Op-Ed: Matt Keelen: Why Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the right choice for Labor Secretary to deliver on President Donald Trump’s vision for the working class

The choice is clear: Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Secretary. She is prepared to take action, deliver for America’s working families, and rebuild our nation stronger than ever, Matt Keelen writes.

Since the day he came down the golden escalator in 2015, President Donald Trump has been a steadfast champion of America’s working class. He shattered the Washington consensus on so-called “free trade” deals and other policies that hollowed out our manufacturing towns and devastated middle-class families.

President Trump brought back commonsense principles: our country must produce, it must build, and its prosperity must come from strong, thriving working-class families. This vision, backed by bold action, reignited America’s manufacturing base and brought working-class voters home to the Republican Party.

President Trump’s leadership has resulted in historic support among unions and rank-and-file workers. Union workers, who for decades were taken for granted by Democrats, now see who is truly on their side. A Teamsters survey found that Trump overwhelmingly outperformed Kamala Harris among their members.

Just this week, the Executive Vice President of the International Longshoremen's Association said that “in over 25 years of working in Washington, I have never seen a Republican take up the mantle for working-class people. President Trump proved me wrong yesterday.” This is not an isolated moment — it reflects a movement. Back in October, Pennsylvania steelworkers told rallygoers that “President Trump kind of saved all of our jobs with his tariffs.”

President Trump crafted a bold new future for the Republican Party — and for the nation — as the real party of the working class. He laid the groundwork for America to reclaim its status as an industrial powerhouse, bolstered by strong families, thriving communities, and American prosperity. Now, to advance that vision, we need proven leaders at every level of government. This is where Lori Chavez-DeRemer steps in.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the perfect choice for Labor Secretary under President Trump. She brings a unique and powerful combination of experience, relationships, and principles that make her ready to fight for America’s workers while driving economic growth. Lori has strong ties to the unions that power our nation’s workforce, and those relationships mean she understands how to collaborate with both workers and businesses to ensure prosperity for all.

Her resume speaks for itself. Lori is not just a politician — she’s a business owner and an entrepreneur. She and her husband founded an anesthesia management company, and they went on to open several successful medical clinics in the Pacific Northwest. Lori understands firsthand the challenges of running a business, creating jobs, and balancing budgets. That experience makes her uniquely equipped to bridge the gap between labor and management to deliver policies that benefit American workers and employers alike.

Lori’s record in Congress demonstrates her commitment to common sense, America First policies. She has consistently voted to uphold traditional Republican values while protecting jobs and ensuring economic growth. She supported efforts to block an overreaching National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule that would have made it easier to classify businesses as joint employers — a decision that would have killed opportunities for small businesses and franchise owners. She also voted to overturn the Department of Labor’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) rule, which allowed woke environmental and social agendas to jeopardize the retirement savings of hardworking Americans.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s ability to win support from both unions and businesses is proof that she has what it takes to execute President Trump’s agenda. She understands the unique challenges facing workers and business owners in today’s economy, and she’s ready to get the job done.

President Trump's vision to end work permits for illegal aliens, enact pro-worker tax reforms, and champion apprenticeships calls for bold and capable leadership. She has the relationships, the experience, and the record to champion American workers and ensure that President Trump’s pro-worker, pro-America vision becomes a reality.

The choice is clear: Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Secretary. She is prepared to take action, deliver for America’s working families, and rebuild our nation stronger than ever.

Matt Keelen is a Managing Principal at the Vogel Group and prior to joining Vogel Group, Matt was the Founder and President of The Keelen Group (TKG). He is a widely known and highly regarded lobbyist & political strategist with over twenty years of experience.