Sen. Salazar Is Leading Candidate for Interior Sec.

by Walter Alarkon - 12/15/08 1:38 PM ET

Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) is a top contender to become Interior secretary in the Obama administration, according to The Denver Post.

Before he joined the Senate in 2005, Salazar had served as director of the state Department of Natural Resources. He once championed a measure that reserved state lottery proceeds for land conservation. He currently sits on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

If Salazar joins the Cabinet, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) would pick his replacement in the Senate. Possible choices include former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D), Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien (D) and state Treasurer Cary Kennedy (D), according to Swing State Project.