Fain defeats challenger despite Justice Department investigation

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain won re-election with more than 68% of the vote as of Friday evening, easily defeating the closest challenger, Rich Boyer, who received just over 13%.

The union’s election of leadership for a four-year term began with mail-in ballots being sent out in late August 2026, and vote tabulation commenced on Oct. 6. Thirteen additional candidates on Fain’s slate, United UAW, also won their elections.

“The membership has spoken. UAW members are united and want us to keep fighting and building on what we’ve done,” Fain said in a statement on the win, citing upcoming contract negotiations at John Deere, Volvo and General Dynamics Land Systems in 2027 and the big three automaker contracts expiring on May Day in 2028.

“These results are about taking on corporate America and reversing the worst out-of-control wealth inequality in America’s history,” Fain added. “We are fighting for the entire working class, whether that’s at the bargaining table, organizing new members or in the political arena.”

The campaign period was marked by accusations of corruption and election interference. In July 2026, the Department of Justice announced it was investigating Fain over allegations that he pressured Boyer, another union official, to provide benefits to Fain’s fiancée and sister and then retaliated against Boyer when he refused to cooperate.

Fain denied the allegations and characterized them as an attempt to interfere in the election.

Fain first won election to serve as the union’s president as a reform candidate in March 2023.

He has clashed with the union’s independent monitor, Neil Barofsky, claiming the monitor was weaponized by Fain’s re-election opponent. The monitor was also accused of pressuring Fain over the UAW’s passage of a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Fain led the union during a roughly six-week strike in September 2023 through October 2023 at the big three automakers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis — and cited the companies’ stock buy-backs and record profits.

President Joe Biden joined the union on the picket line, the first sitting president to join a strike picket line.