Since Vice President Kamala Harris announced her candidacy for president, she has received numerous endorsements from some of the nation's largest labor unions. However, concerns have arisen within the labor movement regarding the potential selection of Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., as a running mate due to his refusal to support the PRO Act, a key piece of labor reform legislation.

Several current and former union officials have expressed worry about Kelly's stance on the PRO Act. This legislation aims to streamline the process of forming unions and securing labor contracts. While some officials outright oppose his selection, others believe that his position on this issue should be considered as part of a wider assessment of Kelly.

Despite the concerns raised, at least one labor leader who supports Harris has stated that Kelly's stance on the PRO Act should not diminish his perceived support for labor or deter his selection as vice president. They emphasized that the legislation has struggled to gain traction in Congress and that Kelly's focus on representing his highly contested state may have influenced his decision.

Kelly, who assumed office in 2020, has consistently declined to sign onto the PRO Act throughout his tenure. The bill, also known as the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act, has garnered support from 48 out of the 51 Democratic Senators.

Former organizing director of the AFL-CIO, Richard Bensinger, expressed his opposition to Kelly's position on the PRO Act. Bensinger highlighted the significance of the right to organize unions for the labor movement and characterized his opposition as a "hard no."

In response to the criticism, Kelly's office stated that the senator has been a strong supporter of workers and highlighted his familial ties to the labor movement. Kelly's spokesperson pointed to a statement made in 2021 where he expressed support for the overall goals of the PRO Act while acknowledging some concerns.

During his Senate campaign in 2022, Kelly received endorsements from the Arizona AFL-CIO and the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, among other unions. Some labor leaders argue that these endorsements demonstrate Kelly's commitment to labor rights, despite his position on the PRO Act.

While labor leaders differ in their opinions on Kelly's potential selection, Larry Cohen, former president of the Communications Workers of America, emphasized the importance of assessing whether Kelly can help the Democratic ticket win in November. Cohen acknowledged concerns over Kelly's position on labor reform but also highlighted the significance of swing states and the goal of defeating President Donald Trump.

As of now, the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union, the nation's largest private sector union, have not commented on these concerns.

The selection of Sen. Mark Kelly as a running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris is being met with concern within the labor movement. The hesitance stems from Kelly's refusal to support the PRO Act, a labor reform legislation that aims to facilitate union formation and labor contracts. While some labor leaders argue that his position on the PRO Act should not outweigh his support for labor, others are opposed to his potential selection due to concerns of being perceived as "soft on labor." Ultimately, the decision on Kelly's selection as vice president will have to take into consideration his stance on labor reform and his potential impact on winning swing states.