Diversity Lacking as AFL-CIO Unions Mull Labor Chief Choices (1)

The country’s largest labor federation has told its member unions that four possible contenders for labor secretary are drawing support within the ranks, an emerging political fault line for President-elect Joe Biden to navigate.

The four names on the AFL-CIO’s preliminary list all have important qualifications for the post, and all are White men. They are Seth Harris, a deputy labor secretary during the Obama era, two members of Congress—Reps. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) and Andy Levin (D-Mich.)—and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, according to five sources familiar with discussions that produced the list.

Walsh and Levin have more solidified union backing, ...