On Thursday, Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States and the Democratic presidential nominee for 2024, announced in an interview with CNN that if she wins the election in November, she will appoint a Republican member to her cabinet. This statement by Harris marks a significant shift towards inclusivity within her potential administration.
During the interview, Harris emphasized her commitment to seeking diverse opinions and experiences in decision-making processes throughout her career. She believes that having individuals with different viewpoints and backgrounds at the table is crucial when making important decisions. Harris expressed her belief that having a Republican member in her cabinet would benefit the American public.
This move comes after President Biden endorsed Harris following his withdrawal from the presidential race last month. It was Harris’s first media interview since receiving Biden’s endorsement. Her pledge to be a president for “all Americans” aligns with the idea of having a Republican member in her cabinet to fulfill this promise. However, Harris did not mention any specific candidates she may consider for the position.
Harris and her campaign team have been actively reaching out to Republicans critical of former President Trump, garnering support from some within the party. At the recent Democratic National Convention in Chicago, several Republicans who voiced dissatisfaction with Trump, such as former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger, former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, and former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, delivered speeches.
While Harris’s potential appointment of a Republican member to her cabinet signals a bipartisan approach, it is not unprecedented for a Democratic president to appoint Republican officials. Former President Barack Obama nominated several Republicans to serve in his administration. For instance, he appointed former Illinois Congressman Ray LaHood as the Secretary of Transportation and retained Republican Robert Gates as the Secretary of Defense, who had served in the George W. Bush administration.
Likewise, Republican presidents have also appointed Democratic members to their cabinets. One such example is Robert Work, a Democrat who served as the Deputy Secretary of Defense in the Obama administration and continued in the Trump administration. The willingness to collaborate across party lines reflects a broader trend towards bipartisan cooperation in American politics.