Biden Picks Gov. Gina Raimondo For Commerce Secretary: Report

PROVIDENCE, RI — President-elect Joe Biden has picked Gov. Gina Raimondo as his Commerce secretary nominee, according to multiple reports Thursday.

Raimondo, a moderate Democrat, has been engaged in a will-she, won't-she debate for more than a month after initial reports that she was a top contender to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The governor dispelled these rumors in December, saying she was "not going to be President-elect Biden's nominee for HHS secretary." At the time, as was the case when she was a reported candidate to be Biden's vice president, she said her focus was on steering Rhode Island through the coronavirus crisis.

Biden on Thursday also announced another New England leader, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, as his Labor secretary nominee.

The Department of Commerce has diverse responsibilities, from gathering economic and demographic data to setting industrial standards. It's involved in international trade, climate policy, intellectual property and relations with the business community.

Prior to her election as governor in 2014, Raimondo worked as a venture capitalist and served as Rhode Island's general treasurer.

Raimondo supported Mike Bloomberg's Democratic primary campaign and endorsed Biden after Bloomberg dropped out following Biden's wins on Super Tuesday.

Raimondo is currently in quarantine following a potential coronavirus exposure, which is set to end Thursday. She is scheduled to address the public during her weekly coronavirus news conference at 1 p.m. Friday. It's unclear if she will discuss the nomination.

Should Raimondo accept the position and resign as governor, Lieutenant Gov. Dan McKee would assume the role until the next gubernatorial election in 2022.