Julie Su, President Joe Biden's nomination for the next labor secretary, has faced an uphill confirmation battle.
Biden announced Su as his pick to replace Marty Walsh, former mayor of Boston, as labor secretary in February, saying she is a “tested and experienced leader” in a press statement.
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A number of Democrats have not publicly shown support for Su ahead of her confirmation hearing, which could be approaching a final vote soon, though no date has been scheduled. Resistance from two senators who caucus with Democrats could halt Su’s confirmation, as she needs at least 50 votes in the Senate, in which Democrats have a slim 51-49 hold over Republicans.
Jon Tester
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has yet to address whether he’ll cast his support for Su and has received heavy pushback from constituents.
A group of Montana business organizations sent a letter to Tester at the beginning of the month asking him to go against the nomination, citing Su’s anti-small business record. The letter states the organizations are “concerned” about a controversial California law Su may want to “nationalize,” which critics said harms people's freedom to work as independent contractors, dismantling the gig economy.
“Tester is reviewing her nomination and receiving feedback from Montanans,” Eli Cousin, press secretary for Tester, told the Washington Examiner.
Joe Manchin
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has been alluding to his possible opposition to Su’s nomination, taking a phone call earlier this month with the International Franchise Association, a trade group that believes Su is unqualified to serve as labor secretary.
The organization said in a press release that Su has been “hostile” to small businesses and “mismanaged” California’s unemployment insurance program during her role as head of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
Manchin met with Su on May 3, telling CNN reporters, “I thought about giving the opportunity to talk to her — at least get an understanding of what she's done,” emphasizing he hasn't made his decision yet.
Kyrsten Sinema
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who typically leans left, is another member who could decide the fate of Su’s looming confirmation.
In April, a group of business organizations in West Virginia and Arizona sent a letter urging Sinema to oppose Biden’s confirmation, once again pushing the senator to stand up for small businesses and noting Arizona hosts over “641,025 small businesses, employing 42.5% of the state’s workforce.”
The letter came as part of multiple pleas signed by 17 local business associations that were also sent to Tester and Manchin.
A spokesperson for Sinema said she does not share votes prior to hearings, according to CBS.
Su has faced backlash for her time at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, as Republicans openly criticize her handling of unemployment benefits during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Su advanced across party lines during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing at the end of April and is set to have her final nomination hearing in front of the full Senate in the near future.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Sinema and Manchin’s team for comment.