Becerra among new candidates for Biden’s health secretary
President-elect Joe Biden is eyeing three new candidates for health secretary after previous front-runners fell out of contention for the job this week, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Those now under consideration include California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Sylvia Mathews Burwell, who ran the Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration.
The Biden transition team’s attention has swiftly turned to new candidates for one of his administration’s most important jobs after Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo on Thursday said she was no longer interested in leading HHS. Another previous front-runner, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, also fell out of favor with the transition earlier this week.
The incoming administration is hoping to announce by early next week a new HHS secretary, who will play a pivotal role in managing the pandemic response.
Five sources familiar with the discussions confirmed that Biden is considering Becerra, who has gained national attention for leading the legal battle against President Donald Trump's administration policies. He's also led Obamacare's defense against a Trump-backed lawsuit the Supreme Court heard last month. CNN first reported Becerra was under consideration.
Burwell and Granholm are also now in the mix, according to a source familiar with discussions. It remains unclear who Biden may prefer – or whether any of them would take the job if offered.
Biden’s transition declined to comment.