RI Governor Squashes Rumor She Will Be Biden's Health Secretary

PROVIDENCE, RI — Gov. Gina Raimondo will not be President-elect Joe Biden's pick for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the governor said in no uncertain terms Thursday.

"I am not going to be President-elect Biden's nominee for HHS secretary ... and I have nothing else to say on that," she said during her weekly news conference, adding she is focused on getting Rhode Island through the coronavirus pandemic.

Rumors swirled in recent days that Raimondo was a top candidate for the position. She was named a front-runner by Politico on Wednesday afternoon.

This is not the first time Raimondo has been considered for a role on the national political stage. Over the summer, reports said she was interviewed as a potential vice presidential candidate. She dispelled the rumors in the same dismissive tone, again saying she was laser-focused on steering Rhode Island through the coronavirus pandemic.