UAW Carter Mondale Region 10 Button, 1976-1980

In 1976, organized labor leaders worried about supporting Georgia governor and Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter--many Southern politicians were not friendly to union activities. Carter allayed those fears by choosing Walter Mondale, the liberal pro-union Minnesota senator, as his running mate. Four years later, though labor wanted a change, it eventually backed the incumbent--preferring Carter over Republican candidate, Ronald Reagan.