COLUMBIA — As President-elect Joe Biden’s transition progressively begins, so too does the jockeying for potential jobs in his new administration, with plenty of South Carolinians presumably within the working for quite a lot of posts.
The pool of South Carolina Democrats in place for federal positions is considerably smaller than when a brand new Republican president takes workplace, given the state’s longtime GOP majority.
However Biden has lengthy had a specific affinity for South Carolina, the state that performed a pivotal position in his Democratic main win, and has shut relationships with plenty of distinguished Palmetto State politicos who might be into consideration for both highly effective roles in Washington, federal jobs in South Carolina or ambassadorships overseas.
Home Majority Whip Jim Clyburn
The primary identify on many observers’ minds is Clyburn, the Columbia Democrat whose endorsement of Biden simply days earlier than South Carolina’s essential Feb. 29 main was thought of instrumental in his landslide victory, which then helped carry Biden to the eventual nomination.
Clyburn, 80, has been specific in ruling out the potential of leaving his put up because the third-ranking Home Democrat. However he’ll seemingly be the important thing gatekeeper for different South Carolinians who do hope to get administration jobs, as his suggestions will carry vital sway with Biden.
“I’ve completely no real interest in being on this administration,” Clyburn mentioned Monday. “I do have each curiosity in making an attempt to assist this administration get this nation again on observe.”
Jaime Harrison
Contemporary off his defeat to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Harrison is now arguably the second most well-known South Carolina Democrat within the nation. Harrison was the one identify Clyburn talked about as a attainable contender for a Biden administration position throughout a name with reporters Monday.
One attainable place for Harrison could be chairman of the Democratic Nationwide Committee, a put up he unsuccessfully wanted the 2016 election earlier than demonstrating notable fundraising prowess as he introduced in a record-breaking $130 million for his Senate marketing campaign.
State Sen. Marlon Kimpson
Newly reelected for his third time period representing Charleston, Kimpson was one other one among Biden’s most prized endorsements within the lead-up to his South Carolina main win and continued to function a nationwide surrogate for the nominee within the ensuing months. He was one among 17 “rising stars” featured on the Democratic Nationwide Conference.
With experience in securities litigation, Kimpson may slot in plenty of high-ranking company roles, together with the Division of Justice, the Securities and Change Fee or the Treasury Division.
Solicitor David Pascoe
Presently the First Circuit solicitor in Orangeburg, a place he has held since 2005, Pascoe is taken into account one of many early frontrunners for U.S. legal professional in South Carolina. Pascoe gained vital recognition because the lead prosecutor on the long-running Statehouse corruption probe, which resulted in indictments, responsible pleas and resignations of 5 high members of the Legislature.
Different attainable contenders for the U.S. legal professional position embrace Kimpson and S.C. Ethics Fee government director Meghan Walker, although the listing is probably going longer with plenty of distinguished legal professionals across the state.
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin
Although Benjamin initially supported former New York Metropolis Mayor Michael Bloomberg within the Democratic presidential main, each he and Bloomberg later labored to assist Biden.
Benjamin constructed a nationwide community throughout his tenure as president of the U.S. Convention of Mayors and is a daily fixture in conversations about potential Democratic administration appointments, even making the listing of potential working mates in 2016 for then-nominee Hillary Clinton.
State Sen. Dick Harpootlian
Harpootlian is a longtime, outspoken Biden supporter with shut ties to the president-elect. However proper now, the previous two-time S.C. Democratic Celebration chairman is concentrated at first on the upcoming redistricting course of within the Legislature, which was the highest purpose he determined to run for the state Senate in 2018.
Fran Individual
Individual, a former Gamecocks offensive guard, was Biden’s right-hand man from 2006 by way of 2014 earlier than returning to Fort Mill and working for Congress unsuccessfully in 2016.
After beginning as Biden’s physique man, he grew to become one among his closest confidants, is warmly regarded by the complete Biden household and would undoubtedly be welcomed again into the fold if he desires to be. Individual is co-founder and board member of Chinese language improvement agency Harves Leisure.
Journey King
Apart from Individual, no South Carolinian is nearer to Biden than King, who got here to know him throughout his intensive time as an aide for the late U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings and later served as S.C. state director of Biden’s 2008 presidential marketing campaign and the vp’s political director throughout the 2012 reelection marketing campaign with President Barack Obama.
Now 68 with younger grandchildren, King could also be probably to play a casual exterior adviser position in Biden’s circle of trusted mates.
Amanda Loveday
A former government director of the S.C. Democratic Celebration, Loveday helped lead probably the most distinguished pro-Biden tremendous PAC, Unite the County, and has many longtime ties to Biden’s orbit.
Kendall Corley
Corley, a longtime S.C. Democratic strategist, led Biden’s triumphant South Carolina main marketing campaign and went on to function an advisor for the final election. He’s one among a number of operatives on Biden’s South Carolina marketing campaign who will seemingly be in line for a job within the White Home or a federal company.
Others embrace deputy state director Mariah Hill, political director Scott Harriford, communications director Paige Hill and deputy operations director Destine Hicks, all of whom continued working for the marketing campaign elsewhere by way of the final election.
Billy Webster
Few, if any, South Carolinians know extra about how presidential transitions work than Webster, who helped handle the method for President Invoice Clinton and went on to work as U.S. Training Secretary Dick Riley’s chief of workers and as director of scheduling and advance within the White Home.
Webster was one among solely three top-tier donors to Biden’s marketing campaign from South Carolina, which is usually not a supply of a big Democratic money. The others have been state Sen. Dick Harpootlian of Columbia and legal professional Joe Rice of Mount Nice. Webster co-founded the Spartanburg-based payday lending large Advance America.
State Sen. Vincent Sheheen
A longtime state senator from Camden and two-time Democratic nominee for governor, Sheheen lately misplaced reelection in a surprising upset, which may open him up for potential administration roles. He’s a longtime Biden supporter and was an early endorser of his 2020 marketing campaign in South Carolina.
James Flowers
After an in depth profession in legislation enforcement, Flowers unsuccessfully challenged Richland County sheriff Leon Lott within the 2016 Democratic main. He’s thought of one of many early frontrunners to grow to be South Carolina’s subsequent U.S. Marshal.
Anton Gunn
After serving as S.C. political director of Barack Obama’s 2008 marketing campaign, Gunn left his position as a state lawmaker to spend three and a half years working within the administration on the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies. He’s now a management marketing consultant.
