Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Friday that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden deserves to have his choices for cabinet positions confirmed by the Senate if the election ends up in his favor.
Neither Biden nor President Donald Trump have won the 2020 election as of yet.
If Biden comes out on top, Graham told reporters during a virtual press conference, one way Republicans will find common ground is by approving his cabinet picks.
“The vice president deserves a cabinet,” Graham said.
Graham won another six years in office on Nov. 3 despite widespread Democratic hopes that he would be toppled by his challenger, former South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison.
He told reporters that his pitch to voters included his opposition to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) but also his desire to work with Democrats on some issues.
“I ran on two things, that I will be a reliable vote to stop the most radical agenda being pushed by Nancy Pelosi and others in the history of the United States,” he said. “I ... also talked about openly in my campaign at all the debates about [how] I have reached across the aisle. And I'll continue to do so,” he said.
If Biden wins, Graham plans on giving advice on who to choose for secretary of state, attorney general, and other cabinet positions.
“I recognize that he won, he deserves a Cabinet. There may be some people that I just can’t vote for because I think they’re unqualified or too extreme,” he said.
(R) Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden gestures after speaking during election night at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., early on Nov. 4, 2020. (Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images)
Biden has named few names regarding potential cabinet picks. Reports indicate he’s considering Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), among others.
Graham said other matters that could gain bipartisan support during a Biden presidency are immigration reform and infrastructure repair.
Biden during a press conference on Friday said he and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), have already held meetings with experts on public health and the economy as he prepares to take office if elected.
“In America, we hold strong views, we have strong disagreements and that’s okay. Strong disagreements are inevitable in a democracy and strong disagreements are healthy, they’re a sign of a vigorous debate of deeply held views. But we have to remember the purpose of our politics isn’t total, unrelenting, unending warfare, no. The purpose of our politics, the work of the nation isn’t to fan the flames of conflict but to solve problems, to guarantee justice, to get to improve the lives of our people,” he said, telling people who didn’t vote for him that he would represent them as well.
“I’ll work as hard for those who voted against me as those who voted for me, that’s the job,” he said.
Also during the Friday briefing, Graham said that his committee would keep operating even if Biden is declared the winner.
“I think we got some district court judges that were Republican and Democrat. But, yeah, the committee will keep operating. I’ll get back with you about more details about how far to go,” he said, when a reporter asked whether the Senate would keep confirming Trump-nominated judges even if the president loses.
