By Pete Schroeder

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The White House has officially submitted the nomination of Saule Omarova for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to the Senate to be considered.

This move shows that, in spite of opposition from the banking and academic industries to it, the White House continues with its plan.

Since her September nomination, Omarova has been resisted by banks. She is a Cornell Law School professor of financial regulation. She would be a key figure in overseeing some of the country’s biggest banks if she is confirmed.

Omarova is praised by progressives, who think she would push for stricter rules and oversight of Wall Street at the critical agency. Her nomination met with a lot of public and unusual opposition from banking and business groups. They criticized her academic work, calling her out of the mainstream.

“We respectfully — but strenuously — disagree with those positions and believe they are out of step with the role for which she is being considered,” said Rob Nichols, head of the American Bankers Association, in an October speech.

Omarova’s nomination is headed to the Senate. Omarova will face opposition from Republicans. She must convince moderate Democrats to vote for her in an evenly divided Senate.