Staff Reports
The drumbeat of discord within the GOP is getting louder as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for labor secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, is generating mixed reactions. It seems that while some progressives are cheerleading her, many traditional Republicans are raising red flags, worried that she might just be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Chavez-DeRemer’s pro-union stance, especially her support for the PRO Act, has dug her into a bit of a trench with the conservative base that has historically viewed unions as the arch-nemesis of small businesses and free markets.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, an icon of the progressive left, is practically swooning over Chavez-DeRemer. The senator has expressed her hopes that the congresswoman from Oregon, despite losing her recent reelection bid, will strengthen labor unions. This would undoubtedly serve as a handy ammunition for the lefties who think it’s high time that people like Trump pay some respect to labor — as if the Republican Party hasn’t been bending over backwards for blue-collar workers thanks to Trump’s blue-state wins in places like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren with some praise for Trump’s pick Labor secretary Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer
“It’s a big deal that one of the few Republican lawmakers who have endorsed the PRO Act could lead the Department of Labor." pic.twitter.com/Xf03UliB78
— Filip Timotija (@filip_timotija) December 3, 2024
This unholy alliance isn’t sitting well with key GOP players. Some are outright aghast at the thought of a pro-union candidate heading up the Department of Labor. The Job Creators Network, led by CEO Alfredo Ortiz, has come out swinging, labeling the PRO Act a “Big Labor wish list” that undermines the rights of small businesses. Ortiz is among those who believe the GOP should stand firmly pro-worker but not hitch their wagon to unions that have a vested interest in restricting entrepreneurship and stiff-arming independent workers.
Meanwhile, the conservative National Review has joined the fray, dragging Chavez-DeRemer through the mud for not just supporting private sector unions but also government employee unions. They emphasize her role as a co-sponsor of the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, warning that she could usher in a blue-state model of governance to conservative red territories. This is precisely the kind of agenda that sends chills down the spines of conservative voters who prize individualism over collective bargaining.
The internal squabble escalates further as several Senate Republicans are taking a cautious approach. Even Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, who initially appeared open to discussion, indicated that he’d need more clarity on Chavez-DeRemer’s position on essential laws like the right-to-work statute. The rumbles of dissent aren’t just limited to the upper chambers; even members of the GOP looking to highlight economic growth are concerned about her ties to union-heavy legislation, sensing that the raucous bickering on the confirmation front will make for a tense couple of weeks.
Chavez-DeRemer may end up being the most divisive name in Trump’s cabinet, drawn into a coalition of unlikely supporters and critics. Seeing the likes of Randi Weingarten from the American Federation of Teachers publicly support her nomination adds to the awkwardness for conservative Senators. Warren has framed Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation as a litmus test, calling for Republican senators to choose sides: allegiance to worker empowerment or fidelity to corporate donors. The outcome of this nomination process could reshape not just Trump’s approach to labor issues, but the broader Republican identity as they navigate these choppy waters full of both promises and pitfalls.
