President Obama on Thursday nominated former Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, to be the Labor Department's assistant secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training.

Michaud abandoned the idea of seeking a seventh term in the House in 2014, and instead chose to run for governor of his home state instead. He lost to incumbent GOP Gov. Paul LePage.

Michaud was the ranking Democrat on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee in the 113th Congress. Before coming to Congress in 2003, Michaud was a state senator. Prior to seeking elected office, he worked for the Great Northern Paper Co. and served as vice president of the United Paperworkers International Union Local 152.

In 2013, Michaud surprised many of his House colleagues by announcing he is gay.