Republican Huntsman joins Brookings

Former presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, a Republican, has joined the liberal-leaning Brookings Institution as a distinguished fellow.

Huntsman, a former governor of Utah and onetime ambassador to China, has been serving on boards and generally staying out of the political limelight since ending his bid in January for the Republican presidential nomination.

Huntsman dropped out of the race shortly after finishing third in the New Hampshire primary, where he had focused most of his campaign.

“As we try to address America’s domestic and foreign policy challenges, Jon’s extraordinary government service at home and abroad will be a great benefit to the Institution,” Brookings President Strobe Talbott said in a statement.