Manchin Scuttles Biden’s Nominee For Labor Relations Board

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin is leaving Capitol Hill next month, but his vote still counts and can be decisive in a closely divided Senate.

Manchin, a Democrat-turned-Independent, was the deciding vote Wednesday against President Joe Biden’s nominee for the National Labor Relations Board.

By a vote of 49-50, the Senate rejected the renomination of NLRB chair Lauren McFerran.

McFerran’s term expires on Monday. If she isn’t confirmed and Biden doesn’t nominate anyone else, Republicans will have the majority on the board after President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, opposed McFerran’s nomination. Unions, including the AFL-CIO, supported her. 

The NLRB, created in 1935, ensures workers’ right to organize and seek better working conditions.

This isn’t the first time Manchin has thwarted one of Biden’s nominees. He opposed confirming Julie Su to be Secretary of Labor. Su has been serving as acting secretary since last year.

He blocked the nomination last year of Laura Daniel-Davis to oversee oil and gas leasing at the Department of the Interior. And in 2021, he opposed the nomination of Neera Tanden to be director of the Office of Management and Budget.

In recent months, he’s also voted against confirming several of Biden’s judicial nominees.

Manchin is retiring next month after 14 years in the Senate. Gov. Jim Justice will succeed him.