Republicans pushing hard for labor nominee who would further shrink their majority

Republican lawmakers, Trump administration officials and industry lobbyists are quietly pushing for Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) to become the next Labor secretary — but the effort is running into resistance from the White House.

Nearly 20 people familiar with the behind-the-scenes campaign told Politico that Moore has become the subject of an organized lobbying effort, and that the freshman congressman has privately expressed interest in the role, but the White House is signaling support for the man already in the job.

"Keith Sonderling is doing a great job serving as the acting Labor Secretary," spokesperson Taylor Rogers said, adding that any permanent nomination would be announced by the president directly.

Moore's backers argue he is uniquely suited for the role. A former welder and one of the few elected Republicans with genuine ties to organized labor, Moore has co-sponsored bipartisan workers' rights legislation and successfully moved to block a bill he argued would shortchange workers on overtime pay.

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-NY), who chairs the House Republican labor caucus, called Moore an outstanding potential pick, and having an aunt – Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) – as a sitting senator could help smooth his confirmation process.

But his elevation would carry a steep political cost. Republicans currently hold a razor-thin House majority, and losing Moore's seat — even temporarily — would tighten their margin further at a moment when several other vacancies are already straining the caucus.

Trump’s first Labor secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, was herself plucked from the House before a series of misconduct allegations ended her tenure after only months in office.

Any nominee would also face a potentially hostile gatekeeper in the Senate. HELP Committee chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who recently lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger, has signaled he intends to exercise independent judgment on presidential nominees going forward.