Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has been calling on behalf of former New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney to be the next labor secretary, urging the White House and labor leaders to support him, according to two sources familiar. with the calls
Maloney was a close ally of Pelosi during her five terms in Congress and chaired the House Democrats’ campaign arm in the 2022 election cycle. However, he lost his own seat to Republican Rep. Mike Lawler. During Maloney’s tenure on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the organization became unionized for the first time.
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh is expected to resign in the very near future to take over as leader of the National Hockey League Players Association, NBC News previously reported.
The White House has yet to confirm Walsh’s resignation. But multiple sources familiar with the matter say Julie Su, the former California labor secretary and now Walsh’s deputy, is the heavy favorite.
Su has experience working with Walsh for two years and would offer the White House the opportunity to elevate a member of the AAPI community to Cabinet.
“Other names are being mentioned, as there always will be. But it has to be Su,” said an official who works closely with management on union issues.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also told NBC News on Thursday that she thought Su would be an “excellent” choice.
In response to this story, a White House spokesperson said they had “no personnel announcements to make,” not even about Walsh.
Maloney declined to comment when asked about the labor secretary position. Pelosi’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Carol E. read and julie tsirkin contributed.