Trump considering Dem senator for Energy secretary: report

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin to lead the Energy Department, multiple sources told Politico.

One source told the publication that the West Virginia senator “is being considered to show the coal people how serious Trump is about coal.” While campaigning, Trump vowed to states impacted by the declining coal industry that he would bring back “clean coal” jobs.

{mosads}Manchin, who faces a tough reelection race in 2018, told Politico in a Thursday interview that Trump hasn’t contacted him or his staff and there are currently no scheduled trips to New York City. But he didn’t rule out serving in the president-elect’s Cabinet.

“If I can do anything that would help my state of West Virginia, and my country, I would be happy to talk to anybody,” Manchin said. “Other than that, I haven’t heard anything. … I have nothing scheduled.”

An aide for Manchin would not confirm anything beyond what the senator said in the interview.

The 2018 Senate map is grim for Democrats, and Manchin faces an uphill battle for reelection. Trump carried West Virginia easily, winning by more than 40 points.

Earlier this month, Manchin was tapped to serve in Democratic leadership as the vice chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Center. And the Democratic senator has already shown a willingness to work with the president-elect.

Manchin isn’t the only red-state Democrat up in 2018 to be rumored as a contender for a Cabinet position. 

Trump’s transition aide Jason Miller told reporters on a Thursday morning that Trump will be meeting with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) on Friday. Miller wouldn’t elaborate about the meeting with Heitkamp, who faces a tough reelection race, or if she’s being considered for a job in the incoming administration.