Key Democratic supporters withdraw support for Julie Su, Biden’s nominee for Labor Secretary.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (W.Va.) expressed his opposition to the nomination of Julie Su as labor secretary, citing concerns about her “progressive background” hindering her ability to find common ground between labor and industry representatives.

Manchin stated that the labor secretary should possess the experience to lead both labor and industry in collaborative compromises that satisfy both parties. He further expressed worries that Su’s more progressive background might impede her in achieving this goal.

President Joe Biden nominated Su, a civil rights lawyer and former California labor commissioner, for the position of labor secretary in February. Su had previously served as California’s labor secretary.

Su’s tenure as California labor secretary was marked by controversy when she oversaw an estimated $31 billion in fraudulent unemployment payouts, resulting in a nearly $20 billion deficit in California’s unemployment insurance fund.

She was chosen to replace Marty Walsh, who left the post in March to head the National Hockey League players’ union. Su assumed the role of acting secretary upon Walsh’s departure.

With Democrats holding a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate, including the support of three independents, Su’s confirmation would require Republican backing if both Manchin and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who switched from being a Democrat to an independent in December, oppose her nomination.

The White House remains steadfast in its support for Su, emphasizing her qualifications, experience, and track record of advocating for American workers and the economy.

A spokesperson for Sinema declined to disclose her position on Su’s nomination.

In a recent development, Su played a key role in negotiating a significant contract agreement between U.S. West Coast seaport employers and a union representing 22,000 workers.

Su’s nomination has been pending since an April Senate committee vote, which saw party-line support for advancing her nomination.

Senator Bernie Sanders, who chaired Su’s confirmation hearing, praised her readiness to confront powerful special interests and champion the needs of the working class.

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub, Nandita Bose, and David Shepardson; Editing by Kanishka Singh and Jamie Freed)