states to assess readiness. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, alongside Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, met with local officials, district collectors, and political representatives to evaluate logistical arrangements and security measures. In Maharashtra, the Maha Yuti Alliance and the MVA have been ramping up their efforts to secure <keyword id="23060079" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-support" source="keywords">voter support</keyword> in what is expected to be a dramatic electoral showdown. In Jharkhand, the ruling JMM, which is part of the INDIA bloc, is eyeing another term despite recent controversies surrounding Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who faced legal challenges earlier this year. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance remains strong, as the party is expected to contest all 81 seats in the Assembly. (With inputs from agencies)

ECI Announces election schedules for Maharashtra and Jharkhand; both states to vote in November

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Teamsters last week declined to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential race.</li><li>It's a stunning decision given Kamala Harris' strong pro-union stance on key issues.</li></ul>The Teamsters last week declined to back Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump, marking the first time since 1996 that the union has not endorsed a presidential candidate.It came as a shock to many Democrats. The Biden administration is strongly allied with organized labor and helped shore up the Teamsters pension fund <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/12/08/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-historic-relief-to-protect-hard-earned-pensions-of-hundreds-of-thousands-of-union-workers-and-retirees/#:~:text=Today%2C%20joined%20by%20Teamster%20President,earned%20pensions%20of%20over%20350%2C000">to the tune of roughly $36 billion</a>.Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was none too pleased with the Teamsters' non-endorsement and expressed her dissatisfaction with the leadership of Sean O'Brien, the union's president."I'm very disappointed in Sean O'Brien's leadership," the New York Democratic lawmaker told CNN's Manu Raju last week. "I have found it increasingly alarming all year.""When the Teamsters are in trouble, who do they call when we need to make sure that Teamsters pensions are bailed out? ... It was Sean O'Brien calling Democrats for help," she continued.Ocasio-Cortez's remarks reveal just how much unions will matter in this election — especially with organizing and turnout efforts. And the consequential decision from the Teamsters has only heightened the efforts of both parties to make their case to rank-and-file members.<h2 id="4d85b5d1-4544-41c4-82a7-53d3384ac473">The Teamsters divide</h2>O'Brien last week <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4887442-teamsters-union-endorsement-sean-obrien/">told The Hill</a> that the Teamsters won't back Harris or Trump because the union "couldn't get commitments on our issues" from either candidate.In a CNN interview, O'Brien hit back at Ocasio-Cortez, saying the congresswoman "should maybe get into her district where it voted far-right Republican."O'Brien was referring to what he said were the results of union membership polling in her 14th Congressional district, where he said members overwhelmingly backed Trump.When Biden was still the presumptive Democratic nominee earlier this year, he edged out Trump via in-person straw polls among members (44.3% to 36.3%), <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://teamster.org/2024/09/teamsters-release-presidential-endorsement-polling-data/">according to the Teamsters</a>. But in a national electronic poll that was open from from July 24 through September 15, Trump held an advantage (59.6% to 34%) over Harris among union members.In a separate union survey, Trump also led Harris — this time 58% to 31%.O'Brien later said of Ocasio-Cortez: "She may want to focus on her job instead of mine."Shortly after O'Brien's CNN interview, Ocasio-Cortez responded to the union leader, arguing that Teamsters in her district were lined up behind Harris and her vice-presidential running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz."The NY-14 Teamsters mentioned here have actually voted overwhelmingly to endorse Harris-Walz. Just as Teamsters in Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania have, too," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/AOC/status/1836816083858116716">she said on X</a>. "It's a big thing to be wrong about. So let's set the record straight: Teamsters Local 202 are all in for Harris."The congresswoman attached a letter from the New York City-based Teamsters Local Union No. 202, which said its executive board "unanimously" backed Harris and Walz.After O'Brien's announcement last week, a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid032b44mPxVu8DXhc2cwQm5rfcruMJYzMr6Y8fCU8JZfPWymWz9j4QJomGFwbTEdc3Tl&amp;id=100090106275788">slew of Teamsters regional councils</a> — which include thousands of members and retirees in key states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — threw their support behind Harris.<h2 id="61bc2a3f-aa15-4d1a-ada3-f4365d85e18b">The Upper Midwest will be critical in November</h2>James P. Hoffa, who was the president of the Teamsters for 23 years before his retirement in 2022, said in a statement that the union's non-endorsement was a "critical error.""There is only one candidate in this race that has supported working families and unions throughout their career," he said. "And that is Vice President Kamala Harris."<div type="image" title="Kamala Harris" height="2667" width="4000" msid="113578088" hostid="261" sizebytes="73256"></div>Trump, who is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-us-economy-would-look-like-with-trump-biden-presidency-2024-5">seeking to win over more union members</a> this year, took a victory lap after the O'Brien announcement."The Teamsters carry a lot of weight," the ex-president told reporters last week. "The Democrats cannot believe it. Look, it was always automatic that Democrats get the Teamsters, and they said, 'We won't endorse the Democrats this year,' so that was an honor for me."The tug of war for union support reflects the high stakes for both candidates, particularly in the Upper Midwest, where organized labor has long been a robust political force.Trump in 2016 won the presidency in part because of his appeal with a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/battleground-states-2024-presidential-election-road-white-house-2022-12">critical bloc of union households</a> in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — all swing states that are core parts of the Democratic "blue wall."The former president won all three states that year, but Biden flipped them back into the blue column in 2020.This year, both Trump and Harris are aiming to win these battleground states, with the ex-president touting his support for protectionist trade measures and the Democratic nominee stressing that her staunch support for labor would mirror that of Biden should she win the White House.

AOC's attack on Teamsters leadership shows just how much unions are going to matter in the presidential election

Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Parliament on Tuesday to approve the Union Budget ahead of its presentation by <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword>. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Parliament this morning to attend the cabinet meeting. On Monday, Prime Minister said the Economic Survey highlighted the prevailing strengths of the economy and identifies areas for further growth and progress as the government "moves towards building a Viksit Bharat". Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Pralhad Joshi were also seen arriving in the Parliament earlier for the Cabinet meeting today. At 11 am, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the <keyword id="20387181" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024-25" source="keywords">Union Budget 2024-25</keyword>. Earlier today, Sitharaman met with President Droupadi Murmu before leaving for Parliament. This would mark Sitharaman's seventh consecutive budget and eclipses the late Moraji Desai's record of six consecutive budgets, which is likely to focus on changes in the income tax structure and improving the ease of doing business in India. Addressing the media, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary earlier said that the first Union Budget of the third Modi government will be based on his mantra of "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas". Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that this budget would accelerate the country's economic growth. "The economic growth that happened under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this budget and this Budget will further accelerate it. The budget that will be presented today by Nirmala ji will also help our country, which is the fastest-growing economy," Pralhad Joshi said while speaking to the media on the Parliament premises on Tuesday. The budget session of Parliament began on July 22 and, according to schedule, will end on August 12. On Monday, the economic survey presented in Parliament by finance minister Sithraman stated that in the medium term, the Indian economy can grow at a rate of 7 per cent. The economic survey stated, "In the medium term, the Indian economy can grow at a rate of 7 per cent plus on a sustained basis if we build on the structural reforms undertaken over the last decade. This requires a tripartite compact between the Union Government, State Governments and the private sector. "The survey further added that India faces a unique blend of opportunities and challenges amid global trends such as geo-economic fragmentation, a push for self-reliance, looming climate change, the rise of technology, and limited policy space. (ANI) SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi arrives in Parliament ahead of Budget 2024 presentation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/expectations-from-union-budget-2024-25-how-will-this-budget-impact-you/articleshow/111946291.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024-25: Focus on employment, skilling, MSME and middle class</a>

Union Cabinet meets in Parliament ahead of Budget presentation

<ul class="summary-list"><li>On <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-watch-for-election-day-harris-trump-congress-2024-11">Election Day 2024</a>, both parties are eyeing their pathways to victory.</li><li>Vice President Kamala Harris is facing former President Donald Trump.</li></ul>Over the past two decades, the road to the White House — once dominated by Florida and Ohio — has evolved.While bellwethers like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin remain a critical part of the calculus for Democratic and Republican presidential nominees in reaching the 270 electoral vote threshold for victory, the Sun Belt region has also grown in importance.For Vice President <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a> and former President <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, who are facing each other in 2024 presidential election on Tuesday, every vote will be crucial in what is considered a tight race.Both campaigns have been targeting a narrow band of seven swing states to capture the White House: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.Democrats — who defied conventional political wisdom in 2022 by retaining their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/live-results-us-senate-midterm-elections-2022-11">Senate majority</a> and minimizing major losses in the House despite losing control of the lower chamber — are working hard to hold the White House as they face voter unease over the economy and pushback over the Israel-Hamas war.Before President Joe <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-dropping-out-presidential-race-2024-7">Biden dropped out</a> of the race for reelection in July 2024, Republicans believed that he would be a liability for Democrats. But the GOP's political calculus for the race evolved after the emergence of Harris as the Democratic nominee.And Republicans have had myriad struggles over the last two years as their stewardship of the House has not exactly worked out how they had hoped. They elected a speaker (<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kevin-mccarthy-lost-speakership-cbs-interview-angered-democrats-votes-2023-10">Kevin McCarthy</a> of California) who was subsequently removed and have struggled to enact an agenda under a new speaker (Mike Johnson of Louisiana) with a razor-thin majority. The series of events created a "chaos" narrative around the party, which doesn't help at the top of the ticket.The GOP must also contend with the toxicity of Trump's political brand among a sizable contingent of voters, especially among suburbanites and Independents who are likely to decide the election.One major issue that has continued to weigh down Republican candidates is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/abortion-rights-ohio-virginia-kentucky-elections-gop-roe-v-wade-2023-11">abortion rights</a>, especially as voters in an array of states have rejected several anti-abortion measures following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Democrats have won big in urban and suburban districts over the issue — from congressional races to local elections — and they've even made inroads in some GOP-leaning areas where blocs of Republicans support some form of abortion rights.Trump has been eager to take credit for installing three conservative justices on the Supreme Court, and in April 2024 he stated that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-said-abortion-bans-should-be-left-states-2024-4">abortion was now an issue to be determined in the states</a>, frustrating many conservatives who have sought a national abortion ban.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/streaming/where-to-watch-election-results-live-stream-2024">Election results</a> are set to start coming in on Tuesday night, but it could take days before a winner is called.Here's what to know about the seven battleground states that will ultimately determine who wins the race.<h2 id="898f6da7-6aef-4802-9d80-a0b3bf74da20">Arizona</h2>2012 margin: Romney +9.0%2016 margin: Trump +3.5%2020 margin: Biden +0.3%Between 1952 and 2016, Arizona backed the Republican presidential nominee in every election except for 1996 — when then-President Bill Clinton won the state over former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole by a little over 2 points.Long associated with Barry Goldwater, the conservative political icon who was the Republican presidential nominee in 1964, the Grand Canyon State for decades had a decidedly red lean in federal races.But as the population of Arizona has swelled, its political orientation has also shifted.In 2012, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney easily won the state over then-President Barack Obama, but former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton whittled the GOP margin of victory down to just under 4 points in 2016.Biden, buoyed by gains among the state's burgeoning <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/young-latino-educated-voters-helped-biden-flip-arizona-trump-election-2020-11">Latino population</a>, narrowly won the state over Trump in 2020 by a little under 11,000 votes out of nearly 3.4 million ballots.Democrats remain encouraged by their performance in Arizona in the 2022 midterms.Not only did Secretary of State Katie Hobbs defeat MAGA-infused <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/results-katie-hobbs-kari-lake-arizona-governor-election-2022-11">Kari Lake</a> in the gubernatorial race, but Sen. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/results-mark-kelly-blake-masters-arizona-senate-election-2022-11">Mark Kelly</a> won a full six-year term over Republican Blake Masters. Adrian Fontes was also elected to succeed Hobbs over state Rep. Mark Finchem, who repeatedly questioned the 2020 presidential election results.Harris will have to recreate a win in a state where Republicans have long been the dominant party. And Lake is now running in the state's marquee Senate race, where she's facing Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego.<h2 id="2db802c5-f372-4aac-a96d-982425694dbf">Georgia</h2>2012 margin: Romney +7.8%2016 margin: Trump +5.1%2020 margin: Biden +0.2%For decades, Republicans could easily depend on the Peach State's electoral votes falling into their column. No more.While GOP politicians were enjoying double-digit wins in statewide races, former Democratic state House Minority Leader <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stacey-abrams-bio-georgia-joe-biden-democrats-voter-registration-election-2020-11">Stacey Abrams</a> — who saw the possibility of a more politically competitive Georgia — worked behind the scenes to build a turnout organization that could rival that of the Republican Party.In 2018, Abrams came within 55,000 votes of winning that year's gubernatorial election.Two years later, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-biden-wins-georgia-democratic-party-south-presidential-election-2020-11">Biden won Georgia</a> by roughly 12,000 votes over Trump, followed by the dual <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/raphael-warnock-jon-ossoff-georgia-senate-shifting-demographics-religion-stimulus-2021-1">2021 runoff victories</a> of Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff over Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, respectively.The exponential growth of the Atlanta suburbs, driven by new Black, Asian, and Latino residents, has given the state a purple veneer — but the 2022 midterms also showed the limitations of Democratic gains.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/raphael-warnock-herschel-walker-georgia-senate-runoff-election-results-2022-12">Warnock won</a> a full six-year term in a December runoff after fending off a challenge from Republican Herschel Walker, becoming the only Democrat to win statewide in the midterms. But Walker, aided by robust support in the state's rural counties, still won 48.6% of the vote in the runoff, despite a candidacy that some Republicans saw as deeply flawed.And Republicans were victorious in every other statewide election, led by Gov. Brian Kemp, who defeated Abrams in a rematch of their 2018 contest by nearly 300,000 votes.This year, both parties will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/georgia-biden-trump-swing-state-election-atlanta-jump-ball-2024-4">have fought hard</a> to capture the state's 16 electoral votes: Democrats have focused heavily on turning out Black voters and suburban voters in metro Atlanta, while Republicans looked to boost their traditional support in the state's rural stretches.Translation: Georgia has remained on everyone's mind this year.<h2 id="746ed130-5944-4a3b-a75d-e8b8a536f565">Michigan</h2>2012 margin: Obama +9.5%2016 margin: Trump +0.2%2020 margin: Biden +2.8%Michigan has long been a critical part of the electoral calculus for Democrats, as they carried the state in every presidential race from 1992 to 2012 by appealing to voters in Detroit and its middle- and upper-middle-class suburbs, while also enjoying support among union households and moderates in the exurban and rural stretches of the state.But the party was stunned by Trump's narrow 2016 win in the longtime blue state, as the Republican made significant inroads with the base of white working-class voters who had been slowly drifting away from Democrats cycle after cycle.In 2020, the party put a premium on flipping the Wolverine State back into its column, which Biden did, winning by nearly 3 points over Trump.And in November 2022, Democrats in the state boasted some of their party's most impressive victories in the entire country.Gov. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/results-gretchen-whitmer-tudor-dixon-michigan-governor-election-2022-11">Gretchen Whitmer</a> won reelection by nearly 11 points, while state Attorney General Dana Nessel and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson easily won their races. The party also flipped control of both houses of the Michigan legislature, and a referendum enshrining reproductive rights into the state Constitution was approved by voters.Still, despite the Democratic wins, the state's 15 electoral votes have been a sought-after prize for both parties in 2024.A major caveat: Biden has faced enormous pushback from the state's Arab American community over his handling of the conflict in Gaza, which led more than 100,000 Michiganders to vote "uncommitted" instead of selecting the president in the March Democratic primary. It remains unclear how these voters will respond to Harris' candidacy.<h2 id="662fa2f3-defd-4355-9bae-934ddc230f86">Nevada</h2>2012 margin: Obama +6.7%2016 margin: Clinton +2.4%2020 margin: Biden +2.4%Democrats have been victorious on the presidential level in the Silver State since 2008, when Obama won by nearly 13 points, followed by his victory of nearly 7 points in 2012.But Clinton and Biden both won the state by a little over 2 points, as Republicans have seen the fast-growing Western state as one that can be flipped into their column, especially if they can make inroads in Democratic-heavy Clark County.In the 2022 midterms, Republicans got a huge boost in the state when their gubernatorial nominee, Clark County Sheriff <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/results-steve-sisolak-joe-lombardo-nevada-governor-election-2022-11">Joe Lombardo</a>, defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak.But Democrats also notched a major win by reelecting Sen. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/results-catherine-cortez-masto-adam-laxalt-nevada-senate-election-2022-11">Catherine Cortez Masto</a> to a second term over former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt, who had been strongly backed by Trump. And after state Democrats approved congressional maps that some in the party saw as especially risky in a GOP wave year, all three of the party's House incumbents — Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee — won their respective races.The ticket-splitting in the midterms once again showed the critical nature of Nevada in national politics. Both parties are looking to win the state in 2024, especially as the economy remains at the forefront of voters' minds.<h2 id="4e302a43-e844-46e3-b75c-b5be667c5284">North Carolina</h2>2012 margin: Romney +2.04%2016 margin: Trump +3.7%2020 margin: Trump +1.3%Since 1980, Republican presidential nominees have won North Carolina in virtually every election, with the exception being Obama's razor-thin 2008 victory over then-Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain.And no presidential candidate has secured a majority of the vote in North Carolina since Romney won 50.4% of the vote in 2012, making this once solidly-red presidential state a real battleground.Democrats have focused heavily on North Carolina this year, given the close nature of the results in 2020, as well as the fact that the party sees the state as one where they can appeal to its suburban electorate — a critical part of Biden's coalition four years ago.However, the GOP is banking on Trump's popularity in the state's rural regions, which could sway the statewide tally in the former president's favor if he's able to effectively turn out his supporters.And in addition to the presidential race is the highly-competitive gubernatorial contest between Democratic state Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, two well-known statewide figures who are angling to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.<h2 id="10b160e7-a52c-4e12-adfa-b0b6cf0da82c">Pennsylvania</h2>2012 margin: Obama +5.4%2016 margin: Trump +0.7%2020 margin: Biden +1.2%Biden's hometown of Scranton is dear to his heart so Pennsylvania was always going to be a key state for the party in 2024. And even with Biden out of the presidential race, the state remains just as critical for Democrats.Democrats carried Pennsylvania in every presidential race from 1992 to 2012, until Trump narrowly edged out Clinton in 2016, gaining support among the white working-class voters who populate the exurban and rural communities across the state.But Biden clawed back in 2020, boosted by strong returns in Philadelphia and its affluent suburbs, as well as a robust vote in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh.And in 2022, Democrats had a huge year in the state, electing Lt. Gov. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/results-john-fetterman-mehmet-oz-pennsylvania-us-senate-election-2022-11">John Fetterman</a> to the Senate to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Pat Toomey, while also electing state Attorney General <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/results-doug-mastriano-josh-shapiro-pennsylvania-governor-election-2022-11">Josh Shapiro</a> in a landslide to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.The party also regained control the state House of Representatives, winning back a majority they lost in the 2010 midterms.Despite the GOP losses, the party — keen on winning back some suburban voters and improving their margins in the state's rural outposts — has been making a major play for Pennsylvania this year.<h2 id="dc1790c5-fa2e-4bc3-8a48-8e88a92bbe00">Wisconsin</h2>2012 margin: Obama +6.9%2016 margin: Trump +0.8%2020 margin: Biden +0.6%Wisconsin is one of the most politically divided states in the country.Democratic presidential nominees Al Gore and John Kerry eked out statewide wins in 2000 and 2004, respectively, and Obama won the state easily in 2008 and 2012.But Trump flipped Wisconsin to the GOP in 2016, the first time it had supported a Republican presidential nominee since 1984.Democrats, stunned by the loss, regrouped and elected Tony Evers as governor in 2018 — knocking out onetime GOP star Scott Walker — while also reelecting Sen. Tammy Baldwin to a second term.Biden went on to narrowly win the state over Trump in 2020.And in November 2022, Evers was reelected to a second term over Republican businessman Tim Michels, while GOP Sen. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/results-ron-johnson-mandela-barnes-wisconsin-us-senate-election-2022-11">Ron Johnson</a> narrowly defeated then-Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes to earn a third term in the upper chamber.Both parties have been eyeing the Badger State — and looking to turn out their respective bases — in what will be another competitive race on the presidential level.

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