In or out? Conflicting reports on Cabinet post
CNN says Lujan Grisham top choice to lead Health and Human Services; ‘Politico’ says governor turned down Interior post
Conflicting reports emerged Wednesday about Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s chances of becoming the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Respected media outlets gave vastly differing accounts about whether Lujan Grisham is still a leading contender for a Cabinet position under the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
CNN reported Wednesday afternoon that New Mexico’s governor is a front-runner who is expected to be nominated for the high-profile post. It cited two people familiar with the matter.
But just hours later, another news organization, Politico, reported Lujan
Grisham “is no longer favored for the role” and that Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo is now the top contender. It cited a source close to the transition and another familiar with the discussions.
With conflicting information from anonymous sources, about the only conclusion New Mexicans can draw right now is that Lujan Grisham is — or was — in the mix of possible Cabinet picks.
Politico also reported Wednesday that Lujan Grisham turned down an offer “in recent days” to be secretary of the Department of the Interior.
The revelation caught some political observers by surprise because it’s a post that three other high-profile Democrats in New Mexico — U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich — are or were reportedly being considered for, too.
In July, the New York Times reported Lujan Grisham had expressed interest in becoming health secretary.
“It’s a better fit and it’s where her interest and her heart is,” a source close to Lujan Grisham told Politico about the governor wanting to lead Health and Human Services
instead of the Interior Department. “You can’t blame her for being honest about where her real passion lies.”
A source close to the transition told Politico “the rejection hurt Lujan Grisham’s candidacy for other jobs in the administration, including HHS secretary.”
Lujan Grisham served as secretary of New Mexico’s Department of Health, as well as secretary of the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department. She has an inside track with the incoming Biden administration, serving as one of five co-chairpersons on Biden’s transition team. She also was on the shortlist to become Biden’s running mate before U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California accepted the nomination.
Asked about a possible move to Washington for a Cabinet position, Lujan Grisham called the speculation “flattering” during a news conference about the COVID-19 crisis Monday but said she had “a very busy full-time job right here.”
“My role in the Biden transition is make sure they are clear about the people who I believe can address significant challenges of the country and restore credibility in the country in any number of ways,” she said. “For the health and human services Cabinet post I have been identified for, it is a testament to being one of the only governors in a long time who has experience in public health, health care, long-term care reform … and I think that is a valuable thing for the Biden team to look at.”
Lujan Grisham also said no one had spoken to her specifically about any job “because I’m in the job where I can make the most difference. I can turn, with your help, the virus around.”
She added, “I want to help the Biden team win against this virus, make public health a significant investment for this country today.”
Nora Meyers Sackett, a spokeswoman for the governor, reiterated that Lujan Grisham remains focused on the COVID-19 crisis at hand in New Mexico.
“Her top priority today is ensuring a smooth rollout of the Department of Health color-coded health metric map under the amended emergency public health order, while anticipating our state will likely cross the grim milestone of 100,000 COVID-19 cases later today,” she said in an email.
Sta≠ writer Robert Nott contributed to this report.