Agriculture advisers for President-Elect Donald Trump do not want North Dakota Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp as Agriculture Secretary. While Heitkamp has sided with agriculture and Republicans at times, Trump’s agriculture allies consider Heitkamp a snub against Trump’s network of rural supporters. Media reports over the weekend had Heitkamp topping the list to head USDA, but Trump’s inner agriculture circle said they were “blindsided” by the news. Trump has yet to offer Heitkamp the post. It is also uncertain she would accept the job, as she would leave a vacant seat in the Senate which would likely be filled by a Republican in a special election.
Political insiders said Tuesday that it does not appear Trump is “close” to naming a new Agriculture Secretary just yet, despite recent speculation.
Source: NAFB News Service