Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, expected to face a rugged re-election race in 2018, will meet President-elect Donald Trump today in New York amid speculation that the North Dakotan is under consideration to head the Agriculture or Energy departments, said Roll Call. Heitkamp told reporters she was responding to an invitation from Trump and “I don’t even known if it’s about a job.”
“Rural America is a high priority, I would think, for the new administration so I’m anxious to talk about new ideas to revitalize and create economic opportunities in rural America,” said Heitkamp.
The Washington Post said “a source familiar with the meeting arrangements said they were expected to discuss both the Energy and Interior Department posts.” Heitkamp is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. If she is chosen for a cabinet post, Heitkamp would be the first Democrat to join the Trump team.
In a statement, Heitkamp said, “I appreciate the president-elect inviting me for a meeting. Every single day, my work is motivated first and foremost by how I can be most helpful to the people of North Dakota. They are my driving force and have been throughout my career in public service. Whatever job I do, I hope to work with the president-elect and all of my colleagues in Congress on both sides of the aisle to best support my state.”
Transition spokesman Jason Miller said Heitkamp was “highly recommended, very highly qualified.” During a teleconference, Miller would not say if Heitkamp was under consideration for an administration role, said Talking Points Memo. “When some folks who are coming, [they] are coming in to provide their insight and their experience as to how to make the administration better and even more effective for the American people. Other folks are coming in for very specific positions,” said Miller.