Labor Secretary Thomas Perez is emerging as the new leading candidate for attorney general.
The White House is poised to announce President Obama’s choice to replace the outgoing Eric Holder, who announced his resignation last month, according to the New York Times.
Perez, who has been the secretary of Labor since July 2013, is a former Justice Department civil rights official and son of Dominican immigrants.
People familiar with the administration’s planning say the announcement could come in the next few weeks. If true, his nomination will happen before this year’s 2014 midterm elections – something many on Capitol Hill didn’t think would happen.
Other candidates include Loretta E. Lynch, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Kathryn Ruemmler, the former White House counsel.
