Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden is reportedly screening a number of Republicans as potential candidates for his Cabinet if he were to beat President Donald Trump in November.
According to Politico, the Biden campaign has been eyeing the Republicans who spoke at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) this year, including former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman, who ran for governor in California in 2010.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R), who announced last week that he would not be voting for Trump, is also reportedly under consideration, along with former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA).
The Biden campaign declined to comment to TPM on the record.
Floating Republicans as potential Cabinet members could simply be part of the Biden campaign’s effort to reach across the aisle and bolster its message of unity amid a bitterly divided country.
Politico noted that past presidents, such as Barack Obama and George W. Bush, had installed members of the opposite party in their Cabinets, though they were appointed to lead the Transportation and Defense Departments, positions that are arguably less guided by personal political leanings than other Cabinet roles.
Throughout his campaign, Biden has painted himself as a bridge to compromise with Republicans and frequently emphasizes his belief that there are “so many things we agree on.” Additionally, the former vice president appointed Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), as a member of his transition team.
However, progressives have criticized the Democrat’s overtures to the GOP, warning that doing so risks alienating the Democratic base and would likely prove to be a futile strategy anyway given Republicans’ notorious refusal to compromise during the Obama years.
