Donald Trump won all battleground states in a virtual red wall. Trump is the first candidate in over a century to reclaim the White House after losing it. Trump, who won election in 2016 as the 45th president, now will be the 47th and just the second candidate in U.S. history to win nonconsecutive White House terms.

Now that the results are in, it begs the question: Who will be the new USDA Secretary? That parlor game has returned with a host of possibilities which include:

• Abel Maldonado, said to be at or near the top of possibilities, was former California Lt. Gov. from April 27, 2010, to Jan. 10, 2011. He is the oldest son of immigrant field workers and grew up working alongside his father picking strawberries to help support the family. He ran unsuccessfully for California’s 24th congressional district in 2012 and briefly ran for governor in the 2014 election. He was considered for USDA Secretary by Donald Trump in 2017, but was not ultimately nominated. He is currently the owner of Runway Vineyards in Santa Maria, California.
• Zippy Duval, American Farm Bureau President, serving in that role since January 2016. He is a third-generation farmer from Georgia with deep roots in agriculture. He operates a dairy farm on land in Georgia, currently raising beef cattle and broiler chickens. He produces over 750,000 broilers per year with his wife, Bonnie. Prior to his role as AFBF President, Duvall served as the President of the Georgia Farm Bureau for nine years.
• Kip Tom, Indiana farmer who transformed his family’s farm, Tom Farms, into one of the largest farming operations in Indiana. From April 2019 to January 2021, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, based in Rome, Italy.
• Former House Ag Chairman Mike Conaway, now a private consultant. He is the only person out there, not in office, who’s negotiated a farm bill; led an investigation resulting in debunking the Russia hoax; auditor who would turn USDA upside down investigating where all the debt relief and climate money has gone; knows rural America; aligned with Trump on needed SNAP reforms.
• Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, serving in this role since January 2015. Miller was born in 1955 in De Leon, Texas and has deep roots in the state’s agriculture industry. He is a cattle rancher, farmer, and owner of a commercial nursery business. He served six terms as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. He was first elected as Texas Agriculture Commissioner in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. He granted “amnesty to cupcakes” as his first official action, drawing attention to the repeal of a ban on junk food in schools. Recently issued an executive order allowing Texas farmers to use water from the Rio Grande for irrigation, addressing water shortage concerns. Miller has faced criticism. He awarded significant bonuses to staffers and created high-paying positions for political allies early in his tenure. Miller has recently been sounding the alarm about water shortages in Texas, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley.
• Rep Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). He is a rebel House conservative that most consider a long shot choice.
• Ray Starling: A prominent figure in American agriculture policy and law with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Currently serves as the general counsel of the N.C. Chamber and president of the N.C. Chamber Legal Institute. In these roles, he sets litigation strategy and leads public policy development, focusing on issues affecting businesses in North Carolina. Previously, Starling held several high-profile positions in the federal government: Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue; Principal agriculture advisor to the President of the United States at the White House; Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Assistance on the White House National Economic Council. He also worked as Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel for U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. He grew up on a Century Family Farm in southeastern North Carolina.
• Ted McKinney, CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Before that he was Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (2017-2021); Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (2014-2017): He served in this capacity before his appointment to the federal government. McKinney worked for 19 years with Dow AgroSciences and 14 years with Elanco, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, where he was Director of Global Corporate Affairs.
• North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who ran briefly for the Republican presidential nomination against Trump before campaigning for him. His term expires in December. Burgum is also being considered for other Cabinet positions. Of note: Every agriculture secretary since Mike Johanns in 2005 was a former governor.

— Potential candidates for U.S. Trade Representative in a second Trump administration include:

• Robert Lighthizer is seen as a top contender to reprise his role as U.S. Trade Representative. However, reports signal Lighthizer wants to be either Commerce Secretary or Treasury Secretary. As Trump’s USTR during his first term, Lighthizer was a key figure in implementing Trump’s trade policies, including leading negotiations for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to replace NAFTA; Overseeing trade negotiations and disputes with China; Advocating for and implementing tariffs on various imports. Lighthizer remains close with Trump and is widely viewed as a leading candidate for USTR or another top economic post, especially given Trump’s promises to pursue even more aggressive trade policies in a second term.
• Bill Hagerty. The Tennessee senator and former ambassador to Japan under Trump is considered a contender for multiple Cabinet posts, including USTR.
• Jamieson Greer. Served as chief of staff to Lighthizer at USTR during Trump’s first term and is reportedly a top choice to lead the office.
•  Robert O’Brien. Trump’s former national security advisor is seen as a candidate for Secretary of State or other foreign policy roles, which could potentially include USTR.

Of note: Trump has expressed a desire to pursue even more aggressive trade policies, including broader tariffs, in a potential second term. This suggests he may favor someone like Lighthizer who has a track record of implementing such policies. However, the final selection will likely depend on various factors as Trump assembles his full economic and foreign policy teams.

— Who will be Donald Trump’s chief of staff? This is one of the most important personnel decisions Trump faces. There are several prominent contenders being considered for the position:

• Brooke Rollins: A trusted Trump associate and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, Rollins is seen as a top contender for the Chief of Staff role. She previously served as an advisor on domestic policy during Trump’s first term and is perceived as a more moderate Trump ally.
• Susie Wiles: Having led Trump’s successful 2024 campaign, Wiles is also being considered for the Chief of Staff position. Her pivotal role in Trump’s electoral success, particularly after joining his campaign following her work on Ron DeSantis’ campaign in Florida, has put her in a strong position for this role.
•  Kevin McCarthy: The former House Speaker, who had an unceremonious exit from Washington in October 2023, is widely seen as a top contender for the Chief of Staff position. McCarthy’s intimate knowledge of how Washington works is considered a significant asset for this role. Some people, however, say he likes the money he is making currently.
• Robert Lighthizer: While primarily known for his role as a trade representative, Lighthizer is also mentioned as a potential candidate for Chief of Staff. However, he is also being considered for other positions such as Treasury Secretary or Commerce Secretary.

Bottom line: The final selection will likely depend on various factors, including their relationship with Trump, their ability to navigate Washington politics, and their alignment with Trump’s vision for his second term.

You can now read the most important #news on #eDairyNews #Whatsapp channels!!!

🇺🇸 eDairy News INGLÊS: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaKsjzGDTkJyIN6hcP1K