Democrats are warming up to some of President-elect Donald Trump‘s Cabinet picks, even as his controversial picks have been taking up the spotlight on Capitol Hill.
Trump’s pick to lead the Treasury Department, hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, appears to have some bipartisan appeal. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), a centrist member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee, said he had heard “some good things” about Bessent.
“I don’t always agree with his politics, but I think he’s smart,” Warner told Politico. “I think he’s capable.”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) called Trump’s selection of Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission “a strong choice” and indicated she is willing to support his nomination.
“He has the right experience and I think he’s a commissioner that would work well with Congress,” she told Politico.
“It’s genuinely surprising to watch Trump nominate picks for his economic team that appear to have support among Democrats but then some others that are absolute lunatics when it comes to defense and the DOJ,” a Democratic Senate staffer said on the condition of anonymity. “We are in for a wild ride the next four years.”
Several Democrats have praised Trump’s pick to lead the Labor Department, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR). She has positioned herself as an ally of labor and cosponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, a bill that would override “right-to-work” laws in states while strengthening workers’ ability to unionize.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said she looked forward to hearing more from 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,” Warren said. “If Chavez-DeRemer commits as labor secretary to strengthen labor unions and promote worker power, she’s a strong candidate for the job.”
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) also suggested he would be supportive of her nomination.
“Her track record would suggest she could be a good advocate,” he said, speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill this week.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) also said it was “smart” for Trump to nominate Chavez-DeRemer given the results of the last elections.
“I think that means that [Trump is] making a move to continue to grab even more votes out of the unions,” he said.
Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination could be more of a challenge among Republicans, with some already airing their concerns about her pro-union stances, such as Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who weighed in shortly after Chavez-DeRemer was nominated.
“I will need to get a better understanding of her support for Democrat legislation in Congress that would strip Louisiana’s ability to be a right to work state, and if that will be her position going forward,” he wrote on X.
I look forward to speaking with Chavez-DeRemer about her vision for DOL. I will need to get a better understanding of her support for Democrat legislation in Congress that would strip Louisiana’s ability to be a right to work state, and if that will be her position going forward.
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) November 23, 2024
Democrats have also made it clear that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), whom Trump nominated for secretary of state, will likely be easily confirmed. Many have also expressed approval for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Democrats’ support for many of these Cabinet picks comes as Trump’s more controversial choices have sucked up the oxygen in the nation’s capital. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s future is facing major uncertainty this week as he has struggled to shake allegations plaguing his nomination.
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A group of nearly 100 former senior intelligence and national security officials sent a letter to Senate leaders, expressing concern about Trump’s nomination of former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and urged senators to “carefully scrutinize” her nomination.
One of Trump’s picks, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was nominated for attorney general, withdrew from consideration after Senate Republicans expressed concerns. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister was also nominated to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration but withdrew from consideration earlier this week.
