( CNN ) Elizabeth Warren 's populist supporters are finding inspiration from an unlikely source : Antonio Weiss . Weiss , the head of investment banking at Lazard and President Barack Obama 's pick for a top spot at the Treasury Department , was forced to withdraw his nomination last month after facing an onslaught of public opposition led by Warren , the popular liberal Massachusetts senator . If this was a remarkable defeat for the Obama administration , it was a moment of glowing achievement for some of Warren 's fiercest backers , including Wall Street reform advocates and progressive grassroots leaders who aggressively criticized Weiss 's work at Lazard . Emboldened by their successful thwarting of his nomination and Warren 's growing clout , liberal activists are energized about their role in Washington this year . Despite Democrats being relegated to minority status in the House and Senate , these groups still think they can make a big splash . They 're preparing to publicly clash with the administration on future presidential nominees and big-ticket items such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal . They 're also looking to pressure Obama to take a tougher stance on expansion of overtime pay and developing stricter rules for brokers on Wall Street . By simultaneously mobilizing supporters from the ground up and seizing on Warren 's rise in national politics , the Massachusetts senator 's backers are determined to make Weiss just the first of many casualties . `` This was a really important part of us building momentum against the Wall Street wing of the Democratic Party and really supporting the Warren wing , '' said Charles Chamberlain , executive director of Democracy for America . `` What was exciting about Antonio Weiss is we took our first victim . '' The monthslong crusade against Weiss captured how progressive activists are using Warren 's star power to elevate their core issues . Warren is the subject of persistent rumors that she 'll run for president in 2016 . She insists she 's not running for higher office , but her stature among progressives is immense . After Obama nominated Weiss , 48 , to be Treasury 's undersecretary for domestic finance in November , groups such as MoveOn , Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee quickly mobilized . They blasted out emails to supporters , launched online petitions and took to social media to oppose Weiss 's nomination . Their single most important tool for mobilizing mass support ? Warren . Progressive groups did n't just call on supporters to oppose Weiss ; instead , they insisted that protesting his nomination was a way of showing solidarity with Warren . `` Stand with Elizabeth Warren and say no to a Wall Street banker for Treasury undersecretary , '' read a MoveOn petition against Weiss 's nomination , which garnered more than 30,000 signatures . Democracy for America urged its members to call the White House and say no to the Weiss nomination -- not just because Weiss was too friendly with Wall Street , but because blocking his nomination was an important mission for Warren . `` Sen. Warren is leading the charge against the nomination of Antonio Weiss , '' the group said . `` She needs your help to stop him . '' It was n't a complete victory -- when he eventually withdrew his nomination last month , Weiss was offered the role of adviser to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew . But for Warren 's supporters , sinking Weiss 's nomination was validation of the progressive movement 's sway in Washington . It was also proof of how much Warren 's popularity with voters can help maximize the progressive wing 's influence . A Warren spokesperson declined to comment for this story . With the 2016 presidential election looming , liberal activists are eager to piggyback on the continuing buzz about a Warren White House bid and make the senator a mascot for some of their top policy and legislative priorities . For starters , they are prepared to sound the alarm if another presidential nominee does n't meet their approval . The Federal Reserve 's Board of Governors has one vacancy in need of a nomination , and it 's unclear when the administration plans to nominate someone new for the undersecretary for domestic finance role . If the administration were to handpick another nominee perceived as being too close to Wall Street , financial reform groups can expect to have a powerful ally on their side : community banks . Cam Fine , the CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of America who opposed Weiss 's nomination , said his group 's view is simple : `` We do n't want all the nominees to be straight out of Wall Street . '' `` We 're looking for nominees that have experience with midsized and smaller institutions , '' Fine said . `` The litmus test is : How well rounded are those nominees ? '' Progressive groups are also taking issue with one of the President 's top priorities for his final years in office : the Trans-Pacific Partnership , a huge trade agreement proposal between the United States and 11 countries . Groups such as MoveOn have opposed these talks , taking issue with what they say are `` secret '' negotiations and the unfair advantages that large corporations would reap from the pact . Warren agrees . `` To protect consumers and to address sources of systemic financial risk , Congress must maintain the flexibility to impose restrictions on harmful financial products and on the conduct or structure of financial firms . We would oppose including provisions in the TPP that would limit that flexibility , '' the senator wrote in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman in December . Liberal activists also have their sights set on unilateral actions the Obama administration could take and bypass the GOP-controlled Congress , such as expanding overtime pay and creating stricter oversight of Wall Street brokers . On both of these issues , they also have the support of their favorite Democratic senator . `` Our members love her , '' said Anna Galland , executive director of civic action at MoveOn.org .
The progressive wing of the Democratic Party feels like Sen. Warren has muscle to flex . Being able to thwart President Obama 's Treasury Bill has emboldened them . They take issue with one of Warren 's high priorities : the Trans - Pacific Partnership .