WASHINGTON, DC - Former Iowa Democratic Governor Tom Vilsack could be the country's next Agriculture Secretary.
Several news outlets report people familiar with the discussions say Vilsack has emerged as the favorite pick of Joe Biden.
Vilsack served as President Obama's Agriculture Secretary for eight years between 2009 and 2017.
He's also been a top rural and agriculture policy adviser to the Biden campaign.
Vilsack was a two term governor of Iowa from 1999 to 2007.
Following his term as Agriculture Secretary, he became President and CEO of the US Dairy Export Council, which is a non-profit that represents global trade interests of the agriculture industry.
As Biden's Agriculture Secretary, Vilsack would be charged with leading the federal agency during the COVID-19 crisis.
He has emerged as the favorite to lead the Agriculture Department after the focus had been on two women, former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp and Ohio Representative Marcia Fudge.
(Image from Tom Vilsack for U.S. Vice President Facebook page)