Cindy McCain secured a seat on Joe Biden’s transition team one week after announcing her endorsement of the Democrat presidential candidate.
Biden’s campaign announced on Monday that McCain would be the second Republican joining the transition team to advise Biden as he prepares to potentially take over the White House after the election. Transition co-chair and former Sen. Ted Kaufman said the campaign values ideological diversity, which is why they wanted McCain to join the team.
“This transition is like no other, preparing amid the backdrop of a global health crisis and struggling economy, which makes Mrs. McCain’s experience as a business woman, philanthropist, and longtime advocate for issues impacting women and children all the more valuable,” Kaufman said.
“Diversity of ideology and background is a core value of the transition, and today’s announcement is another step demonstrating the importance of unifying the country under a Biden-Harris administration,” he added.
The team currently consists of many prominent Democrats, including New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, former national security adviser Susan Rice, and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. McCain joins former Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald as the other Republican on the team.
McCain endorsed Biden last week and cited his character as the main influence behind her vote. Biden was longtime friends with her late husband, Arizona Sen. John McCain. The two remained close despite running on opposing presidential tickets in the 2008 presidential election.
