Lori Chavez-DeRemer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lori Chávez-DeRemer
Official portrait, 2022
United States Secretary of Labor Nominee
Assuming office TBD
President	Donald Trump
Succeeding	Marty Walsh
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 5th district
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Kurt Schrader
Succeeded by	Janelle Bynum
Mayor of Happy Valley
In office January 18, 2011 – January 15, 2019
Preceded by	Rob Wheeler
Succeeded by	Tom Ellis
Personal details
Born	Lori Michelle Chávez (1968-04-07) April 7, 1968 (age 56) Santa Clara, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Shawn DeRemer
Children	2
Relatives	Stuart Erwin (great-granduncle)
Education	California State University, Fresno (BBA)

Lori Michelle Chavez-DeRemer ( née Chávez; born April 7, 1968) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Oregon's 5th congressional district from 2023 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Chavez-DeRemer served as mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon, from 2011 to 2019.

She is the first Republican woman to represent Oregon in the House. Additionally, she is one of the first two Hispanic women (alongside Andrea Salinas) elected to the United States Congress from Oregon. Chavez-DeRemer served one term in the House before being defeated in 2024 by Democrat Janelle Bynum.

On November 22, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Chavez-DeRemer as his secretary of labor. Chavez-DeRemer was the only Republican co-sponsor and one of three congressional Republicans to support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act). The act would give workers more advantages when organizing or joining unions and bargaining with employers. Her nomination was backed by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, who praised her support of the PRO Act and thanked Trump for the pick, but faces opposition from some business groups.

Early life and education

Born on April 7, 1968 in Santa Clara, California, Chavez-DeRemer grew up in Hanford, California, and graduated from Hanford High School in 1986. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from California State University, Fresno.

Early political career

Chavez-DeRemer was elected to the city council of Happy Valley, Oregon, in 2004. She was elected mayor in 2010 and reelected in 2014. She served as mayor until 2018.

In 2016, after incumbent Shemia Fagan opted not to seek reelection to her seat in Oregon House District 51, Chavez-DeRemer filed to run as a Republican, and won the primary unopposed. She lost by 564 votes to restaurateur Janelle Bynum in the November general election, in what was the most expensive state House race in Oregon of 2016.

In June 2017, Chavez-DeRemer formed a political action committee to explore a gubernatorial bid in 2018. In October 2017, she announced in a YouTube video that she would not run for governor, clearing the primary for eventual nominee Knute Buehler.

In March 2018, Chavez-DeRemer announced her intention to again run for House District 51. She was unopposed in the Republican primary. She again lost to Bynum, by 2,223 votes.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022

Chavez-DeRemer won the May 2022 Republican primary for Oregon's 5th congressional district. The district, which had been represented for seven terms by moderate Democrat Kurt Schrader, was significantly altered in redistricting after Oregon gained a House seat. It lost its share of the Pacific coastline and the state capital of Salem, but stretched further south to gain rapidly-growing Bend. Schrader lost the Democratic primary to progressive Jamie McLeod-Skinner and refused to endorse her in the general election.

Chavez-DeRemer defeated McLeod-Skinner in the November 8 general election.

Both Chavez-DeRemer and McLeod-Skinner lived just outside the district at the time of the election. Under the U.S. Constitution, members of the U.S. House must be residents of their state, but do not have to live in the district.

2024

Chavez-DeRemer ran for reelection in 2024 against Democratic nominee Janelle Bynum. The race was considered one of the most competitive in the US House and drew more than $26 million in outside spending. The race was called for Bynum on Friday, November 8.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development
  • Subcommittee on Forestry
• Committee on Education and the Workforce
  • Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment
  • Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit

Caucus memberships

• Climate Solutions Caucus
• Congressional Hispanic Conference
• Congressional Western Caucus
• Republican Main Street Partnership
• Republican Governance Group
• Problem Solvers Caucus

Secretary of Labor

Nomination

On November 22, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Chavez-DeRemer as his secretary of labor.

Political positions

Chavez-DeRemer is described by The New York Times as "a mainstream Republican" who pitches herself as an independent thinker.

Chavez-DeRemer voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Chavez-DeRemer was one of six Republicans to sign a bipartisan letter spearheaded by centrist House Representatives in which they pledged to respect the results of the 2024 presidential election.

Chavez-DeRemer cosponsored the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which would expand the power of public sector unions.

Chavez-DeRemer was the only Republican co-sponsor and one of three congressional Republicans to support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act) strongly opposed by business groups. The act would give workers more advantages when organizing or joining unions and bargaining with employers, also weakening state right-to-work laws. She was supported by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien for the position of Secretary of Labor, who thanked President-elect Trump for the nomination, noting her support of the PRO Act. Her nomination was opposed by some business interest groups.

Personal life

Chavez-DeRemer is married to Shawn DeRemer, an anesthesiologist. They have two children and live in Happy Valley.

Chavez-DeRemer is Roman Catholic.

Electoral history

2024

2022

2018

2016

2014

2010

See also

In Spanish: Lori Chavez-DeReme para niños

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress