Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo has emerged as one of the top candidates for President-elect Joe Biden’s secretary of commerce, according to people familiar with the matter.
Why does it matter: Raimondo, a Rhodes scholar who co-founded a venture capital firm in Rhode Island early in her career, prioritized good relationships with the business community, the target audience of commerce.
- However, Raimondo also clashed with unions as he worked to reform Rhode Island’s public pension plans.
- She also served as national co-president of Mike Bloomberg’s presidential campaign, supporting Biden only after the former New York mayor gave up.
- A Biden transition officer declined to comment.
The big picture: Biden was considering a prominent CEO or a Republican to lead the Department of Commerce.
- When considering Raimondo, he seems to be shifting to a more traditional choice.
- Raimondo, 49, and a former president of the Democratic Governor’s Association, is seen as a rising star in his party.
The intrigue: Raimondo was also being considered to serve as secretary of health and human services, a job that ended up going to California’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra.
- In early December, she seemed to come out of the race saying during a news conference: “I will not be nominated by President-elect Biden for HHS secretary.”