Senate Democrats are pressing President Trump to nominate apermanent CFPB director, saying that designating Office ofManagement and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney to serve as interim directorendangers the independence of the agency.

In a related development, former agency Director Richard Cordrayon Tuesday announced his candidacy for the Democratic nominationfor Ohio governor.

Some 44 Senate Democrats signed the letter, saying that underCordray, the agency succeeded in providing $12 billion in relieffor more than 29 million people.

“We urge you to nominate a CFPB Director who will bring to thejob both bipartisan support and a track record of being tough onbig banks and other financial firms that rip off consumers,” theDemocrats said.

Mulvaney's appointment has been challenged in federal court.Immediately before leaving office, Cordray selected Leandra Englishas deputy director. Cordray supporters said that Dodd-Frankspecifies that the deputy director serves as acting director whenthe director is unavailable or absent.

Trump disagreed and appointed Mulvaney.

And barring unforeseen circumstances, it appears likely thatMulvaney will be running the agency until at least Dec. 22, whenU.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly has scheduled a hearing on apreliminary injunction from English.

The Trump Administration had asked that final briefs in the casebe filed on Feb. 22, ensuring that Mulvaney would stay as directoruntil then, unless Trump had nominated someone by then and thatperson is confirmed.

Cordray's possible candidacy for governor had been widelyexpected, particularly since his term as CFPB director was set toexpire next summer.

Republicans pressed Cordray to make public his intentions whilehe was still in office, but he refused to discuss his future atthat time.