A fight is breaking out among Democrats over who President-elect Joe Biden should choose for agriculture secretary, with one of his key allies advocating for an African American lawmaker to head the department and refocus it on hunger rather than rural America.
South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn has pushed Biden to tap Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge, a Democrat, to fill the position, lobbying for her with two of the president-elect's closest advisers, according to The New York Times. Clyburn has also discussed the matter with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
But the matter is complicated, as two of Biden's allies -- Heidi Heitkamp, a former North Dakota senator, and Tom Vilsack, the former Iowa governor who served as agriculture secretary for President Barack Obama -- are also being considered for the job.
Clyburn also pushed back against the idea that Biden may pick Vilsack, echoing complaints that the former vice president will represent a third Obama administration.
