The United Auto Workers has reached a tentative agreement with Ford, the union announced Wednesday night — a breakthrough that could signal an end to the strike against the automaker and create a path for the rest of the Big Three to come to terms with the union.

Such a breakthrough would come as a relief to the White House and Democrats representing car-producing regions, who had supported the workers’ demands even though some feared that an extended strike could harm the economy, sour public sentiment and hamstring their electoral prospects in 2024.