Given the salacious allegations against some of President Donald Trump's cabinet nominations, it is understandable how secretary of labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer has mostly flown under the radar. But from a policy perspective, Chavez-DeRemer's voting record is concerning—especially for those who value federalism and coercion-free workplaces.
For most of her political career, Chavez-DeRemer, who lost her Oregon congressional seat in November, has been a polarizing figure. The daughter of a Teamster, her soft spot for unions puts her at odds with her Republican colleagues and right-of-center groups. In a letter to the Senate, president of the National Right to Work Committee Mark Mix wrote that Chavez-DeRemer's judgment is "clearly compromised" and that she "must be rejected as the Secretary of Labor."
The other side of the aisle offers mixed reviews. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D–Mass.) called Chavez-DeRemer "a strong candidate for the job." Yet other Democrats—many of whom contributed to the $20 million campaign against Chavez-DeRemer's reelection bid—think she is "hardly" pro-union.
