What happens to the Trump VP also-rans? Republicans eye cabinet jobs in a Trump second term

MILWAUKEE − With J.D. Vance now in place as the Republican vice presidential pick, former President Donald Trump has a ready pool of candidates to staff a possible second term cabinet − the dozen-odd Republicans who tried to catch his eye for the No. 2 slot on the ticket.

If he wins in November, Trump will have to fill 15 Cabinet positions, each a consolation prize for the also-rans who didn't make the vice presidential cut, as well as hundreds of jobs in the White House and federal agencies.

And it makes sense that Trump would take a hard look at the senators, representatives, governors, and former competitors that his campaign has already vetted and who have spent months campaigning with him and defending the convicted felon on cable news.

More: Trump's VP options: Sizing up their pros and cons from J.D. Vance to Kari Lake

Many don't have to leave their current jobs if they don't want to, some are waiting for their own chance to run for president, but the pull of a presidential appointment can be strong.

From 'Little Marco' to secretary of state?

Those who know Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla., said Secretary of State would be a particularly good fit. Rubio is in line to lead the Senate Select Intelligence Committee if the party wins control of the chamber in November.

Rubio and Trump famously clashed in the 2016 GOP primaries, before Trump drove him out of the race with insults including the enduring "Little Marco." But Rubio was reportedly strong in the running for a spot on Trump's 2024 ticket.

"I think a natural fit for him would be as our chief statesman across the globe," said former Florida Rep. Tom Rooney, who co-chaired Rubio's presidential campaign in the state in 2016.

Dario Moreno, a political science professor at Florida International University who teaches three courses with Rubio, said the senator could sooth the nerves of European allies as the top U.S. diplomat.

"I think he’d be ideal for secretary of state because he’d be a calming influence, especially for the Europeans," Moreno said. "I think he’d be qualified and he’s close enough to the president’s position he can serve and some allies who might be nervous would be less nervous with Rubio there.”

From the plains to the swamp?

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum rose from political obscurity when he launched his own presidential campaign in June 2024 to become one of Trump's top surrogates.

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said Burgum would “be great in any number of cabinet positions, given his both business background as well as government background.”

Cramer and Republican consultant Alex Conant both mentioned Burgum as a good fit for Commerce, Interior or Agriculture Secretary. Cramer also suggested Energy Secretary. Conant added EPA to the list.

“He leads an energy state and an agriculture state,” Conant said. “You often see governors of Midwestern states go on to be agriculture secretary.”

Ramaswamy hinted at Homeland Security

Vivek Ramaswamy , a 38-year-old former biotech entrepreneur who embraced MAGA as part of his presidential campaign, was in early discussions as a VP choice, but didn't make it to the final rounds.

In an interview on Monday in Milwaukee, Ramaswamy told USA TODAY that he's interested in working to dismantle the "administrative state," which he sees as the network of government agency workers who interpret and implement federal laws passed by Congress or executive policies set by the president. He called it an "unconstitutional fourth branch of government."

During the VP contest, Ramaswamy hinted at other potential roles in a Trump administration that would be appealing – including a possible post overseeing immigration enforcement as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

But with his business background, “it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he ended up in an economic role,” Conant said.

South Dakota governor Kristi Noem is reportedly angling for a top job at the National Rifle Association rather than a cabinet position. She dropped from consideration for the VP job soon after she published a book that included a story that decades before she killed a puppy that was struggling with training to be a hunting dog.

Ben Carson, secretary of housing and urban development in Trump's first term, was never a front line VP candidate, but his loyalty as one of the few cabinet members who stuck with Trump for all four years could earn him a spot in a second Trump administration.

Some of the senators and representatives who were considered might not want to give up their day jobs.

"Depending on the senator and where they are in their career, I don't really know why anybody would leave the Senate to be on the Cabinet,” Cramer said.

Sen. Tim Scott , R-S.C. is in line to be chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee if Republicans gain control of the Senate. Scott promised to serve only two terms − his second ends in 2028.

“Tim's Scott would be great wherever he'd want it wherever he served. I would love for Tim to stay in the Senate if he's not the vice president because he's so important to us," Cramer said. "But I'm pretty confident we can replace him with a Republican so that would be the most important thing and I’d move up a little bit in seniority.”

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Conant said if he is willing to leave the Senate, Scott would be a good fit in pretty much any Cabinet position.

Rep. Elise Stefanik , R-N.Y., is chair of the House Republican Conference, with the possibility of moving up the ranks one day to be House speaker.

"I'd be honored to serve in the Trump administration in any capacity," Stefanik said when asked by USA TODAY if she wanted the number two spot.

GOP governors punt

Several of the governors have also dodged speculation about a job in a Trump administration. Govs. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas − Trump's former press secretary − Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Greg Abbott of Texas have all said they are happy in their current positions.

Those who want long political careers, and a shot at the presidency, might be considering that a White House or Cabinet position isn't always a rosy proposition. Several of Trump's first term cabinet members saw their careers or reputations collapse.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was trailed constantly by activists when she was in public. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson quit a lucrative job as chief executive at ExxonMobile only to be fired by Trump after about a year. Attorney General Jeff Sessions left a long Senate career to serve and was fired about a year and a half into the job. He tried to rejoin the Senate but lost to a Trump backed candidate.

Trump's second cabinet is expected to look vastly different from his first. Gone is the political neophyte who hired friends and business associates and then relied on the Party to help him fill the rest of the positions.

That approach left Trump with a mishmash of people either unprepared for the job or unaware of government ethics rules and appointees he had no relationship with who balked at changes he wanted to make.

Trump's Cabinet saw record levels of turnover, with some figures cycling through so quickly that many were never even given official consideration in the Senate and served only in an "acting" capacity.

"I'm not going to bring many of those people back," Trump told Time Magazine in April. "I had some great people. I had some bad people."

"The advantage I have now is I know everybody," he said. "I know people. I know the good, the bad, the stupid, the smart."

Contributing: Ken Tran, Zachary Anderson and Riley Beggin

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happens to the Trump VP also-rans? Republicans eye cabinet jobs in a Trump second term