Who Will Replace Andrew Puzder For Labor? Catherine Templeton, Joseph Guzman, Peter Kirsanow, Alexander Acosta Possible Nominees

With Wednesday’s decision by Andrew Puzder to withdraw his nomination as labor secretary, attention turned to President Donald Trump’s possible replacements.

Bloomberg said the names being floated include Catherine Templeton, Joseph Guzman, Peter Kirsanow and Alexander Acosta.

Puzder, the CEO of the company that owns the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. fast food chains, decided to step aside as Republicans refused to line up behind him in advance of his scheduled confirmation hearing. Senate GOP leaders told the White House four and as many as 12 lawmakers were refusing to back the nominee because of concerns over his decision to pay some employees in cash, his hiring of an undocumented worker and his comments about the American workforce.

"After careful consideration and discussions with my family, I am withdrawing my nomination for secretary of labor," Puzder said in a statement. "I am honored to have been considered by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Labor and put America's workers and businesses back on a path to sustainable prosperity.

Templeton formerly headed the South Carolina health department under then-Gov. Nikki Haley, whom Trump selected as his U.N. ambassador, and earlier was director of the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The Charleston Post and Courier reported in November Templeton was considering a run for governor in 2018 but she decided to postpone any announcement last month. Templeton opposes unions and never has held elective office. She met with Trump in December.

Guzman is a Michigan State University assistant professor of human resources and labor relations who advised Trump during the campaign. He met with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence last month. Guzman was first deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy in the Office of Financial Management and Comptroller, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Air Force and deputy director of the Pentagon’s Biometric Management Office.

Cleveland lawyer Kirsanow is a former member of the National Labor Relations Board (2006-08) and currently is a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Kirsanow usually represents management in labor-management disputes and discussed labor and employment in general when he met with Trump in November. In Senate testimony, Kirsanow has expressed the belief that people in the United State illegally take jobs away from unskilled Americans, particularly black workers, and hold down wages.

Acosta, a former federal prosecutor, is the dean of the Florida International University College of Law in Miami.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's name also has been floated as a possible candidate but he issued a statement Wednesday saying he was not interested.