Marty Walsh’s Story Gives Him an Edge in Biden Labor Messaging

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh’s working-class background and Everyman ethic may be his secret weapon if confirmed as U.S. labor secretary, giving him a way to relate to the average American in promoting President Joe Biden‘s labor and jobs agenda.

Walsh, who awaits a confirmation vote by the full Senate after the chamber’s labor panel advanced his nomination last week, stands out among Biden’s Cabinet picks both for his lack of an Ivy League pedigree and his record of self-made accomplishments.

“He is, I think, a different figure than you tend to get in Washington,” said David Hopkins, a political ...